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Abstract: The present study aimed to improve the microbiological quality of the milk, from the cow’s udder to the selling point by container washing and disinfecting. The total counts (TC), Enterobacteriaceae counts (EBC) were used as quality indicators. The results showed a significant decrease of milk flora at the selling point, from 1.6×107 ±1.3×107 (control) to 4.8×105 ±0,8×107 (intervention) colony forming units per ml (cfu ml−1) for TC and 1.2×106 ±1.1×106 (control) to 0.9×104 ±1.1×104 (intervention) cfu ml−1 for EBC. The study suggests that in milk production area, besides udder infection and water quality, hygiene behaviour with respect to hand washing, container’s cleaning and disinfection are the key areas that remain of relevance to milk hygiene intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The microbiological quality of raw cows’ milk, taken at different intervals from the udder to the selling point in Bamako was studied. Prior to taking the milk samples, each container and all the related material used were flushed with sterile water and bacteriological determination were made. A strong increase in the total count (TC) of bacteria was observed during transport from the farm to the market (107 colony forming unit per ml (CFU ml−1)). The main indicators considered were TC, Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus. The milk containers of the farmer and the milk vendor played a major role in the increase in the milk flora that occurred during transport from the farm to the selling points. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]