Extension team trained to improve milk quality on small dairy farms in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of training of extension agents to improve milk quality of dairy farms. During 12 months, 240 dairy farms in the Southeast region of Brazil were monitored for milk quality parameters: milk composition, somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC). Of this total, 60 farms were assisted by a rural extension team who received training related to milk quality improvement, and the remaining 180 farms had only their milk evaluated without any trained technical assistance. The difference between assisted and non-assisted farms was positively significant for all variables studied especially SCC and TBC. The milk rejection rate of non-assisted farms was 59% and for farms that received trained technical assistance was 49%. The highest percentages of samples in disagreement with standards were SCC (32%), followed by TBC (25%), SNF (13%), fat (11%) and protein (5%) of the total milk samples. The rural extension is important for improving milk quality, mainly performed by a well-trained team.