Acidosis ruminal en bovinos lecheros: Implicaciones sobre la producción y la salud animal

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Capacitação de produtores rurais para a melhoria da qualidade do leite cru produzido na região de Araçatuba - SP

This paper reports the results of an extension project carried out at Unesp/Veterinary Medicine course in Araçatuba city with milk farmers of the region. The aim of the project was to supply information to farmers concerning to good quality milk production and, at the same time, to follow up the evolution of milk quality parameters, according to the current Brazilian legislation. Every 45 days, approximately, lectures were presented to milk farmers in Araçatuba city region, approaching chemical and microbiological composition of milk, prevention and detection of mastitis, hygiene proceedings in milking and conservation of milk, cleaning and sanitization operations of facilities and equipments and prevention of adulteration. During the intervals between lectures, milk samples were collected from collective milk cooling tanks and analyzed for microbiological, hygienic and physicochemical tests. The main inadequacies in milk quality were high total bacteria and somatic cells counts, low solids contents and water addition. These problems did not proceed to betterment during the project time. So, it was concluded that the time for instruction of farmers was not enough for a progress in the quality of the milk produced in the region, pointing out the need in continuing this kind of work.