Influence of milk production systems and practices on somatic cell count and total bacterial count in western Paraná

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate milk quality for somatic cell count (SCC) analysis and total bacterial count (TBC) in agroecological production systems and conventional systems, relating them to the frequency of milking practices and types of facilities. The study was conducted in 2013 and 2014, in the western region of Paraná State, Brazil. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to identify management practices of producers in the 17 dairy systems (DS) in the city of Diamante d'Oeste and the 27 DS in Toledo. Milk sampling was performed monthly. Data were analyzed using two statistical methods. These were then used to create cross tabulation of groups with production systems and practices that can influence product quality. Cluster classification analysis allowed grouping of the initial 44 production systems into three homogeneous groups: Group 1, with better quality regarding the normative instruction 62 (NI62), with average values of SCC 407.37 (cells × 1000/mL) and TBC 210.50 (cfu × 1000/mL); Group 2, with SCC 328.50 (cells × 1000/mL) and TBC 699.75 (cfu × 1000/mL), both outside the NI62 parameters; and Group 3, with SCC 680.25 (cells × 1000/mL), considered low- and high-value TBC 1775.25 (cfu × 1000/mL), out of NI62. The results indicate that management practices and some other preventions adopted during milking are the determining factors of milk quality. Therefore, SCC and TBC levels are not determined by agroecological or conventional production systems, but rather, these levels are determined by the practices differentially adopted by the production systems.