Milk production has been considered increasingly important in the Brazilian economy despite being characterized as typical practice of small producers with low productivity. Nevertheless, little financial investment has been made resulting in low quality milk production with high microbiological counts. The objective of this work was to establish a relation between hygienic practices of milking and production and the microbiological quality of milk. A questionnaire focusing on the characteristics of production, milking, and sanitary conditions was administered in 60 milk farms in the city of Viçosa, MG - Brazil, from which milk samples were collected for determining the counts of mesophilic aerobes (MA) and psychrotrophics (PSI). The majority of the producers was characterized as small with less than 15 animals in lactation and daily average production less than 50 L. Hygienic practices were adopted by the majority of producers, mainly by those with average daily production higher than 100 L (significant considering pre and post-dipping, and CMT). The result of the application of these practices was the low counts of MA and PSI with lower averages in milk farms that use refrigeration after milking (Tukey, p < 0.05).
production characteristics; milking practices; mesophilic aerobes; psychrotrophics; refrigeration
