Milk quality from properties with different level of specialization

Abstract

This work was aimed to evaluate milk quality parameters according to three levels of specialization of milk production units in different districts of West Santa Catarina´s State, Brazil. Characterization of milk production units was carried out using a questionnaire in 29 farms as a tool for data collection, applied during a visit to the farm. At the time, 58 milk samples were collected from cooling tanks to determine the levels of fat, protein, lactose, somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacteria count (TBC). Considering the information obtained the milk production units were classified as specialized (E), semi-specialized (SE) and not specialized (NE). The database was subjected to multivariate methods of statistical analysis with the use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Redundancy analysis (RDA). The results indicated that variables that most influence milk quality are: time in the activity, area with perennial pasture, gross income from milk activity, type of milking, teat washing and method of reproduction. Results showed that despite lower percentages of fat and protein, the increased level of specialization provides milk of better quality due to the low rates of SCC and TBC, which leads to higher income from this type of activity. In specialized farms where milk activity has a high economic importance, producers are encouraged to adopt better hygiene practices during milking and herd breeding.