Effect of Source, Season, Daily Practices and Hygiene on Cow’s Milk Quality in Khartoum State

Abstract

The study performed during the period from February /2018 to February /2020 to assess the effect of the (sources and seasons) on cow’s milk quality,to investigate the milk that distributed from dairy farms to groceries, to highlight the major hygiene practices on milk quality and to study on some milk physicochemical and microbiological characteristics in (raw and heated) of cow’s milk in Khartoum State.Two structures questionnaires (A and B) were distributed randomly to 60 dairy farms and 60 groceries shop keepers respectively. The questionnaire A had seven themes (personal information, housing management, milking management, (labors and manure management), nutrition management, (animal disease and health) and milk distribution) and the questionnaire B had four themes (personal information, milk sources, milk heating and milk marketing). A total of 120 samples of milk were collected from three sources (dairy farms=40), (collection centers=40) and (groceries=40) during summer and autumn season. Samples were subjected to physicochemical analysis the (fat, protein, lactose, total solids, pH and added water) by Lactoskan and total bacteria count (TBC). A total of 48 swab samples were collected from different farms (milkers hands=24) and (milk utensils=24) during summer and autumn season, the samples were subjected to total bacterial count.The data collected was analyzed using (SPSS, version 16, 2007) the questionnaire data analyzed by using the chi-square, general linear model (factorial analysis 3X2) used to estimate the effect of (source and season) and least significant difference (LSD) for mean superscripts and Independent T test was done using for milk added water, the correlation model was used to appearance the relationship between the total bacteria count with (milkers hands and utensils bacteria count) and milk physicochemical.The results obtained showed that, general hygiene and sanitation measures such as use of insecticides, disinfectants and periodic detection of mastitis in dairy farms were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the education level of owners. Cleaning of barns, Times of milking per day, labour’s health certificates, Times feed offered per day, method used in getting rid of dead animals and periodic detection of mastitis were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by owner’s job. The level of education had significant (p < 0.05) effect on mediator committed to health and gets rid of abnormal milk. Type of milk utensils (collecting in and store) and use of any additions to milk were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by shop keeper’s job. The age grouping had significant (p < 0.05) effect on milk source, milk equipment carry on and abnormal milk get rid. On the other hand, the protein, lactose and added water were significantly affected by source of milk and milk fat, protein, lactose, total solids and TBC were significantly affected by season. A significant interaction between (source and season) was obtained for milk fat, protein, lactose and total solids. The added water had highly significant (p < 0.000) effect on (fat, protein, lactose and total solids).The milk fat and total solids were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the milk total Bacterial count while the milk protein, lactose and pH were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by milk added water. Education and experience were the main factors that affect the hygienic milk production in dairy farms and groceries.The physicochemical of cow's milk (fat, protein, lactose, total solids, and pH) were significantly affected by (seasonal changes and added water) and all were lower in summer. The milk collected from dairy farms was highly quality than milk collected from other sources.