Qualidade de leite cru produzido na região do Norte Pioneiro do Paraná

Abstract

Produce milk in compliance with the quality requirements established by Brazilian legislation is still a challenge to be overcome by many producers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of milk produced by producers of Pioneer North of Paraná State. Twenty-five milk producers from the cities of Santo Antônio da Platina, Carlópolis, Jacarézinho, São José, and Siqueira Campos were selected and three samples of each producer were collected in January, February and March 2013, totalling 75 samples. The samples were sent to the Laboratory of Paraná Association of Holstein Cattle Breeders for Total Bacterial Count (TBC), Somatic Cell Count (SCC), and analyses of protein, fat, lactose, total solids, casein and non-fat dry extract (NDE). The average values for fat, protein, NDE and TBC were in accordance with the standards, while the average of SCC exceeded the limit determined by the legislation. Evaluating the results individually, it was found that 26 samples (34.7%) had at least one requirement in disagreement with the limits established by the legislation, being four samples (5.3%) with results below the established limit for fat, eleven samples (14.5%) above the limit for TBC and 13 (17.3%) for SCC. SCC showed positive correlation with the percentage of protein and negative for lactose, whereas TBC showed no correlation with any of the evaluated components.