Comprehensive Assessment of Raw Milk Quality: Techniques for Identifying Mastitis and Monitoring Bacterial Growth at 37°C

Author: Alka Parmar and Vivek Sharma

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Abstract

Milk quality is fundamental to dairy safety and public health, significantly influencing the nutritional value and safety of dairy products. Mastitis, an inflammatory condition of the mammary gland caused by bacterial infections, is a major factor affecting milk quality by increasing the somatic cell count (SCC), a crucial indicator of infection and inflammation. Elevated SCC levels can lead to milk rejection by processors and pose health risks if not properly treated. This study evaluates raw milk quality using SCC, California Mastitis Test (CMT), and Hotis test to detect mastitis and monitor bacterial growth during storage at 37°C. The prevalence of mastitis was 27%, with visible clots in CMT and canary yellow colonies in the Hotis test indicating significant somatic cell presence and Streptococcus agalactiae infection, respectively. Bacteriological quality assessment revealed a substantial increase in bacterial counts during storage at 37°C, emphasizing the need for proper refrigeration to inhibit microbial growth. Initial standard plate counts were 5.664±0.287 log10 cfu/ml, rising to 8.526±0.090 log10 cfu/ml after six hours, while coliform counts increased from 3.885±0.093 log10 cfu/ml to 6.495±0.301 log10 cfu/ml. These findings highlight the effectiveness of SCC, CMT, and Hotis tests in mastitis detection and milk quality assessment, underscoring the importance of maintaining optimal storage conditions to ensure dairy product safety

Keywords

Raw Milk Quality, Somatic Cell Count (SCC), California Mastitis Test (CMT), Hotis Test, Mastitis Detection, Bacterial Growth, Milk Storage, Bacteriological Assessment, Streptococcus agalactiae, Microbial Contamination

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the utility of SCC, CMT, and Hotis tests in identifying healthy milch animals and emphasizes the importance of timely refrigeration to preserve milk quality. Additionally, the practice of washing teats with warm water was found to significantly decrease bacterial count levels, highlighting the importance of proper milking hygiene. Future research should focus on exploring additional methods for improving milk safety and quality

References

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How to cite this article

Alka Parmar and Vivek Sharma (2024). Comprehensive Assessment of Raw Milk Quality: Techniques for Identifying Mastitis and Monitoring Bacterial Growth at 37°C. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(7): 108-111