Proceedings of Research for Enhancing Pastoralists Livelihood Through Resilience and Market Expansion

Abstract

A preliminary milk quality assessment was carried out from April to June 2014 in selected part o f Somali regional state, Ethiopia. The assessment aimed at diagnosing milk quality problems and identifying existing quality tests in the study area and recommended rapid tests available. The study used staining techniques fo r the milk smears and cultural and biochemical characteristics fo r specific identification o f pathogens in milk samples collected from different market actors in the value chain. Interactive and brief discussions were made with milk cooperative committee members (pastoralists)and milk collectors to generate valuable data with regard to milk handling practices. The present study revealed that out o f the total 70 milk samples taken, none o f them proved to be negative fo r bacterial isolation. The major bacteria isolated include E. coli, Staphylococci spps. Including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci spp., Micrococci spp. and Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus was the (77% and 60%) major bacteria isolated from samples from Jigjiga and Kebribeyah respectively. Whereas E.coliwas the (68%, 63.6% and 57%) major bacteria isolate from samples originating from Eafan. Herdin and Babile respectively. 'The milk handling practices revealed a serious concern in hygienic operational techniques. Factors that could contribute a lot to the contamination o f milk in the study areas include insufficient pre-milking udder preparation, insufficient cleaning o f milkers ’ hands and milking utensils, use o f poor quality’ and non-boiled water fo r cleaning o f udder, milk equipment and storage containers. Additionally, use o f plastic containers fo r handling and transporting o f milk increase the risk o f contamination o f milk higher, since as the number o f plastic containers increased the chance o f contamination is also increased and most plastic containers have characteristics that make them unsuitable fo r milk handling. The proximity o f milk collection centers to the main roads and lack o f good drainage, clean Jloor, walls and ceilings and lack o f cold chain facility from the initial point o f production to consumers exposed the milk to contamination by dust particles. Lack o f platform tests including alcohol, boiling and lactometer tests at milk collection centers vis-a-vis Jack o f awareness and training further exacerbates the problem. These can lead to the conclusion that generally the quality o f milk at the milk collection centers was substandard. Based on the findings, one may suppose that milk o f substandard quality at the milk collections centers may pose a public health risk and this suggests the need fo r more strict preventive measures. Awareness should be created among daily cow owner pastoralists as to the importance o f adequate hygienic milking and milk handling practices and consistently use o f platform milk tests including lactometer, alcohol and boiling test and use premium payment scheme for good quality milk to encourage hygienic milk handling practices. Collaborative researches should be done with manufacturing enterprises fo r the design o f aluminum ami stainless steel containers fo r milk storage and transport. Further researches should he done to determine the udder health situation in the milking cows. Total Aerobic Plate Count and Coliform counts should be done in the milk collected, containers and water in the study area to identify the bacteria! load and to determine the source o f contamination.