Question

In buffalo milk the percentage of water is -

• A. 86.5%
• B. 84.2%
• C. 75.4%
• D. 86.6%

Hint:

Remember the key difference: Buffalo milk has {higher} total solids and fat, which means it has {lower} water content than cow milk. Cow milk typically has about 87% water.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question requires knowledge of the average composition of buffalo milk. Milk is primarily composed of water and total solids (TS). The total solids include fat, protein, lactose, and minerals. The percentage of water is inversely related to the percentage of total solids.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Buffalo milk is known for its high concentration of total solids compared to cow milk.
The average composition of buffalo milk is:
Total Solids (TS): 16% - 18%
Fat: 6% - 8%
Solids-Not-Fat (SNF): 9% - 10%
The percentage of water can be calculated by subtracting the total solids percentage from 100%.
\[ \text{Water \%} = 100\% - \text{Total Solids \%} \]
Using an average TS value of 16-17%:
\[ \text{Water \%} = 100\% - 16.5\% = 83.5\% \]
Let's check the options:
86.5%: This is closer to the water content of cow milk.
84.2%: This value corresponds to a total solids content of \(100 - 84.2 = 15.8\%\), which is a very reasonable figure for buffalo milk.
75.4%: This would imply an extremely high total solids content of 24.6%, which is unrealistic.
86.6%: Similar to option A, this is too high for buffalo milk.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The most accurate value for the water percentage in buffalo milk among the given options is 84.2%.