Análise de índices de qualidade do leite produzido em uma fazenda no município de Uberlândia-MG relacionando com a sazonalidade climática

Abstract

Milk is a fundamental food for human and animal nutrition, and the search for quality and microbiological safety in the industry is necessary. The aim of this study was to analyse the main quality indices of the milk produced on a farm located in the municipality of Uberlândia- MG and to correlate them with climatic seasonality. We analysed retrospective data for the years 2023 and 2024, provided by the Itambé dairy, to which the farm delivers its milk. In general, the farm has significant milk production, with an average of 300 cows in lactation, meeting the requirements of the IN 76 legislation of 2018, with parameters within expectations. Only the SCC changed in two months, with values above 600,000 Cs/ml, but the index returned to normal in subsequent months after correcting the management practices. The statistical analysis used the Student's t-test for parameters that had a normal distribution, with a significance level of 5%, using the R programme. The Wilcoxon test was used for data that did not show a normal distribution (p< 0.05). The Binomial test for two proportions was used for the qualitative data on microorganisms prevalent in cases of mastitis, extracted from the ON FARM application. A significant correlation with seasonality was found only for the monthly milk production index, the number of lactating cows and the mastitis index, indicating that when mastitis increases in the herd, especially in rainy months, the number of lactating cows decreases and, consequently, the monthly production, which could be inferred from the fact that in the water season there is contamination of the teats, greater environmental challenges and difficulties in treatment. There was no correlation between the other factors, due to interference from other components. There are cases of both clinical and subclinical mastitis, with a higher prevalence of clinical mastitis with microorganisms compatible with contagious and environmental mastitis, making it necessary to adopt certain measures to improve teat hygiene during milking, cow housing and correct waste management, in order to reduce the incidence of contamination, especially by faeces. Pasture management and protein supplementation could also be evaluated in order to increase the total solids in the milk, which in some months were lower than recommended, especially fat.