Microbiological Quality of Cattle Milk Obtained from Dairy Farms around Quetta Valley

Abstract

Milk is significant sources of protein and other nutrients but can be infected by pathogenic agents. Milk itself possesses small number of micro-organism when it leaves the normal udder however, it may get contaminated from manure, water, soil, milker’s hands, utensil and flies. In milk the microbial load is a major factor to determining its quality, which shows the cleanliness of the milking tools, condition of storage, manner of transport as well as the cleanliness of the udder of the individual animal. The aim of this study was to examine the microbiological quality of cattle milk. The milk samples were collected from dairy farms existed in and around Quetta Balochistan. The result showed that the microbial quality of milk obtained from dairy farmer was very low due to the isolation of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were confirmed by Indole, Methyl Red, Vogues Proskeur, Citrate, Nitrate Production, Cagulase and Mannitol Fermentation tests.