Seasonal Comparison of Microbial Hygiene Indicators in Raw and Pasteurized Milk and Cottage Cheese Collected across Dairy Value Chain in Three Regions of Ethiopia.

A longitudinal design with a simple random sampling method was used to collect and compare microbial hygiene levels between the dry season (January to April) and wet season (June to August). A total of 456 milk and cottage cheese samples were collected from each site along the dairy value chain from three regions. Enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (APC), total coliforms (TCC), and Escherichia coli (EC) was performed according to standard methods. Independent t -tests were employed to assess the significant variation at ( p < 0.05) between the two seasons. The cumulative result of APC of 7.61 log cfu/mL and g and TCC of 3.50 log cfu/mL in the dry season were significantly higher than the wet season of 7.15 log cfu/mL and 2.49 log cfu/mL, respectively, whereas generic E. coli count (EC) was significantly higher in the wet season (0.70 log cfu/mL and g) than that in the dry season (0.40 log cfu/mL and g). The results of hygienic indicator microbial load significantly varied with season. Hence, hygienic milk production and handling practices that comprehend seasonal influence should be implemented to improve the safety of milk.