Refrigerated raw milk quality and the characteristics of dairy production in the western Parana mesoregion, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the technological profile and the quality ofraw milk produced in the western Parana mesoregion, southern region of Brazil, as well as the adequacy of the product with the quality standards required by the Brazilian legislation. The study consisted onthe evaluation of 50 milk producing units. Samples of raw milk were collected from the cooling tank for assessment of total bacterial count (TBC), psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC), and somatic cell count (SCC). A questionnaire was also applied to the producers regarding the system and management of milking, cooling system, technical knowledge of the employees, and information about the transport of milk to the processing plant. The SCC was above the legal limit in 47.5% of the evaluated milk samples, with a mean count of 9.8 x 10(5) CFU/mL; 46% of the samples were also above the maximum limits for TBC. The most common milking system (in 50% of the production units) was the single bucket milking machine and the most commonmilk cooling tank was the expansion model (in 70% of the units). Hand milking presented the best PBC results (p < 0.05) compared to the other manners of milking, and better TBC (p < 0.05) compared to single bucket milking machine. The obtained results demonstrate that most part of the raw milk producing units in the mesoregion of this study still do not meet the quality standards required by the current legislation, suggesting need of development to ensure the adequate quality for consumption of the produced milk.