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Quality of raw milk and payment system for quality in Ecuador

Abstract:

States legislate quality to maintain the health of the population, safety and nutritional properties of food, regulations that apply on the production and industrialization, thus Ecuador implemented a policy to improve the quality of raw milk through price. This study aimed to determine the compliance of the parameters established in the regulation of payment for quality of raw bovine milk (RPQM) in Ecuador during the period 2009-2018. Total data (n= 103204) were obtained by the milk quality laboratory of the Salesian Polytechnic University from 3 regions of the country. The parameters of fat, protein, total solids, total bacteria count (TBC) and somatic cell count (SCC), and the Ecuadorian regulations that promoted the quality and productivity of milk in this study period were analyzed. The general averages were: fat 3,80 ± 0,05 %; protein 3,12 ± 0,10 %; total solids 12,36 ± 0,16 %. SCC and TBC decreased between 2009 and 2018: SCC from 460 × 103 to 447 × 103 cells/mL and TBC from 1 million CFU/mL to averages around 200 × 103 CFU/mL, respectively. In conclusion the RPQM was positive for the chemical parameters with values above the limits established. The hygienic quality (TBC and SSC) showing improvements over time although, the SCC does not within the maximum permissible because it implies a multifactorial action for improvement being necessary to concentrate efforts on health and GMP.