RAW COW MILK AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF BENEFICIAL LACTIC ACID BACTERIA (LAB)

Abstract

Milk itself is also considered to be one of the nature habitats of the LAB, It contains the many other nutrients and including protein and lactose. The aim of the research was a isolation and identification of naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria from cow raw milk. A total of ninety isolates of lactic acid bacteria were collected of which seven genera belonging to Lactobacillus (29.32%), Lactococcus (23.68%), Leuconostoc (21.09%), Streptococcus (12.09%), Aerococcus (9.09%), Pediococcus (17.09%) and Enterococcus (12.09%) were identified. Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, Pediococcus, Lactococcus, and Aerococcus were cocci and rod shape of Lactobacillus. In the current study, Lactobacillus (29.32%) was the main genera of lactic acid bacteria identified from cow raw milk samples. We can conclude from this research that raw cow milk is a good source of healthy lactic acid bacteria.