ABSTRACT. The study aimed to evaluate the use of the azidiol® preservative for psychrotrophic microorganism count (PMC) in cooled raw milk. Two studies were carried out, one under controlled conditions (experiment 1) and the other under field conditions (experiment 2), in which samples of raw milk were taken with and without the use of the azidiol® preservative and analyzed at predefined times (0, 6, 12 and 24 hours - experiment 1) and at varying times (experiment 2). Analysis of variance and regression analysis using SAS were applied for data statistical analysis. Milk samples without azidiol® showed higher PMC with increasing time between sampling and analysis, while in samples preserved with azidiol®, this count remained constant. Samples of cooled raw milk intended for PMC should be collected in flasks containing the azidiol® preservative.

ABSTRACT. Technical regulations that determine milk quality standards in Brazil establish the minimum criteria that the processing industry's raw material must present. These rules can challenge the logistics sector (transport) to maintain adequate milk conservation levels. We aimed to evaluate the influence of bulk transport and storage conditions on refrigerated raw milk quality. The experiment was carried out in a dairy industry in Santa Catarina State. Information and samples of refrigerated raw milk were collected from dairy farms, from isothermal compartments of milk trucks, and from the industry's storage silo. These samples were submitted to microbiological analysis, somatic cell count (SCC), and physicochemical analysis. The results were evaluated by ANOVA and multivariate analysis (factor analysis). The transport of raw milk in bulk and the transfer of raw material to the industrial silo worsened the milk's microbiological quality (p < 0.0001) for standard plate count (SPC) and psychrotrophic microorganism count (PMC), without affecting, the physicochemical characteristics of the milk (p > 0.05). Poor hygienic conditions in milk storage rooms, in the refrigeration bulk tanks of the dairy farms, and during the transport, as well as the transport on longer routes, were related to higher SPC and psychrotrophic count while receiving milk by the dairy industry with higher temperatures was only associated with higher SPC.

Resumo O teste do álcool é amplamente utilizado na recepção dos laticínios para a verificação da estabilidade do leite cru. O leite que não é estável no teste e não apresenta acidez elevada é definido como leite instável não ácido (LINA). A sua ocorrência tem característica multifatorial e pode estar relacionada ao manejo nutricional inadequado. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a influência da infraestrutura da propriedade e da alimentação dos animais sobre a ocorrência de LINA. A infraestrutura foi caracterizada através de questionário guia semiestruturado. Analisou-se a composição centesimal do leite das propriedades, resistência ao teste do álcool, acidez titulável e o pH. Foram consideradas LINA as amostras que precipitaram em concentração de álcool menor ou igual a 72%, com acidez e pH normais. Nos alimentos coletados, determinou-se o teor de fibra em detergente neutro. Os dados foram avaliados através de análise fatorial e de agrupamento utilizando o pacote estatístico SAS. O uso de suplementos alimentares volumosos e concentrados, com consequente melhoria da produtividade animal e maior teor de lactose no leite foi relacionado com menor ocorrência de LINA nas condições estudadas. A ocorrência de LINA apresentou pouca relação com a infraestrutura das propriedades e com a estação do ano.

Abstract The alcohol test is largely used in the dairy reception platform in order to verify raw milk stability. Milk that is not stable in the test and does not present high acidity is defined as unstable non-acid milk (UNAM). Its occurrence has a multifactorial characteristic and may be related to inadequate nutritional management. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of farm structure and animal feed on the occurrence of UNAM. The farm structure was characterized by means of a semi-structured questionnaire guide. Milk composition of the farms, resistance to alcohol test, titratable acidity and pH were analyzed. UNAM samples were those that precipitated at alcohol concentration less than or equal to 72%, with normal acidity and pH. Neutral detergent fiber was determined in the feed collected. Data were evaluated using factor and cluster analysis by using SAS statistical package. The use of roughages and concentrated food supplements with consequent improvement of animal productivity and higher lactose content in milk were associated with lower occurrence of UNAM under the studied conditions. The occurrence of UNAM had little relation with the farm structure and with the season of the year.

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do tempo de armazenagem do leite em tanques de expansão direta, modelo de duas e quatro ordenhas, sobre a contagem bacteriana total (CBT) e a contagem de bactérias psicrotróficas (CBP). As avaliações foram conduzidas em 19 propriedades leiteiras, localizadas nas regiões Serrana e Oeste de Santa Catarina, as quais utilizavam equipamentos de refrigeração do leite por expansão direta, modelo de duas ou quatro ordenhas, com taxa de ocupação variando de 60 a 100% de sua capacidade. Antes e após cada ordenha, foram coletadas amostras de leite para análise de CBT, CBP e contagem de células somáticas (CCS), totalizando aproximadamente 36 horas de armazenagem (quatro ordenhas). O tempo de armazenagem do leite cru resfriado não afetou a CBT e CBP (P&gt;0,05) em ambos os modelos. O modelo de tanque de expansão afetou somente a CBP (P&lt;0,05), com média inferior para amostras de leite de tanques de duas ordenhas em relação ao de quatro ordenhas (3,61±0,104 e 4,00±0,120UFC mL-1 (log10), respectivamente). Conclui-se que tanques de resfriamento por expansão direta, utilizados dentro de suas especificações quanto ao volume de leite a ser resfriado, permitem a manutenção da CBT e da CBP em sistemas de transporte do leite ao laticínio a cada 48 horas.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the cold storage period of raw milk in bulk tanks, using two and four milking models, on total bacterial count (TBC) and psychrotrophic bacterial count (PBC). A total of 19 dairy farms, located in West and Uplands of the Santa Catarina State - Brazil, was been evaluated. Each dairy farm had direct expansion bulk milk tank and an occupancy rate varying from 60% to 100%. Samples were collected before and after each milking procedure to determine PBC and TBC, totalizing four milking and a storage period of 36 hours. The storage time did not affect TBC and PBC (P&gt;0.05). The bulk tank model only affected the PBC (P &lt; 0.05), with two-milking model presenting a lower mean than four-milking model (3.61±0.104 and 4.00±0.120CFU mL-1 (log10)). It was possible to conclude that bulk tanks, when used properly concerning raw milk volume to be chilled, allow the TBC and PBC to remain stable in the transportation systems of raw milk to the industry each 48 hours.