A total of 160 raw cow milk samples were collected randomly from different dairy shops in northern Jordan at early morning during spring months (March to May) to determine their sanitary status. In addition, questionnaire concerned conditions of milk production, handling, transportation and marketing were answered by one hundred dairy farmers and one hundred milk retailers. The mean value of milk pH was 6.56 while its Titeratable acidity (T.A.) was 0.199%, which did not meet the Jordanian standards (JS). The percentages of compatibility of T.A., Clot On Boiling (COB), Methylene Blue Reduction Time (MBRT) and Alcohol Precipitation Test (APT) with the (JS) were 46%, 78.75%, 77% and 73.2%, respectively. The mean value of Aerobic Plate Count (APC) was 11.2 x 106 cfu/ml which, was above the highest acceptable limit of the J.S. (4 x 106 cfu/ml). Only five samples (3%) had acceptable quality in respect to the APe. Coliforms had been isolated from 88% of the samples with a mean count of 2.95 X 10 5 cfu/ml. The mean Staphylococci count was 1.66 x 105 cfu/ml and 58.47% of Staphylococci isolates were positive to coagulase test. The incidence of Enterococci in raw milk was 86% from which 32.9% were Enterococcus feacalis. These results indicated that milk was highly contaminated with microorganisms and produced as well as marketed under unsatisfactory hygienic measures. ملخص: اجريت هذه الدراسة الكيميائية والميكروبية 160 مائة وستين عينة حليب خام استنادا الي اخبار تواجد انزيم البروكسيدير وقد جمعت العينات بطريقة عشوائية من محلات الالبان بشمال الاردن لبيان مدي حالتها الصحية |
