Influence of milk production systems and practices on somatic cell count and total bacterial count in western Paraná

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the production systems and milk quality of eight milk production units (MPU) in the semiarid region of the state of Ceará, Brazil. Individual interviews were conducted through a questionnaire on the characteristics of the properties and production systems. Samples of milk and water were collected for a period of 12 months. Four MPUs were classified as semi-specialized and four as non-specialized. No differences were observed in milk composition between the two production systems, and both showed protein, fat, and solids-not-fat levels. Differences were observed for somatic cell count. The semi-specialized systems showed an average somatic cell and total bacterial count which is above the limit established by the 62nd Normative Instruction. All water samples showed presence of Escherichia coli. Somatic cell count was positively correlated (fat) and negatively (lactose). For total bacterial count, correlations were negative for fat, total solids, and somatic cell count. The microbiological quality of milk is not in accordance with the 62st and 7th Normative Instructions. The specialization of the production systems did not result in improved microbiological aspects of milk.

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Impact of policy-induced structural change on milk quality: evidence from the Flemish dairy sector

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029909003938 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 234-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Bart Van der Straeten ◽

Jeroen Buysse ◽

Guido Van Huylenbroeck ◽

Ludwig Lauwers

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Bacterial Count ◽

Farm Size ◽

Total Bacterial Count ◽

Coliform Count ◽

Exchange Policy ◽

The Impact

This paper uses a Markov chain model to analyse the dynamics in farm-size distribution among the Flemish dairy sector and the impact of quota policy regulation on such changes. The model predicts a decline of 24% in number of farms in 2014 compared with the current situation with a more liberal exchange policy and a decline of 18% with a restricted quota exchange policy. From these Markov chain model results, we analysed the impact of farm-size distribution on eight different milk quality parameters (total bacterial count, somatic cell count, coliform count, freezing point, urea-N, fat content and protein content and penalty-points). In general, larger farms produce higher quality milk than smaller farms, especially with respect to the microbiological parameters (total bacterial count, somatic cell count and coliform count). The change in farm-size distribution from a liberal quota exchange policy would decrease the average total bacterial count by 18·0%, the somatic cell count by 2·1% and the coliform count by 11·0%. The aggregate performance of the other parameters are smaller with improvements in all cases of <1%.

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