Caracterização da atividade leiteira e da qualidade do leite cru refrigerado de propriedades rurais situadas no extremo sul da Bahia

Abstract

Milk is one of the most nutritionally rich foods. Milk production is of paramount importance to Brazilian agribusiness, as it is present in almost all municipalities in the country, contributing to job and income generation. In the last five years, the Northeast region has stood out in milk productivity. Bahia has gained notoriety for its advances in milk production, especially in the extreme south of the state. However, scientific data on milk production and quality in this region is still scarce. In this sense, the present study sought to characterize dairy farming in the extreme south of Bahia, as well as to analyze the physical-chemical and microbiological quality of refrigerated raw milk produced on farms that receive technical assistance services. To characterize dairy farming in the extreme south of Bahia, producers and professionals responsible for technical assistance services were invited to answer questionnaires that included questions about the development of their activities. From January to December 2024, samples of raw milk were also collected from cooling tanks on 42 farms distributed across eight municipalities in the extreme south. Analyses were then carried out to determine the chemical composition, somatic cell count (SCC), and standard plate count (SPC). Of the 42 farms, 13 were selected for microbiological profile analysis of refrigerated raw milk using the MALDI TOF MS technique and antimicrobial residue detection. Samples of the water used to sanitize milking equipment and refrigeration tanks were also analyzed on these 13 farms to assess microbiological and physicochemical quality, as well as the microbiological profile. The results indicate that most farms operate exclusively in dairy farming, are headed by men over 51 years of age (69%), have predominantly Girolando herds, and have an average daily production of 280 liters. The analyses of refrigerated raw milk showed medians for SCC of 5.23 log CS/mL, CPP of 4.72 log CFU/mL, fat 3.23 g/100 g, protein 3.10 g/100 g, lactose 4.53 g/100 g, total solids 11.94 g/100 g, non-fat solids 8.69 g/100 g, NUL 13.00 mg/dL, and casein 2.50 g/100 g. Milk quality was influenced by the rainy and dry periods, as well as by the seasons. Microorganisms belonging to the genera Staphylococcus spp., Lactococcus spp. Bacillus spp. were identified, as well as the microorganism Bacillus cereus, in milk and water samples. Finally, workshops on milk quality were held at rural producers' unions, with an audience of 95 producers. Topics related to milk quality were discussed, as well as opportunities for learning and the exchange of knowledge and experiences among producers, who were most actively participating. Therefore, studies that seek to characterize the particularities of dairy farming are important tools for contributing to its enhancement, being fundamental for decision-making in the activity, as well as for the direction and implementation of public policies.