Quality of milk produced in small farms in Alagoas state and impact of application of good manufacturing practices to milking hygiene

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to monitor improvements in the hygiene and sanitation conditions, and milk safety after application of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to milking. A total of 106 farms were assessed in four stages of six months in the regions named agreste, dairy region, mid-backlands and high backlands of Alagoas. Two activities were executed in the project: monitoring of milk quality and safety; and application of GMP to pre-milking and milking processes. Milk samples underwent determination of Somatic Cell Count (SCC), Total Bacterial Count (TBC) and composition. The results correspond to milk components, determination of mammary health indicative parameters - SCC and milking hygiene - TBC. Regarding SCC, 73% of producers complied with the standards established by normative instruction IN 62 as of 2017. Regarding TBC, the use of GMP increased from 46.75% to 59.87% the average of all assessed properties that complied with the established standards. Less than 4% of the properties presented one million or higher TBC/mL of milk. Results of SCC after application of GMP remained basically the same. Regarding TBC, rate changes deriving from the application of GMP were significant.