Assessing the conditions of milk production on farms based on family farming
Maria da Penha Piccolo Ramosa, Francisca C.N.N.Silvab, Luciana Oliveira de Fariñac, Cláudia Lúcia de
Oliveira Pintod
a
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, UFES, São Mateus, Brazil ([email protected])
b
Agente de Desenvolvimento Rural, Incaper, São Mateus, Brazil
c
Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, UNIOESTE, Cascavel, Brazil
d
Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais, Epamig, Viçosa, Brazil
INTRODUCTION
In Brazil, the milking activity is one of the main sectors of income generation and tax
collection. Given this economic importance and problems related to the quality of milk in
Brazil, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply has approved Instruction 51, which
establishes physicochemical and microbiological tests as well as the Ministry of Agriculture
requires the product cooling immediately after milking on the farm and its delivery in bulk to
dairies [1]. According to data from Embrapa Gado de Leite [2], most milk producers in Brazil
can be classified as small or medium, with daily production from 50 to 100 L, and they are
typically based on family farming. In particular, the state of the Espirito Santo contributes
approximately with 2% of the national milk production, and in São Mateus, a medium town
located in the north of the State, milk production has its origin mainly in rural areas, based on
family farming. These places possess traditional milkmaid cattle, with animal races of low
potential (average of 3.9 L/milk/day/cow) and few animals in lactation per property. Good
Farming Practice (GFP) includes procedures that intervene directly with the production, quality
and harmless of raw milk. It Includes procedures for health control of the mammary gland,
health of the flock, hygiene in milking and environment of production, quality of the water and
hygiene and health of the milking workers. In this sense, the main objective of this study was
to evaluate the hygienic conditions of milk production on farms of São Mateus/ ES/ Brazil, in
order to propose improvements for the sector.
MATERIALS & METHODS
The research was accomplished in 30 rural properties and data was collected by a questionnaire
previously elaborated on the basis of Good Practice requirements, concerning the Farming
Legislation of the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry. Questions included were type of milking,
hygienic habits, health conditions of the milking workers, control of mastitis, resources of
water and water treatment as well. In all properties, manual milking procedure was employed.
The data were analyzed using response values in relative frequency (%).
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Responses obtained through the questionnaires to farmers from São Mateus town, in the State
of Espírito Santo, they showed a picture very similar to that one observed in other regions of
Brazil [3, 4, 5]. In this study, results showed that only 40% of the milking man used to wash
theirs hands and arms before milking. Thirteen percent were accustomed to use antiseptic
solutions after washing hands and only 4% of the workers used to pass through periodic health
examinations. In none of the properties pre-dipping and post-dipping procedures were carried
out. Equipment cleaning was performed immediately after milking, however, without usage of
products for sanitization. Mastitis control was not performed in 94% of the properties and none
of them accomplished the California Mastitis Test (CMT), which is an important tool in the
detection of subclinical mastitis. The water used for hygienic cleaning of the equipment,
utensils and installations was originated from springs (33%), wells (50%) and local stations of
water treatment (17%). Irregularities detected in these properties can seriously compromise the
quality and safety of raw milk and dairy products.
CONCLUSION
This study was useful to warn the producers about the irregularities and to propose changes for
qualification in GFP. Gradual implementation of improvements will be introduced in order to
adjust the procedures to current legislation. This will reduce profit losses by industry
devolutions, promote increase of the familiar income and contribute to guarantee the
alimentary security of the population as well.
REFERENCES
[1] Brasil. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Departamento de Inspeção de Produtos
[2]
[3]
[4]
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