Abstract:
Microbiological assessment is the cornerstone for understanding the safety of milk that
is produced, marketed and consumed. The present cross-sectional study was conducted
to assess hygienic practices, determination of bacterial quantity of milk, isolation of
Staphylococcus aureus in milk and to identify the risk areas of contaminant in the
milk throughout the value chain in Offa district from December 2019 to August 2020.
A total of 108 respondents were interviewed and subsequently, 210 milk samples were
collected for laboratory analysis. Results showed that, majority of small-dairy
managing their cattle in unclean environments. The mean standard plate counts of raw
milk samples analyzed were 7.06 log10 cfu/ml (udder), 8.70 log10 cfu/ml (bucket) and
8.46 log10 cfu/ml (containers upon arrival). The mean coliform counts were 6.99 log10
cfu/ml (udder), 8.00 log10 cfu/ml (bucket) and 7.13 log10 cfu/ml (containers upon
arrival). The mean Staphylococcus aureus counts of raw milk samples analyzed were
5.61 log10 cfu/ml (udder), 5.94 log10 cfu/ml (bucket) and 5.72 log10 cfu/ml (containers
upon arrival). There was statistically significant (P=0.000) between critical points but
there was no significant variation between Villages. According to international
standards of raw milk quality, SPC, CC and Staphylococcus aureus counts have
values above the upper limits set. Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from
raw milk samples taken from different critical points were 8.6%, 22.9% and 25.7% in
udder, bucket and containers upon arrival, respectively. This result is due to poor
hygienic practices and parameters like hygienic condition of the milking environment,
sanitation of the milk containers, udder and teats, and the personal hygiene of the
milkers of the smallholder dairy farmers. Routine assessment of milk quality produced
by small-scale livestock keepers should be conducted to safeguard the public from
milk-borne zoonotic infections
