Effect of Bacterial Content and Somatic Cell Count on Sheep Milk Quality in Kosovo

Hysen Bytyqi, Hajrip Mehmeti, Idriz Vehapi, Fillojeta Rrustemaj, Ibrahim Mehmeti

Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo.
Kosovo Veterinary and Food Agency (AVUK), Prishtina, Kosovo.
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), ?s, Norway.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2013.44053                

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze the effect of bacterial content (CFU) and somatic cell count (SCC) in milk quality in sheep (Ovis aries) farms according to the existing standards for fresh milk quality in Kosovo. A total of 2256 milk test day records from 379 Bardhoka (BAR), Sharri sheep (SHA), Kosovo sheep (KOS) and Balusha (BAL) ewes in eight herds across the country were collected and analyzed through a period April-October 2010. The general linear model and Duncan’s test were used to analyze the effect of different variables on presence of CFU and SCC in fresh milk. The effect of all variables was considered as a fixed. The overall results show that farm (P < 0.0410), breed (P < 0.0076), month of the year (P < 0.0041) and the lactation number (P < 0.0422), respectively, had a significant effect on presence of SCC. For CFU farm (P < 0.0001), and month of the year (P < 0.0064) had shown the significant effects, while the lactation number (P < 0.0422) and breed (P < 0.0076), represented no effect. According to the existing legislation in regard to the quality of fresh milk, there was substantial variation between farms ranging from 1211.17 to 6425.76 CFU/mL and 846.07 to 2043.15 SCC/mL milk, respectively. Although the rate of fresh milk contamination with SCC tends to be relatively low compare with CFU, by all means both variables should not be underestimated bearing in mind that a high rate of them on fresh milk are negatively correlated with farmer’s profit, consumer food safety and overall animal health.

Keywords

Fresh Milk; Bacteria Content; Somatic Cell; Milk Quality Standards

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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