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Summary of Raw Goat Milk Quality Test Results 2004 and 2005

Author: Nadean Kennedy - Dairy Food Safety Program Coordinator (A)/OMAFRA
Creation Date: 01 April 2006
Last Reviewed: 01 April 2006

Producer Numbers

Currently, there are 163 goat producers in Ontario.

Test Results Summary

A summary of the Inhibitory test results (Table 1) and Standard Plate Count (SPC) Table 2 for 2004 and 2005 of raw goat milk samples, which are conducted once a month on a random basis, are presented in the tables below. The results of additional testing conducted by the goat milk marketing organizations is not included here.

For SPC, 88% of the producers samples tested in 2005 meet the regulatory standard of less than 50,000 cfu/ml. The majority of these samples (82%) had counts of less than or equal to 25,000 cfu/ml. In 2004, 84% of the producers samples tested met the achievable level of less than 50,000. The majority of these samples (76%) had counts of less than or equal to 25,000.

The median (6,450) in 2005 has slightly improved compared to the median (6,650) in 2004. Medians are the "middle of the road" results, in other words, half the results are less than the median, and half the results are greater. Averages are not used to compare test results since averages can be distorted by a few samples with very high counts therefore giving an inaccurate picture of the overall milk quality.
These results indicate an improvement in the overall quality of the goat milk.

However, 13% in 2005, and 5% in 2004, of the test results exceeded 100,000 cfu/ml. Industry experience has shown that the majority of high SPC counts are due to malfunctioning milking systems wash cycles, poor equipment cleaning practices, problems with cooling of the milk and worn rubber parts.

Table 1 - Inhibitor Results Summary
Year # samples # samples confirmed positive for inhibitor % Positive
2005 1823 3 0.17
2004 1852 0 0

Table 2a SPC Test Results Summary
2005 Median :6,450 cfu/ml
Regulatory Standard <50,000 cfu/ml
2005 Month Samples Tested <25,000 <50,000 >50,000 - 100,000 >100,000
Jan
144
88%
90%
4%
6%
Feb
128
85%
91%
4%
6%
Mar
153
75%
80%
6%
17%
Apr
155
82%
85%
5%
13%
May
156
83%
87%
5%
9%
Jun
149
81%
87%
4%
11%
Jul
147
78%
82%
7%
12%
Aug
158
80%
89%
6%
6%
Sep
166
83%
91%
2%
7%
Oct
165
88%
92%
3%
6%
Nov
97
91%
94%
3%
3%
Dec
107
74%
84%
3%
13%
Total
1725
82%*
88%*
4%*
9%*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*12 - Month Average

Table 2bTab
SPC Test Results Summary 2004; Median :6,650 cfu/ml
2004 Month Samples Tested <25,000 <50,000 >50,000 - 100,000 >100,000
Jan
162
75%
83%
2%
2%
Feb
182
76%
82%
3%
1%
Mar
150
73%
83%
3%
3%
Apr
154
69%
75%
5%
3%
May
250
80%
84%
3%
3%
Jun
80
79%
83%
6%
3%
Jul
162
78%
82%
6%
1%
Aug
152
83%
89%
2%
3%
Sep
147
82%
89%
3%
2%
Oct
137
89%
93%
3%
1%
Nov
138
85%
88%
6%
1%
Dec
146
86%
90%
3%
1%
Total
1860
76%*
81%*
3%*
2%*

*12 - Month Average

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