TOTAL BACTERIAL COUNT, SOMATIC CELL COUNT AND PRESENCE OF AFLATOXIN M1 IN RAW MILK FROM THE “OVČE POLE” REGION, REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Dairy product quality monitoring begins at the farm and ends in the hands of the consumer. Raw milk must also meet other quality standards; it should be free of drug residues, free of added water and free of sediment, contaminants and other abnormalities. In our researches, is taken somatic cells count, the number of bacteria and Aflatoxins as indicators of the quality of raw milk from the Ovče Pole region in the period January-June, 2018. For the needs of this research, an analysis was made of 1320 samples for the presence of bacteria in raw milk, determination of somatic cell count in 478 samples as well as identification and quantification of aflatoxin M1 in 60 samples.  The results from this study indicated determination acceptable count of somatic cells in 95.5 % of the samples from raw milk while in 2 samples of raw milk, the amount of aflatoxin M1 was above limits with highest amount of 0.58 mg/kg raw milk. According to European milk quality standards, in the biggest part of the samples (89.55 %), presence of bacteria does not meet the standard. From the analyzes made by the milk producers that were the subject of analysis in this research, it can be concluded that they do not adhere to good agricultural practice, the level of milk contamination is high due to poor hygiene, improper handling of milk after milking and insufficient education of farmers for hygiene in primary production

Total bacterial count, somatic cell count and presence of Aflatoxin M1 in raw milk from the "Ovce Pole" region, Republic of North Macedonia

Dairy product quality monitoring begins at the farm and ends in the hands of the consumer. Raw milk must also meet other quality standards; it should be free of drug residues, free of added water and free of sediment, contaminants and other abnormalities. In our researches, is taken somatic cells count, the number of bacteria and Aflatoxins as indicators of the quality of raw milk from the Ovče Pole region in the period January�June, 2018. For the needs of this research, an analysis was made of 1320 samples for the presence of bacteria in raw milk, determination of somatic cell count in 478 samples as well as identification and quantification of aflatoxin M1 in 60 samples. The results from this study indicated determination acceptable count of somatic cells in 95.5 % of the samples from raw milk while in 2 samples of raw milk, the amount of aflatoxin M1 was above limits with highest amount of 0.58 mg/kg raw milk. According to European milk quality standards, in the biggest part of the samples (89.55 %), presence of bacteria does not meet the standard. From the analyses made by the milk producers that were the subject of analysis in this research, it can be concluded that they do not adhere to good agricultural practice, the level of milk contamination is high due to poor hygiene, improper handling of milk after milking and insufficient education of farmers for hygiene in primary production

Total bacterial count in raw milk from the farms from Region “Ovče Pole”, Republic of North Macedonia

Dairy product quality assurance begins at the farm and ends in the hands of the consumer. In this regard, raw milk quality is essential and is closely monitored. Raw milk must also meet other quality standards; it should be free of drug residues, free of added water and free of sediment, contaminants and other abnormalities. The overall condition and cleanliness of the dairy farm, as determined by routine inspections, are also considered. Although regulatory requirements have been instrumental in ensuring the quality of raw milk, most segments of the dairy industry feel that more stringent standards. This research study presents an insight into the number of bacteria as indicators of the quality of raw milk from the Ovče Pole region. For the needs of this research, an analysis was made of 1320 samples for the presence of bacteria in raw milk. According to European milk quality standards, in the biggest part of the samples, presence of bacteria does not meet the standard. From the analyzes made by the milk producers that were the subject of analysis in this reasearch, it can be concluded that they do not adhere to good agricultural practice, the level of milk contamination is high due to poor hygiene, improper handling of milk after milking and insufficient education of farmers for hygiene in primary production

Определување на квалитет и присуство на афлатоксин во млеко од Овчеполскиот Регион

Овој труд претставува увид на бројот на бактериите и соматските клетки, како и присуство на афлатоскинот М1 (AFM1), како индикатори за квалитет на суровото млеко од Овчеполскиот Регион. За потребите на ова истражување е спроведена анализа на 1320 примероци за присуство на бактерии во сурово млеко, 479 примероци за присуство на соматски клетки во период од јануари 2018 година, до јуни 2018 година и 60 примероци за присуство на афлатоксин М1. Резултатите индицираат дека само 10,45% од мострите од млекото ја задоволуваат националната легислатива и параметрите кои се дадени во истата. Според европските стандарди за квалитет на млеко, присуството на бактерии не го задоволува стандардот, додека параметрите за соматски клетки се на задоволувачко ниво со 95,5%. Присуството на афлатоксин М1 беше предмет на анализа за време на инцидентот со микотоксинот во периодот од март 2013 година, до ноември 2014 година. Мострите беа анализирани за AFM1 со ELISA и со HPLC флуросцентен детектор како конфирмирачки метод. Концентрациите на AFM1 го надминаа максимумот на дозволените нивоа во 2 примерока, а највисоко детектираната концентрација беше 0,58 mg/kg Од направените анализи кај млекопроизводителите кои беа предмет на анализа во овој труд, може да се заклучи дека истите не се придржуваат кон добрата земјоделска пракса, нивото на контаминација на млекото е на високо ниво, што е резултат на: недоволна хигиена, неправилно постапување со млекото после молзење и недоволна едукација на фармерите за хигиената во примарното производство. Клучни зборови: Афлатоксин М1,Афлатоксин Б1, број на соматски клетки, број на бактерии, млеко, ELISA, HPLC-F

Somatic cell count and presence of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk from the farms from Region “Ovče Pole”, Republic of North Macedonia

Somatic cell count is the common method for determination of raw milk quality. An increased amount of somatic cells results either from an inflammatory process due to the presence of an intramammary infection or, under non-pathological conditions, from physiological processes such as estrus or advanced stage of lactation. Monitoring of somatic cell numbers has been simplified by automated cell counters that allow large numbers of milk samples to be evaluated quickly. Monitoring individual quarters or composite samples from all four quarters provides specific information that is helpful in making treatment and culling decisions. Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nominus fungi under impropriate growing and storage conditions. The AFs consisted of Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 may contaminate food and feed. Maize grains and other feedstuffs such as corn silage, soybean, and press cakes from oil plants can be commonly contaminated by Aspergillus spp. The object of this study was determination of somatic cell count in 478 samples as well as identification and quantification of aflatoxin M1 in 60 samples of of raw mils from the “Ovče Pole”. The results from this study indicated acceptable count of somatic cells in 95.5 % of the samples from raw milk while in 2 samples of raw milk, the amount of aflatoxin M1 was above limits with highest amount of 0,58 mg/kg raw milk