Background: In Ethiopia, around 97% of the annual milk production is accounted by the traditional milk processing system using on-farm traditional milk processing materials that are generally poor in processing capacity, causing high product loss and risky for public consumption. A cross-sectional study was carried out in and around Gondar town, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia from October 2014 to may 2015 with the objective to assess the bacteriological milk quality, possible hygienic factors and status of S. aureus as contamination of bovine raw milk. The study employed questionnaire survey and raw bacteriological load analysis and cow milk samples for isolation and detection of S. aureus from raw cow milk. Sixty (60) randomly selected dairy farms were interviewed for the survey-based study of farm hygienic practices and 72 raw milk samples [60 from directly from teats and 12 from collecting tanks (buckets) were aseptically collected and tested for bacteriological load analysis and isolation of S. aureus. Results: The overall average total bacterial count (TBC) were 4.59 ± 0.118log10 (38,904.51 cfu/ml) and 4.77 ± 0. 23log10 (58,884.37 cfu/ml) for milk samples collected directly from teat during milking and milking buckets at farm level respectively. Accordingly, the count increased by 0.18 ± 0.23 log10 or 19,979.86 cfu/ml (51.36%) increase from teat to milking buckets. Results showed very significant differences in plate counts (P < 0.05) between the two milk collection points. 73.30% of the milk samples collected directly from the teat were found (>100,000 bacteria per ml), evidence of poor milk hygiene when compared to international standards. In this study hygienic and management factors like udder cleaning, water and soap using for cleaning of udder, hand washing and water and soap using for milking vessels were significantly (P < 0.05) affects the bacteriological count of the milk. Conclusions:The results of the current study indicated that the cow milk produced and distributed in the study area can generally be considered as substandard in quality for consumption unless pasteurized. Therefore, this risk assessment study with similar different studies reported from different regions in Ethiopia might provide a foundation for the establishment of national milk quality standards that currently do not exist in Ethiopia.

Mastitis is a multietiological and complex disease causing inflammation of the parenchyma of mammary glands and is a problem in many dairy cows. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify the pathogenic bacteria that cause bovine clinical mastitis. A cross-sectional study was undertaken between November 2018 to April 2019 on a small scale and government dairy farms in Asella town. Cow’s udder and teats were physically examined to detect clinical mastitis. A total of 83 milk samples were collected from 46 cows that show clinical sign of mastitis from a total of 12 farms. Isolation and identification of major bacterial species were carried out by culturing different media and using primary and secondary biochemical tests. Out of the 83 samples collected and examined, all (100%) were positive for the cultural isolation of bacterial species. The bacteria were identified to genus and species level. Among the 83 isolates, 32 (38.6%), 24 (28.9%), and 6 (7.2%) were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius, and Staphylococcus hyicus, respectively. Other bacteria like Escherichia coli 12 (14.5%) and Streptococcus species 2 (2.4%) were also isolated. Bacillus species 2 (2.4%), Proteus species 2 (2.4%), and 3 (3.6%) of them were mixed bacterial infections. The present study revealed that both contagious and environmental bacterial pathogens were responsible for the occurrence of clinical mastitis. Proper milking practices and farm husbandry practices and future detailed studies up to the species level and on antibiotic profiles of the pathogens are needed.

A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the hygienic practices and bacteriological quality of milk in Dessie town, South Wollo zone in Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. The data was generated by interviewing 60 dairy cow owners and farm attendants using semi-structured questionnaire regarding milking area and barn hygiene, hygienic practice of milker, cleaning of the udder and milking equipments. The result showed that the majority of the interviewers (98.34%) milked their cows in the barn, about 88.33% clean the barn daily and others clean once, twice and three times a week. All respondents washed their hands before milking. All respondents practiced udder washing before milking but only 30% of the respondents used towel for udder drying. Plastic utensils were mainly used for milking cows and used detergents and warm water for cleaning milking equipments. Lower number of respondents (36.66%) had a habit of consuming raw milk. From a total of 70 milk samples were collected from two milking points (the teat and milking bucket), The mean total bacterial count of milk samples collected directly from the teat and the milking buckets from current finding were 5.087log10 and 5.759log10 respectively. The mean difference (0.6728 ± 0.1579) indicated the increment of bacterial count from teat to the milking bucket. The results showed very significant difference between the two points (P<0.05). About 65.71% of milk samples collected directly from the teat and milking buckets at the farm were above the accepted level 105 according to the international milk quality standard. The high count of bacteria in the milk suggests a poor bacterial quality of milk and indicating poor hygienic quality of milk. Keeping the quality of the milk is the responsibility of dairy cow owners, institutions concerned and the government. This needs training of milk producers on the importance of milk hygiene and raising awareness on risks of consumption of raw milk.