Bacteriological Quality of Fresh Cow Milk From Dairy Farms in Parts of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the bacteriological quality of farm fresh raw cow milk with emphasis on the detection of Staphylococcus species. A total of 592 quarter milk samples, 30 bulk milk samples and 27 swab samples of the hands of milk men were examined from 12 dairy farms in Kaduna and Zaria. The bacteriological quality of the milk samples were determined by both the California Mastitis Test and the Total Viable Staphylococcal Count. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis from positive California Mastitis Test (³+) was 24.5%. The mean Staphylococcal count was 4.2 log10 cfu/ml. The number of suspected Staphylococcal isolates that were Gram positive and catalase positive were 103, which were then biochemically screened down clearly to 51, with their identities confirmed using the Microbat Microgen Kit. Among the Staphylococcal species, Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest population of phenotypic identity with 38%. This organism is important from public health point of view as they have been associated with the onset of food poisoning in human beings.