Supplementing goats' diet with sainfoin pellets (versus alfalfa) modifies cheese sensory properties and fatty acid profile

In two different goat farms, producing Picodon and Mutschli cheese respectively, two groups of lactating goats were fed alfalfa pellets (ALF) or sainfoin pellets (SNF) for 6 weeks. The cheeses produced at the end of the trial were analysed for sensory properties, composition, fatty acid profile, proteolysis, and rheology. The SNF Picodon had higher "goat" and "farm" aroma and odour, and higher bitter taste, compared with the ALF Picodon. The SNF Picodon showed lower dry matter than the ALF Picodon, leading to differences in texture and mouthfeel. The SNF Mutschli had a different mouthfeel than the ALF Mutschli. In a triangle test, consumers were able to perceive a difference in both Picodon and Mutschli between ALF and SNF groups. In both Picodon and Mutschli, feeding sainfoin increased cheese proteolysis and modified cheese fatty acid profile, resulting in higher polyunsaturated fatty acids proportion and lower n-6/n-3 ratio.