Management tools applied to milk quality in cattle farming in the Western Amazon

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the applicability of management tools such as SWOT matrix, GUT matrix, Brainstorming, PDCA, Ishikawa diagram, and 5W2H in improving milk quality in rural properties for family labor. The survey was conducted in 18 properties in the municipality of Senador Guiomard, State of Acre, Brazil, during the period from January to December 2019. The properties were divided into two groups (treatment group-TG and control group-CG) and the data obtained through a form with 255 questions for diagnosis and analysis (LQL-GO) for somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC) were tabulated in spreadsheets (Excel®) and subjected to statistical analysis by the Wilcoxon test. Nineteen weaknesses were obtained through the GUT matrix. The implementation of milking practices using tools obtained an average reduction of 31.4% for SCC and 63% for TBC in TG and a reduction of 39.3% for SCC and an increase of 33.7% for TBC in CG. Thus, the management tools applied to milk quality are capable of generating positive results (p < 0.05) in microbiological control, facilitating quick decision-making, aiming at the correction of weaknesses, and, consequently, an increase in profitability.

Characterization of dairy farms in a family-farm system in the municipality of Senador Guiomard, Acre State, Western Amazon

“…Motta et al (2015) found that milk sold informally in the countryside of São Paulo State did not meet the hygienic and sanitary standards required by Normative Instruction 62. However, the study by Linhares et al (2021) in the same region showed that producers who carried out informal marketing were interested in introducing measures of good milking practices to improve milk quality. This is due to the more significant concern with the final consumer through direct contact with them.…”

Diagnóstico da atividade leiteira em propriedades familiares no estado do Acre, Amazônia Ocidental, Brasil

“…Quando questionados sobre qual o destino dos bezerros machos da propriedade, 53% dos entrevistados responderam que realizam o descarte ou comercializam, 40% dos entrevistados relataram que direciona animal para a fase de recria e posteriormente engorda, e, apenas 7% deixam esses animais para reprodutor da propriedade.Os resultados obtidos neste estudo para o destino dos bezerros machos nas propriedades leiteiras corroboram comLinhares et al (2021), ao afirmarem que os produtores vendem os animais machos para o abate ou destinam os novilhos para engorda,como alternativa para obtenção de uma renda extra, ratificando o interesse dos produtores em aumentar e melhorar a exploração leiteira nas propriedades, que poderá ser incrementada através da seleção de animais de maior e/ou alta produtividade e adoção de técnicas de manejo adequado.…”