FATORES SAZONAIS E PRODUTIVOS QUE INFLUENCIAM A QUALIDADE DO LEITE

Abstract

The milk production chain and its derivatives play a significant economic and social role in Brazil. Milk quality is na essential element in this context, as it directly influences food safety, industrial performance, shelf life of dairy products, and farmers’ income. This quality is determined by physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics, with Total Bacterial Count (TBC) and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) standing out as important indicators used in its evaluation. Animal-related factors, such as age, parity, stage of lactation, and the occurrence of clinical or subclinical mastitis, directly influence SCC levels, which is widely used to assess mammary gland health and milk quality. In addition, milk production level may also impact quality indicators, since variations in productivity are associated with physiological and metabolic changes that affect milk composition and microbiological characteristics. Furthermore, seasonal variations significantly influence these indicators, as climatic changes such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns may favor increased bacterial load and mastitis incidence, directly affecting milk quality. This study aimed to analyze the main influences of seasonal variations and production level on TBC and SCC values in milk production through a literature review. The analyzed studies indicate that climatic factors, production level, sanitary management, and storage conditions are directly related to the increase in microbiological indicators