Physico-chemical and microbiological quality of raw milk produced by smallholder farmers in Gulu City, Northern Uganda

Abstract

Smallholder dairy farmers in Northern Uganda sell raw milk to the final consumers without conducting quality control measures. This study evaluated physico-chemical and microbiological quality of milk produced by smallholder farmers in Gulu City. Samples of raw milk were collected from forty (40) smallholder dairy farmers rearing lactating exotic breed of dairy cows (Holstein Friesian) in zero grazing units and eight (8) from milk collection centers. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21.0) by employing descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA and t-test to separate significant means at 5% level of significance. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in the content of solid-not-fat (SNF), specific gravity, pH value, lactic acid, Coliform count and total plate count of colony forming unit among four divisions in Gulu City. There was no discernible (p > 0.05) difference in protein as well as fat content for milk sampled from the study divisions. In conclusion, smallholder dairy farmers in Gulu City conduct limited recommended key practices for raw milk production leading to compromised microbiological and physico-chemical quality. Further research is needed on in-depth analysis of the different species of micro-organisms in raw milk from both local and exotic breeds of dairy cattle under the smallholder farming system in Northern Uganda.

Keywords:

• Microbiological quality
• physico-chemical quality
• raw milk
• smallholder dairy farmers

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• M. Luisa Escudero-Gilete, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

SUBJECTS:

• Food Chemistry; Food Microbiology; Animals & Ethics

Acknowledgements

The Production Department staff of Gulu District Local Government and former Gulu Municipality are acknowledged for assisting in identifying dairy farmers from Gulu City. We acknowledge field assistants who helped us with collection of milk samples from the dairy farmers.

Disclosure statement

The authors state that there was no conflict of interest with relation to this article’s publication.

Data availability statement

The study related data can be made available upon request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alfred Opiyo

Alfred Opiyo has Master of Science in Food Security and Community Nutrition from Gulu University, Bachelor of Animal Production and Management from Busitema University, Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Gulu University, Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from Uganda Management Institute, Currently he is the Acting District Veterinary Officer, Gulu District Local Government, Production Department and part time Lecturer at University of the Sacred Heart Gulu, Faculty of Management Science. His research interest is on investigating quality of raw milk produced by smallholder in developing countries like Uganda.

Kenneth Kidega

Kenneth Kidega Kenneth Kidega is currently a student at Gulu University in Uganda, in a 5 -year study programme leading to the award of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Applied Biosciences. Kenneth holds a Master of Science Degree in Food Security and Nutrition from Gulu University and, a Bachelor of Animal Production and Management Degree from Busitema University in Uganda. He served as a research associate under Community Action Research Project (CARP+1) in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Gulu University from 2018 to 2023.

Ipolto Okello-Uma

Ipolto Okello-Uma Prof. Ipolto Okello-Uma holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Windsor (Canada); a Postgraduate Diploma in Bacteriology from Toronto University (Canada); a Master of Science in Dairy and Food Science from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada; Ph.D. in Animal Science with Specialty in Dairy Science (Technology and Management) from Makerere University, Uganda (1975). He is a Professor in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Food Science and Postharvest Technology where he served as Head of the Department from 2010 to August 2020 and has mentored many junior staff and graduate students.

Solomon Olum

Solomon Olum Solomon Olum holds a PhD in Bioscience Engineering, specializing in Food Science and Nutrition from Ghent University in Belgium. He is also a holder of the degree of Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition and a Bachelor of Agriculture from Makerere and Gulu Universities, respectively. He is a Lecturer in the Department of Food Science and Postharvest Technology and He is involved on many Food Systems Research projects.