Calidad composicional higiénica y sanitaria de leche bovina en unidades productivas de pequeños y medianos productores de leche

Abstract

The production and distribution of bovine milk in Ecuador is essential for daily nutrition, especially in the province of Pichincha, which leads the national production with 18%. However, information on the quality of raw milk is limited, especially among small and medium-sized producers, who account for the majority of the country's production. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the quality of bovine milk in the Rumiñahui Canton, focusing its analysis on hygienic and sanitary quality using flow cytometry techniques. Two hundred and five milk samples were collected from different parishes, divided between small and medium-sized producers, and compositional, hygienic, and sanitary analyses were performed. The results show that both small and medium-sized producers meet the parameters established by INEN 9:2012 regarding compositional quality. However, small-sized producers have lower hygienic quality, while mediumsized producers have a 71.70% prevalence of subclinical mastitis. Furthermore, the research highlights that, despite the tradition of dairy farming, farmers do not always consider the physical condition of their animals or their environmental impact, which contributes to ecosystem degradation. The study also highlights the economic challenges faced by small-scale producers, who lack access to training, quality inputs, and credit benefits, perpetuating rural impoverishment and affecting the sustainability of the dairy industry.