TITLE:
Hygienic Production and Post-Harvest Handling Practices of Raw Camel Milk in Degahbour District of Jarar Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia
AUTHORS:
Mahamed Hassen, Tadele Amentie, Kawnin Abdimahad, Abdihakim Ma’alin, Abdulahi Mahamed
KEYWORDS:
Hygienic Production, Postharvest Handling, Raw Camel Milk, Production System
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.12 No.2,
April
20,
2022
ABSTRACT: A
cross-sectional study was carried out to assess hygienic production and postharvest handling
practices of raw camel milk in Degahbour district. The survey studies were
based on a total of 120 (2 production systems * 2 rural kebele * 30 households) milk producers, which were selected
from Degahbur district using stratified sampling technique. Data from the
selected producers were collected using questionnaire survey and field
observation. The results showed that the majority of the sampled household heads
in pastoral (93.3%) and agro-pastoral (76.6%) production systems were
illiterate. Moreover, none of the respondents
in the study area had training on hygienic milk production and postharvest
handling practices. The study result also indicated that none of the
respondents in the study area washed the udder of milking camel before milking.
Moreover, only 6.6% of pastoralists and 25% of agro-pastoralists wash their
hands before milking. Equipment made of wooden materials are mainly used for milking, whereas, plastic
jerry-cans were most commonly used for storage. About 45% of the
pastoralists and 81.6% of the agro-pastoralists were cleaning milk vessels regularly; however, majority of the
respondents both production systems
were using water from non-tap sources for hygienic practices. Bosciaminimifolia, Acacia ethaica and
Blanitesgalabra were the most commonly
used plant species for smoking in the study area. Therefore, hygienic production and postharvest
handling practices should be followed to improve the quality and suitability of
camel milk for its intended use in the study area.