Assessment of Hygienic Milking Practices and Prevalence of Bovine Mastitis in Small Dairy Farms of Peri-Urban Area of Jaipur

BACKGROUND: Bovine mastitis is a highly prevalent infectious disease that affects the production and quality of the milk and results in culling of the cattle, leading to severe economic loss. In India, a large number of smallholder urban dairy farmers are in milk production. However, information on their awareness on milk-borne zoonosis and milking hygiene practices remains scarce. AIM: The study aimed to evaluate milk hygiene awareness and practices among the small dairy farms in the peri-urban area of Jaipur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 30 dairy farms. A total of 80 respondents including the farmers (suppliers), distributors, and customers were surveyed. They were interviewed about their milk hygiene practices and awareness on mastitis using questionnaires and observations. Milk samples were analyzed for somatic cell count. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that all respondents practiced hand milking. Only 80% of the respondents washed udder before milking. Tap water was used for washing utensils. Only 2% of the respondents practice postmilking dipping of teats. Nearly 90% of barns were not cleaned properly. CONCLUSIONS: Hygiene practices are of substandard among the suppliers and the distributors. There is a risk of prevalence of bovine mastitis. This indicates that there is a lack of awareness about the risk associated with bovine mastitis and management. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen farmers’ awareness on milking hygiene practices and handling of milk, to minimize the likely losses due to rejection of spoiled milk and milk-borne dangers, which may occur due to consumption of contaminated milk.