Goat milk is considered one of the most complete foods, since it holds several elements which are important for human nutrition, and necessary for the constitution of tissues and blood. This revision aims to assess the variations of the chemical composition and physical-chemical properties of the milk which occur due to some factors, such as: climate, breed, the individual, lactation stage and food. Feed management has been considered a key factor in the manipulation of milk components. There is a general understanding that among the components of the milk fat is the most influenced by food. The use of molecular biological techniques might contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of utilization of food in rumen, establishing a new possibility for ruminal microbiology, which can be different from what has been studied so far.
feed; goats; chemical composition; nutrition; lipid profile
