Microbial quality and handling practices of raw cow milk in North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Milk is universally accepted as a complete diet that plays a key role to ensure food security. However, the quality of raw cow milk is affected at various stages due to inadequate dairy infrastructure and limited knowledge of hygienic handling practices. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the microbial quality of raw cow milk and handling practices in the North Shewa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Methodology: Purposive sampling was used to select study districts and participants based on the available dairy production potential, milk market, and collection center. Four hundred participants were selected; 50 raw cow milk samples were collected from households and collection spots in study areas. Results: Microbial analysis indicated that the mean values of total cell counts were higher in households (4.836±0.206 in log10 CFU/ml) than 4.391±0.15 at collection spots. Similarly, the mean values of Staphylococcus aurous were 2.470±0.038 at the household level and 2.249±0.093 at collection spots. The mean values of E.coli, yeast count and mould count were however, higher at collection spots (5.414±0.100, 3.372±0.091, 2.670±0.037) than household level (3.343±0.122, 2.944±0.074, 2.479±0.039), respectively. Conclusions: The higher total counts and mean values of microbial loads of economic and public health significance; like Staphylococcus aurous and E. coli at household level and collection spots indicated poor hygienic raw cow milk handling practices. Therefore, awareness should be created among the dairy cattle producers and milk collectors to minimize economic losses through milk spoilage with soil microbes and the risk of consumer safety due to zoonotic pathogens.