A comparative study on the microbiological and chemical composition of cow milk from different locations in Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Sixty samples of raw cow milk were collected from four different locations in Madurai for their microbiological and chemical compositions analysis. The average levels of major chemical components were: fat (6.14%), crude protein (3.77%), lactose (4.25%), total solids (18.10%) and ash (0.80%). Microbiological enumeration revealed for the counts of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, 5.84 log cfu/ml; bacterial endospores, 2.37 log cfu/ml; lactic acid bacteria, 4.46 log cfu/ml; coliforms, 2.76 log cfu/ml; Escherichia coli, 1.63 log cfu/ml and Staphylococcus aureus, 1.92 log cfu/ml. Listeria spp. were below detection level in all of the samples. The microbiological quality of raw cow milk was judged marginal and indicates the need for improved hygienic standards.