Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of cattle management practices on raw milk quality on farms operating in a two-stage dairy chain

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In many developing countries, milk production varies greatly according to farm size, cattle breed, and milking practices. However, production systems often are dominated by smallholder farms. Therefore, relatively small volumes of milk are delivered daily from numerous farms to intermediate cooperatives which supply industrial units. This paper argues that in such two-stage dairy chains, milk quality could be improved by focusing on farming practices rather than on the testing of individual deliveries. Indeed, it is difficult to analyze their quality due to technical, economic, and logistic limitations. The objective of this study is to link on-farm practices with milk chemical quality parameters (fat and protein) and hygienic quality criteria (Aerobic Plate Count, APC and Coliforms). Cattle management practices were monitored monthly over one year on 23 farms located on an irrigation scheme in Morocco. 276 milk samples were analyzed. The monthly variability of milk quality parameters was then characterized. Results show that average cow milk chemical parameters vary within a normal range. They remain primarily linked to the genetic type of cows, the lactation stage, and the conversion of feed concentrates’ net energy into milk. Overall milk hygienic quality was poor (APC and Coliforms counts were 100 fold international norms), due essentially to a lack of hygiene and inadequate milking conditions (hands, udder, and teat washing, type of bucket used, dirtiness of cows...). It is suggested that a close monitoring of herd management practices may allow the indirect control of milk quality parameters, thereby avoiding costly analyses of numerous smallholder milk deliveries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Weshah, R., 2003. The role of UNESCO in sustainable water resources management in the Arab World, Desalination, 152, 1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asri, A., Aittaleb, A. and Duplan, J.M., 1991. La race bovine marocaine blonde d’Oulmès-Zaër, Animal Genetic Resources Information, 8, 60–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Beerens, H., Hass Brac de la Perriere, B. and Gavini, F., 2000. Evaluation of the hygienic quality of raw milk based on the presence of bifidobacteria: the cow as a source of faecal contamination, International Journal of Food Microbiology 54, 163–169

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bobe, G., Lindberg, G.L., Freeman, A.E. and Beitz, D.C., 2007. Composition of milk protein and milk fatty acids is stable for cows differing in genetic merit for milk production, Journal of Dairy Science, 90, 3 955–3 960

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bramley, A.J. and McKinnon, C.H., 1990. The microbiology of raw milk. In: R.K. Robinson (ed.), Dairy Microbiology, Vol. 1, (Elsevier Science Publishers, London), 163–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Castillo, A.R., Taverna, A.M., Páez, R.R., Cuatrin, A., Colombatto, D., Bargo, F., García, M.S., García, P.T., Chavez, M., Beaulieu, A.D. and Drackley, J.K., 2006. Fatty acid composition of milk from dairy cows fed fresh alfalfa based diets, Animal Feed Science and Technology, 131, 241–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corniaux, C., Duteurtre, G., Dieye, P.N. and Poccard Chapuis, R., 2006. Les minilaiteries comme modèle d’organisation des filières laitières en Afrique de l’Ouest: succès et limites, Revue d’Élevage et de Médecine vétérinaire des Pays tropicaux, 58, 237–243

    Google Scholar 

  • De Boer, J.A., 1981. Socioeconomic aspects of dairying in developing countries, Journal of Dairy Science, 64, 2 453–2 462

    Google Scholar 

  • Delgado-Pertiñez, M., Alcalde, M.J., Guzmán-Guerrero, J.L., Castel, J.M., Mena, Y. and Caravaca, F. 2003. Effect of hygiene-sanitary management on goat milk quality in semi-extensive systems in Spain, Small Ruminant Research, 47, 51–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demeyer, D. and Doreau, M. 1999. Targets and procedures for altering ruminant meat and milk lipids, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 58, 593–607

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faye, B. and Barnouin, J., 1985. Objectivation de la propreté des vaches laitières et des stabulations. L’indice de propreté, Bulletin Technique du Centre de Recherche Zootechnique et Vétérinaire de Theix, 59, 61–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandini, G., Maltecca, C., Pizzi, F., Bagnato, A. and Rizzi, R., 2007. Comparing local and commercial breeds on functional traits and profitability: the case of Reggiana dairy cattle, Journal of Dairy Science, 90, 2004–2011

