Factors influencing milk quality standards of dairy cows in Ghana

This study was conducted to determine factors influencing quality standards of milk in dairy cows (Friesian-Sanga crossbred, Sanga and Jersey cows) in Ashanti, Eastern and Greater Accra regions of Ghana from February, 2017 to March, 2018. Lactometer, pH meter, haemocytometer, and standard plate count were used for milk quality assessment. Data on milk temperature, pH, specific gravity, somatic cells, and bacterial counts were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) of SPSS, version 25.The overall means for raw milk temperature, pH and specific gravity among the dairy cows were 2.6 ± 0.43, 6.5 ± 0.03 and 1.026 ± 0.00. All the fixed factors had little effect on raw milk temperature and specific gravity. However, Jersey and Sanga cows had higher pH values as compared with Friesian-Sanga cow. Milk somatic cell count (MSCC) yielded an overall mean of was 134000 ±7498.7 cells/mL. Jersey cows had the highest (P<0.01) MSCC followed by Friesian-Sanga crossbred cows. Sanga recorded the lowest (P<0.01) MSCC. The MSCC increased (P<0.01) with increasing parity from 1 to 3. The overall Total Bacterial Count (TBC) was 3.0 x106 ± 7.4 x105. Ashanti region had the highest TBC while Eastern Region recorded the least count. Cows kept in good sanitary premises had the least (P<0.01) TBC and vice versa. The overall means for Total coliform Count (TCC) was 2.9x104 ± 1.4x104. Geographical location, sanitary management, breed, and stage of lactation had great (P<0.01) effect of TCC (Total Coliform Count). It is concluded that the low milk quality could be improved when milking is done in a cleaned and sanitized premises together with udder cleaning, hand washing with clean running water and mopping udder and hands prior to milking.