Assessment of milking hygiene awareness and practices among the dairy farmers in Baghabarighat milk shed areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Many milk-borne epidemics of human diseases have been reported due to contamination of milk by dairy workers’ spoiled hands, unsanitary utensils, flies and polluted water supplies. In addition, most milk-borne zoonoses are mostly acquired through consumption of infected milk and milk products. Information on milking hygiene practices and knowledge of farmers’ remains scarce in Bangladesh. We aimed to evaluate the milk hygiene awareness and practices among the dairy farmers in Baghabarighat milk shed areas of Sirajgonj and Pabna district in Bangladesh.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 270 randomly selected small holder dairy farmers during October 2018 to March 2019. Data on milk hygiene practices and general handling of milk were collected by face to face interview and direct observation using a questionnaire.

Results: We observed that all respondents practiced manual milking with a frequency of twice per day. About 60% respondents did not wash their hands before milking and others wash their hands only with water. Mostly tube well water was used for washing utensils. About 67.0% respondents didn’t wash udder before milking and all of them used oil as lubricant. Around 67% and 33.3% dairy farmers had access to pipe water and tube well water supply to their barn, respectively. None of the farmers practiced post milking teat dipping and used towel for wiping udder after washing. Most of the farmers (97%) provided feed to animal before, during and after milking. None of the farmers stored milk in cool room and 78.2% farmers delivered milk within 1-2 hours to milk collector. About 89% respondents delivered drug treated milk to collector.

Conclusion: The hygienic practices are far below standard level among the dairy farmers in the study areas. Thus, there are risk of bovine mastitis and milk-borne zoonoses by consuming contaminated milk. Farmers’ education on milking hygiene practices and handling of milk to create awareness is needed.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33109/bjvmjd2020rm3