Quality of raw milk and management practices in dairy farms

Author(s)

Cristina Simões Cortinhas

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD)
• Defense date: 2013-12-18

Examining board members

Marcos Veiga dos Santos; Andrezza Maria Fernandes; Ana Maria Centola Vidal Martins; Angélica Simone Cravo Pereira; Evelise Oliveira Telles

• Advisor: Marcos Veiga dos Santos

Abstract

The overall objectve of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with management practices and hygienic raw milk quality, and to caracterize the farmer\'s knowledge and opinions about mastitis control and milk quality. The specific objectives were to evaluate the risk factors associated with hygienic milk quality, to determine the effect of mastitis pathogens on raw milk quality and to assess the association between framers knowledge about mastitis control and somatic cell count (SCC) of bulk tank. Therefore, we proposed three experiments. For experiment 1, to evaluate management practices associated with hygienic quality of raw milk in dairy farms, 120 dairy herds were selected according to the geometric mean of the total bacterial count (TBC) from 10 milk samples collected during two consecutive months, which were distributed in two groups: high TBC (1.11 x104 CFU / mL, n = 60) and low TBC (4.4 x103 CFU / mL, n = 60). After selection of herds, milk samples were collected weekly for two months to perform analyzes of TBC, preliminary incubation count (PIC), laboratory pasteurization count (LPC), coliform count (CC), somatic cell count (SCC) and fat, protein and total solids concentrations. After laboratory analysis, 63 herds were visited for on-farm data collection by a questionnaire about: a) general aspects of farm management; b) milking management; c) milking equipment and utensils cleaning procedures; d) mastitis control; e) udder cleaning conditions. For experiment 2, to evaluate the knowledge and opinions of dairy farmers about mastitis control and milk quality, 63 herds were selected and distributed according to geometric means of SCC (8 weekly milk sampling during two consecutive months) into three groups: a) low SCC: ≤ 250,000 cells / mL (n = 16); b) medium SCC: >250,000 ≤ 400,000 cells / mL (n = 24); c) high SCC:> 400,000 cells / mL (n = 23). Previously formulated questionnaires were submitted to the herd manager, with questions about the following topics: socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge about SCC, TBC, mastitis and mastitis prevention practices. For experiment 3, to evaluate the association between mastitis pathogens, SCC and TBC, 90 herds were selected based on the SCC of 10 milk samples collected during two consecutive months, to compose the following groups: a) ≤ 250,000 cells / mL (n = 30), b) >250,000 ≤ 600,000 cells / mL (n = 30), c)> 600,000 cells / mL (n = 30). Bulk Tank milk samples were collected every 15 days for a period of three months, for Staphylococcus aureus count, Streptococcus agalactiae count, coagulase-negative staphylococci count, environmental streptococci count, Escherichia coli count, coliform count, TBC, SCC and fat, protein and total solids concentrations. The high amount of organic matter in the bulk tank outlet valve is a risk factor for the raw milk hygienic quality, the use of pre and post teat dipping is associated with a reduction of major indicators of raw milk hygienic quality and the presence of suckling calves before milking was associated with increased TBC, PIC and CC. Other social and economical factors, such as the milk as main economic activity in the farm, type of milking procedures used, the use of methods for mastitis detection and knowledge about legal requirements for SCC and TBC were correlated with CCS in bulk tank milk. Additionally, high Streptococcus agalactiae counts is associated with reduced bulk tank milk quality because of increased SCC. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/16687-0 - Quality of raw milk and management practices on dairy farms
• Grantee: Cristina Simões Cortinhas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate