A Study On Bacterial Contaminats Of Raw Milk In Small Dairy Producing Units In Omdurman, Khartoum State

Sixty samples were collected from small dairy producing units in Omdurman, Khartoum state to study the bacteriological quality of milk. Collected samples included thirty-six milk samples (30 from lactating cows, and 6 from bulk tanks), six swabs from milker’s hands, six swabs from milk utensils, six samples from water which used in the farms, and six samples from the environment of the units. All milk samples were investigated by total plate count and milk ring test. Results revealed that milk produced in these units was of good quality according to tropical standards, although 47% of samples were positive to milk ring test. Many bacterial contaminants were isolated from different samples. Bacillus cereus was the most common (25% of the isolates). The environment of these producing units was the most probable source of this bacterium