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gran, H.M., Wetlesen, A., Mutukumira, A.N., Rukure, G. and Narvhus, J.A., 2003. Occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in raw milk, cultured pasteurised milk and naturally soured milk produced at small-scale dairies in Zimbabwe, Food Control, 14, 539–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halloway, G., Nicholson, C., Delgado, C., Staal, S. and Ehui, S., 2000. Agroindustrialization through institutional innovation: transaction costs, cooperatives and milk-market development in the east-African highlands, Agricultural Economics, 23, 279–288

    Google Scholar 

  • IDF (International Dairy Federation), 1974. Milk bacteria count, International Dairy Federation Standards 73/74, Brussels, 7 p

  • IDF (International Dairy Federation), 1987. Milk coliforms count, International Dairy Federation Standards 14/87, Brussels, 9 p

  • Imran, A. and Jindal, V.K., 2006. An automatic procedure for rapid online estimation of raw milk quality, LWT-Food Science and Technology, 39, 432–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrige, R. (ed.) 1988. Alimentation des bovins, ovins et caprins, Paris, (INRA Éditions), 476 p

  • Jarrige, F. and Touzard, J.M., 2001. Les mutations de l’organisation coopérative à travers l’évolution de ses règles. La rémunération de la vendange dans les caves coopératives du Midi, Revue Internationale d’Économie Sociale, 280, 36–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelsey, J.A., Corl, B.A., Collier, R.J. and Bauman, D.E., 2003. The effect of breed, parity, and stage of lactation on Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) in milk fat from dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science, 86, 2 588–2 597

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kivaria, F.M., Noordhuizen, J. P. T. M. and Kapaga, A.M., 2006. Evaluation of the hygienic quality and associated public health hazards of raw milk marketed by smallholder dairy producers in the Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 38, 185–194

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuper M., Le Gal, P.-Y., Moulin, C.-H., Puillet, L., Sraïri, M.T. and Elbahri, M., 2006. Typologie et modélisation des étables laitières dans le perimètre irrigué du Tadla (Maroc), (CIRAD, Montpellier), 43 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Gal, P.-Y., Papaïconomou, H., Meyer, E. and Lyne, P., 2005. Combined impact of alternative relative cane payment systems and harvest scheduling on growers’ revenues, Proceedings of the South African Sugar Technology Association, 79, 416–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Gal, P.-Y., Kuper, M., Moulin, C.-H., Puillet, L. and Sraïri, M.T., 2007a. Dispositifs de coordination entre industriel, éleveurs et périmètre irrigué dans un bassin de collecte laitier au Maroc, Cahiers Agricultures, 16, 265–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Gal P.-Y., Oudin E., Kuper M., Moulin C.-H. and Sraïri T., 2007b. Rôle des coopératives dans le fonctionnement du bassin de collecte laitier du Tadla (Maroc), (Atelier Sirma, 2007, Nabeul, Tunisia), Retrieved September 21st 2007 from http://www.eau-sirma.net/resumes/Legal_ppt_07.pdf, 16 p

  • Ma, Y., Ryan, C., Barbano, D.M., Galton, D.M., Rudan, M.A. and Boor, K.J., 2000. Effects of somatic cell count on quality and shelf-life of pasteurized fluid milk, Journal of Dairy Science, 83, 264–274

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moll, H.A.J., Staal, S.J. and Ibrahim, M.N.M., 2007. Smallholders dairy production and markets: a comparison of production systems in Zambia, Kenya and Sri Lanka, Agricultural Systems, 94, 593–603

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng-Kwai-Hang, K. F., Hayes, J. F., Moxley, J. E. and Monardes, H.G., 1982. Environmental influences on protein content and composition of bovine milk, Journal of Dairy Science, 65, 1 993–1 998

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nin, A., Ehun, S. and Benin, S., 2007. Livestock productivity in developing countries: an assessment, Handbook of Agricultural Economics, 3, 2 461–2 532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noordhuizen, J.P.T.M. and Metz, J.H.M., 2005. Quality control on dairy farms with emphasis on public health, food safety, animal health and welfare, Livestock Production Science, 94, 51–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Official Journal of the European Union. 1992. Council Directive 92/46/EEC of 16th June 1992 laying down the health rules for the production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products, Retrieved September 21st 2007 from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri = CELEX:31992L0046:EN:HTML

  • ORMVAT (Regional Office of Agricultural Development in Tadla), 2005. Situation de l’élevage dans le perimètre irrigué du Tadla (Fquih Ben Salah, Morocco), 15 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Owango, M., Staal, S. J., Kenyanjui, M., Lukuyu, B., Njubi D. and Thorpe W., 1998. Dairy co-operatives and policy reform in Kenya: effects of livestock service and milk market liberalisation, Food Policy, 23, 173–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmquist, D. L., Beaulieu, A.D. and Barbano, D.M., 1993. Feed and animal factors influencing milk fat composition, Journal of Dairy Science, 76, 1 753–1 771

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pankey, J.W., 1989. Premilking udder hygiene, Journal of Dairy Science, 72, 1 308–1 312

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS, 1994. Users guide: statistics, Vers. 6. Cary, NC, USA, SAS Institute.

