Quality of raw milk available at different markets of Mymensingh region of Bangladesh

The experiment was performed to evaluate the quality of raw milk available at different markets of Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. For this purpose the raw milk samples were collected from different markets of Mymensingh (T1), Jamalpur (T2), Netrokona (T3) and Serpur (T4) districts and immediately transferred to the Dairy Technology and Microbiology Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh for analysis. Parameters studied to monitor the quality of milk samples were physical (colour, flavour, taste, texture and specific gravity), chemical (acidity, fat, ash, protein, lactose, TS and SNF) and microbiological (total viable count and coliform count). Organoleptic test revealed that the raw milk samples of Mymensingh (T1) district were yellowish white 66.66%, Whitish 33.33%; Jamalpur (T2) were yellowish white 66.66%, light yellowish white 33.33%; Netrokona (T3) were yellowish white 100% and Serpur (T4) were yellowish white 33.33%, light yellowish white 33.33% and Whitish 33.33%. Samples of T₁, T2 and T3 had normal flavor (pleasant aromatic flavour) but only T4 had 33.33% abnormal flavour. All the raw milk samples were slightly sweet in taste. Milk samples collected from Netrokona (T3) showed normal texture (free flowing liquid) but Mymensingh (T₁), Jamalpur (T₂) and Serpur (T4) had free flowing liquid 66.66% and thin texture 33.33%.The specific gravity of all raw milk samples were more or less same (1.026±0.00). There were significant (P< 0.01) differences in chemical parameters (fat and protein) between the raw milk samples.Highest fat (34.30 ±1.00 g/kg) was found in Mymensingh (T₁) and highest protein (31.90±0.20 g/kg) was found in Serpur (T4). The overall percentage of acidity was 0.16 ±0.01. The average total viable count (cfu/ml) and coliform count (cfu/ml) were 19.26x10³ and 559.164, respectively and it was observed that total viable count (cfu/ml) and coliform count (cfu/ml) of milk samples were high.Itis concluded thatthe raw milk quality of different markets of Mymensingh region of Bangladesh was more or less similar butdid not fulfill the legal standard of milk composition. Poor hygienic milking, improper cleaning of dairy utensils, unhygienic handling during marketing of raw milk and use of adulterated with addition of water mayresponsible for unhealthy and inferiority of the milk