Global Journal of Food Science and Technology received 193 citations as per Google Scholar report
Gurmessa Terfa Debela
The aim of this study was to assess general handling practices and microbial quality of raw cow’s milk produced and marketed in Borana areas. A total of ninety pastoralists were randomly selected and interviewed on milk handling practices. The result of this study indicated that, majority of pastoralists use animal skin/hide (55.6%) for milking. 33.3% of them use plastic equipment for transporting their milk to the market point. All of the pastoralists were not washing udder before milking and only 3.3 % of the milkers washed their hands before milking. For microbial quality parameters sixty raw milk samples were taken from pastoralists and market. The samples were collected using random sampling method. The overall mean total bacterial count, coliform count, spore-forming bacterial count and yeast and mould count of raw milk samples obtained in the study area were 8.149 ± 0.043, 6.323 ± 0.028, 5.297 ± 0.031 and 4.363 ± 0.038 log 10 cfu/ml, respectively. The microbial quality of milk samples obtained from market were significantly higher (P<0.05) than milk samples obtained from pastoral household. The microbial quality of raw cow’s milk produced and marketed in the study area was poor and it is beyond the standard limits of raw quality milk. Therefore, improving hygienic practices and handling of milk along dairy value chain is important.
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