Physical and microbial qualities of raw milk collected from Bangladesh Agricultural University dairy farm and the surrounding villages

The present study was undertaken with the aim of investigating the physical parameters (e.g. organoleptic and specific gravity of raw milk) and also to study the microbiological quality of raw milk (total viable count, Coliform count and Staphylococcal count) from different villages and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Dairy Farm of Mymensingh District of Bangladesh, during the period from July to November 2007. A total number of 100 raw milk samples were collected at morning and evening from BAU dairy farm and surrounding four villages of BAU campus. The organoleptic and bacteriological qualities of each sample were analyzed. The organoleptic examination included taste panel score to assess consumer's acceptance and the bacteriological analysis comprised enumeration of total viable count (TVC), total colifrom count (TCC) and total staphylococcal count (TSC) for the determination of sanitary quality. The organoleptic quality of the milk samples is more or less same except the Churkhai milk samples which had flat taste (in 16% milk sample). The average values of TVC/ml were log 5.920, 5.934, 6.007, 6.075 and 6.127 for BAU Dairy Farm, Boira, Shutiakhali, Churkahai and Paglabazar respectively; coliform count were log 2.501, 2.522, 2.550, 2.620 and 2.619 respectively; staphylococcal count were log 2.832, 2.812, 2.866, 2.931 and 2.988 respectively. So, it may be concluded that the raw milk samples of BAU Dairy Farm were superior to others collected from the selected villages which may be due to maintaining better hygienic condition. Key words: Raw milk, physical and microbial quality   doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v6i2.2339 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (2): 217-221