Qualidade do leite e da água de propriedades leiteiras nos Municípios de Miranda do Norte, Itapecurú-mirim e Santa Rita – MA

Abstract

The present paper was produced under the orientations contained in the Ruling Protocol 51, issued by Brazilian Agriculture, Cattle-Raising and Supply Ministry (Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária e Abastecimento – MAPA, in Portuguese), aiming at evaluating the influence of Somatic Cell Counting (SCC; CCS in Portuguese), composition and Total Bacterial Counting (TBC; CBT in Portuguese) over milk quality. It also investigates the occurrence of antibiotic residue in the milk and the quality of the water used in the higienization of animal nipples, equipments and milking instruments in milk-producing facilities in the towns of Miranda do Norte, Itapecurú-Mirim and Santa Rita, all located in Brazilian Maranhão state. Visits were made to 20 milk-producing facilities in summertime (August through December 2006) and wintertime (January through July 2007), representing small, medium and great properties. During summertime, ratings were 2,236,700 cells/mL SCC; 3.87% fat; 3.19% protein; 4.36% lactose; 12.25% EST; 8.55% ESD and 677.90 UFC/mL TBC. During wintertime, ratings were 2,629,950 cells/mL SCC; 3.87% fat; 3.27% protein; 4.45% lactose; 13.19% EST; 8.74% ESD and 8421.35 UFC/mL TBC. Regarding the water used in the milking process and considering the counting of total choliforms and Escherichia coli, respectively, 90% and 75% of samples collected during summertime, as well as 90% and 70% of samples collected during wintertime didn’t meet requirements determined by regulation 518/2004, issued by Brazilian Health Ministry. The milk samples didn’t contain antibiotic residues, therefore meeting the requirements of Ruling Protocol 51– MAPA. Such results confirm the importance of introducing an effort aimed at sanitary education involving the facilities studied and at the improvement of the quality of the milk produced, mainly regarding the microbiological quality of the milk found in the facilities studied.