Bioactive compounds in goat milk and cheese: the role of feeding system and breed

This chapter provides an introductory overview of some bioactive compounds in goat milk, presenting a selection of key results from literature. The aim of the chapter is to review the effects of the feeding system and of the breed on goat milk and cheese fine quality in order to identify management options aimed at improving the nutraceutical characteristics of milk and dairy products. We will discuss a series of case studies focused on the assessment of the effects of feeding system and breed and their interaction on specific health-promoting bioactive compounds: i. fatty acid profile, ii. antioxidant compounds, iii. oligosaccharides. Experimental data will be discussed highlighting the potential role of local Mediterranean breeds for the production of functional dairy products.