  • Sharma, A.K., Wilcox, C.J., Martin, F.G. and Thatcher, W.W. 1990. Effects of stage of lactation and pregnancy and their interactions on milk yield and constituents, Journal of Dairy Science, 73, 1586–1592

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soler, A., Ponsell, C., De Paz, M. and Nuñez, M., 1995. The microbiological quality of milk produced in the Balearic Islands, International Dairy Journal, 5, 69–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sraïri, M.T. and Ilham, A., 2000. Dairy husbandry in irrigated areas and its sensitivity to climatic hazards: the Moroccan experience. In: F. Guessous, N. Rihani and A. Ilham (eds.), Proceedings of an international seminar on “Livestock production and climatic uncertainty in the Mediterranean”, Agadir, Morocco, 1998, (Wageningen Pers, The Netherlands), 321–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Sraïri, M.T., Hasni Alaoui, I., Hamama, A. and Faye, B., 2005. Relations entre pratiques d’élevage et qualité globale du lait de vache en étables suburbaines au Maroc, Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire, 156, 155–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton, J.D., 1984. Feeding and milk fat production, Animal Production, 9, 43–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Tosun, D., Demirbas, N., Gölge, E. and Cukur, F., 2007. The role and importance of milk collection center in milk supply chain in Turkey: the case of Izmir Province, In: European Agroeconomists Association (ed.), Adding Value to the Agro-Food Supply Chain in The Future Euromediterranean Space, (Barcelona), Retrieved October 4th 2007 from http://www.medcon.creda.es/Posters/Tosun.pdf

  • Val-Arreola, D., Kebreab, E., Mills, J.A.N., Wiggins, S.L. and France, J., 2004. Forage production and nutrient availability in small-scale dairy systems in central Mexico using linear programming and partial budgeting, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 69, 191–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valeeva, I.N., Huirne, R.B.M., Meuwissen, M.P.M. and Oude Lansink, A.G.J.M., 2007. Modeling farm-level strategies for improving food safety in the dairy chain, Agricultural Systems, 94, 528–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, G.P., Dunshea, F.R. and Doyle, P.T., 2004. Effects of nutrition and management on the production and composition of milk fat and protein: a review, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 55, 1 009–1 028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zweifel, C., Muehlherr, J.E., Ring, M. and Stephan, R., 2005. Influence of different factors in milk production on standard plate count of raw small ruminant’s bulk-tank milk in Switzerland, Small Ruminant Research, 58, 63–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted with the support of the SIRMA project (Water Saving in Irrigation Systems in North Africa), financed by French institutional co-operation and North African countries. The authors address their special thanks to the dairy farmers of the Tadla scheme for their kind participation and support in herd monitoring. The help of Mr. Letourmy P. (CIRAD, Montpellier) in the statistical analyses was well appreciated, as were the suggestions of improvement provided by Mr. Moulin C.-H. on an earlier version of this paper. Last but not least, the authors would like to thank Mr Elayachi A., local executive officer of the Tadla dairy factory, who provided crucial logistical support.

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. Kuper

    Present address: Department of Water, Environment and Infrastructure, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box 6 202, Rabat, 10 101, Morocco

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Production and Biotechnology, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box 6 202, Rabat, 10 101, Morocco

    M. T. Sraïri & H. Benhouda

  2. Cirad, UMR G-Eau, Montpellier, 34398, France

    M. Kuper

  3. Cirad, UMR Innovation, Montpellier, 34398, France

    P. Y. Le Gal

Authors
  1. M. T. Sraïri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Benhouda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Kuper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Y. Le Gal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. T. Sraïri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sraïri, M.T., Benhouda, H., Kuper, M. et al. Effect of cattle management practices on raw milk quality on farms operating in a two-stage dairy chain. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 259–272 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9183-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9183-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation