FACTORS IMPACTING THE QUALITY OF MILK TANK COMMUNITY MICROREGION IN JUIZ DE FORA (MG)

Abstract

Milk refrigeration at the farm in communitary bulk tanks is the alternative choice taken by small milk producers that were grouped into associations to conform to milk quality legislation in Brazil. This model is wide used in Zona da Mata region in Minas Gerais state where familiar agriculture and dairy cattle is historically a tradition farming. That are nowadays without capital and with low investment potential. The deficiency of the producers managing capacity, defective cleaning processes, improper management of milking, deficiency of the mastitis control programs, contaminated waters sourcers, among others. Are compromising the communitary milk quality. The aim of this study was to identify the critical contamination points of the milk during the refrigerated storage in communitary bulk tanks in two milk producers association in Lima Duarte city. The results of the milk evaluation from the producers associations in this study showed that among the demands of legislation, the requisite that had a higher percentage of samples and producers out of the limits specified is the microbiological Total Plate Count. The water used in the farms for cleaning of utensils and milking during procedures, as well as the one used in communitary tanks for cleaning of the milk cooling tanks and drums showed high contamination by coliforms. The assessments of cleaning surfaces that are in contact with the milk during cooling and storage showed that among the evaluated points, the output of the expansion tank and hose connections between reception and the expansion tank showed the worst results in relation to surface contamination. The results of this study indicate the need for training the producers to appropriate management of milking and to an improvement in the cleaning process of equipment and utensils in the farm. Likewise, in the tanks need to adopt standard procedures for cleaning and special attention to points which have the highest surface contamination. The water used in the cleaning process on the farm and in the communitary tanks requires treatment for not contributing to the to the contamination of dairy equipment surfaces.