Milk hygiene in small ruminants: A review

Carlos Gonzalo

doi:10.5424/sjar/2017154-11727

Abstract

Somatic cell count (SCC), mammary pathogens prevalence, total and specific bacterial counts, antimicrobial residues, macroscopic sediment, water addition, aflatoxins and other contaminants constitute the basis for milk payment-schemes, monitoring and improvement of flock hygiene and health management, and development of analytical surveillance programs in the dairy small ruminants. The present work reviews factors influencing the variation of these variables, including milk analytical methods, storage and preservation, along with management implications during the last two decades. Following farmer and cooperative educational programs, progressive reductions have been reported for total bacterial count and antimicrobial residue occurrence in bulk tank milk. These results were consistent, however, with high values for SCC and specific bacterial populations. Thus, mastitis control programs should be intensified to increase hygiene in milk and economic returns for producers and processors. In addition, the implementation of programs to reduce specific bacterial counts (i.e., psychrotrophs, coliforms, Clostridium spp. spores) and mammary pathogen prevalence (i.e., Staph. aureus, Mycoplasma spp.), as well as the use of combined screening methods for an increased rate of antimicrobial detection, are currently required strategies which are positively valuated by milk processors, industry and consumers. Other contaminants may also be present, but cost-effective screening and analytical systems have not yet been implemented. This review aims to be helpful for troubleshooting milk quality and safety, developing future premium payment systems and industry quality-standards, optimizing management, on-farm risk traceability systems and consumer acceptance.

Highlights

The world production of sheep and goat milk was 28.8 million tons in 2014 representing 3.6% of global milk production
Somatic cell count (SCC), mammary pathogens prevalence, total and specific bacterial counts, antimicrobial residues, macroscopic sediment, water addition, aflatoxins and other contaminants constitute the basis for milk payment-schemes, monitoring and improvement of flock hygiene and health management, and development of analytical surveillance programs in the dairy small ruminants
This review aims to be helpful for troubleshooting milk quality and safety, developing future premium payment systems and industry quality-standards, optimizing management, on-farm risk traceability systems and consumer acceptance

Summary

Introduction

The world production of sheep and goat milk was 28.8 million tons in 2014 (http://www.fao.org/faostat/ en/#data) representing 3.6% of global milk production. Bulk tank milk (BTM) can be contaminated by bacteria (spoiling and pathogens), bacterial and fungal toxins, veterinary drugs, cleaning and disinfectant agents, macroscopic sediment, and others, many of which are important to the farmers, cheese manufacturers and consumers because they are major factors, along with somatic cells, in determining safety and hygienic quality of the final product. Some of these variables along with fat and protein contents are the target of different legal limits or payment-by-quality schemes proposed by different countries, with obvious. The information on occurrence of AF is very scarce in small ruminants

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Conclusion