Comparative study of the hygienic-sanitary, physicochemical, and microbiological quality of bovine milk in southeastern Mexico

Objective. Evaluate the hygienic-sanitary, physicochemical and microbiological quality of bovine milk for sale, produced in a family stable and in three public markets in Tabasco state. Materials and methods. The hygienic-sanitary quality was determined according to general information of the farm, facilities, milking process, cleaning and disinfection. Physicochemical quality was determined by evaluating total proteins, casein, butyric fat, lactose, non-fatty solids and density. Microbiological quality was determined by titratable acidity, alcohol test, somatic cell content, oxide-reduction potential, foreign matter, bacterial inhibitors, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria. Results. The milk produced in the family stable was evaluated with the highest physicochemical and microbiological quality, in reference to the standards evaluated by the official Mexican regulations established in Mexico by the Council for the promotion of the quality of milk and its derivatives, A. C. Instead, milk in three public markets, it was considered as rejection, indicating possible contamination during milking processes, as well as handling and transport to public markets. Conclusions. Milk samples from public markets were considered not suitable for human consumption or for the production of by-products.