Evaluation of the quality and presence of antimicrobial residues in fresh milk in the Extreme South of
Bahia.
quality control; single health; dairy farming; dairy productivity; legislation.
Milk is an indispensable food in human nutrition and diet, and is among the most important products of Brazilian agriculture. The milk agribusiness and its derivatives play an important role in supplying food and generating employment and income for the population. Since milk is a highly consumed product and considering its importance, it must present adequate sanitary conditions, where various parameters are used to characterize its quality, such as the absence of pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic residues, making it crucial to monitor and evaluate these parameters to ensure the quality of the product and minimize risks to the health of the individuals who consume it. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the quality and presence of antimicrobial residues in fresh milk in the Far South of Bahia. Samples of fresh milk were collected from informal businesses in the Teixeira de Freitas micro-region and from dairy farms in the Far South of Bahia. As soon as the samples were collected, they were packed in an isothermal box and transported to the laboratory of the Federal University of Southern Bahia for analysis. The fresh milk samples were analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics, such as pH, temperature, SCC, density, microbiological characteristics and tests to verify the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The Eclipse 50®, Charm-test™ and Blue-Yellow kits were used to detect antimicrobial residues. In order to provide an overview of dairy productivity, metadata from the Municipal Livestock Survey and the Quarterly Milk Survey (IBGE) and CEPEA was analyzed, referring to the number of production units, the amount of raw milk, chilled or not, purchased, the number of cows milked in the establishments, the value of production and the amount of milk sold. All the data obtained (experimental and metadata) was tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis and compared with what is recommended in current legislation.