Abstract #T144

# T144
Evaluation of microbial quality of raw goat and ewe’s milk produced in Sabrata, Libya.
Yahiah Abojnah1, Nahed Khatabi2, Said Gnan2, Marvin Moncada*3, 1University of Tripoli, Tripoli Libya, 2School of Science, Academy of Graduate Studies, Tripoli, Libya, 3School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.

The objective of this project was to evaluate the microbial quality of the raw goat and ewe’s milk in the region of Sabrata, Libya. One hundred random samples of bulk tank raw ewe’s and goat’s milk (50 samples each) were collected from different farms in Sabrata, Libya region. All samples were subjected to microbiological tests which included total plate counts (TPC), total coliform counts, yeast and mold counts, Staphylococcus aureus, psychotrophic, thermophilic, proteolytic and lipolytic bacteria counts as well as pH measuring. There was a significant (P < 0.05) differences between all samples analyzed on total plate counts, thermophilic, coliform and lipolytic bacteria counts. The obtained results showed that the mean TPC log cfu/mL were 6.36 and 4.62 respectively. Psychrotrophic and thermophilic counts were detected in 90 and 88%; 88 and 76% of the samples with mean values in log cfu/mL of 3.67 and 3.18; 2.79 and 3.56 respectively. Results also indicated that Staphylococcus aureus and coliforms were present in 100 and 100%; 98 and 98% of the samples with mean values in log cfu/mL 2.82 and 3.28; 3.63 and 3.18 respectively. On the other hand proteolytic and lipolytic bacteria were present in 100 and 100%; 98 and 94% of the samples with mean values in log cfu/mL 2.88 and 3.17; 2.61 and 2.61 respectively. Yeast and mold were detected in 88 and 88% of the samples with mean values in log cfu/mL < 1.17 and < 1.17. The mean values of pH in all samples analyzed were 6.46 and 6.5. In conclusion, the relatively high microbial count reflecting the poor sanitation and hygienic practices in the region evaluated.

Key Words: microbial, goat-ewe, milk