Quality of raw milks in three milk processing plants in Cordoba Quality of raw milks in three milk processing plants in Cordoba

Resumen

An important condition in dairy processing plant is to obtain materials of excellent physicochemical and microbiological quality to reduce public health risks. High counts of mesophilic show contamination and lack of good manipulation in milking and milk conservation. Coliforms are a demonstration of contamination with fecal material. The norms in Colombia establish the mesophilic count as standard of microbiological quality. The purpose of this study was to determine the physicochemical and microbiological quality and health of the udders, in raw milk from dual purpose farms, supplying three milk processing plants in Cordoba (Colombia). 149 raw milk samples were collected of tree processing plants in Cordoba department. Physicochemical parameters set out in Decree 616 of 2006 were determined and aerobic mesophilic, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and somatic cell count were established too. The variables obtained were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SAS. The physicochemical parameters were within the normal range but averages of mesophilic and somatic cells counts were high, which allows conclude that the physicochemical quality is good, but there are shortcomings in the microbiological quality and in the udder health, and is on the farms devoted to milk production where must be implemented and certified excellent management and prevention practices.