The influence of the climatology of the semi-arid from Alagoas-Brazil on the raw milk microbiota

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the raw milk produced in the semiarid region of the Alagoas state, Brazil being influenced by bovine thermal control index and vegetation index. The raw milk was collected after the dairy cow of 12 small rural areas (semi-arid) of Alagoas state during four seasons. Fifty-eight collected raw milk samples were subjected to examine microbiologically for coliforms, Escherichia coli and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus. Only 02 rural associations presented low levels of microbiological contamination, which were located in areas of climatic conditions and parameters of Bovine Thermal Comfort Index (BCTI) and vegetation index favorable, but 10 rural associations presented high counting of coliforms at 45°C, Escherichia coli. The BTCI and Vegetation Index have shown to influence growth of coliforms at 45°C and Escherichia coli with high incidence during summer condition. The BCTI and vegetation index had influenced the coagulase-positive Staphylococcus count especially during the end of summer and start of the autumn seasons.