Evaluation of Tunisian milk quality in dairy herds: Inter-relationship between chemical, physical and hygienic criteria.
The objective of this paper was to evaluate the global milk quality in Tunisian dairy herds. Samples of milk were analyzed for chemical, physical and hygienic parameters. Milk total solids, fat content and density were consistently correlated and one of them can be used as a chemical indicator of milk quality. The somatic cell count value of 689 × 10(3) /mL was higher than the recommended threshold. All milk samples were positive for the major pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. These hygienic parameters were related more closely with chloride content, minerals and electrical conductivity, which allows them to be used as indicators of mammary gland infection. It was concluded that milk producers have at hand rapid and easy tools for assessing the overall quality of milk.
Unité de Physiopathologie Environnementale, Valorisation des Molécules Bioactives et Modélisation Mathématique, Département des Sciences de la Vie, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
Ahmed
A
Gargouri
Houda
H
Hamed
Besma
B
Ben Ali
Abdelfettah
A
Elfeki
Radhouane
R
Gdoura
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis; D003612:Dairying; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D063427:Food Quality; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014416:Tunisia
D015415:Biomarkers; D002712:Chlorides; D008903:Minerals
chemical; physical and hygienic criteria; raw milk; somatic cell count