Jalel Fikadu1*, Berhan Tamir2, Ulfina Galmessa3, Kefena Effa3
Unadulterated milk has the semi-perfect food for humans and animals. The study was aimed to analyze the quality of milk by evaluating the physicochemical characteristics of milk in the urban area of Oromia special zone around Finfinne, central highland of Ethiopia. A total of 90 cow raw milk was collected from Burayu, Sabeta, and Sululta. 30 milk samples from each urban area, 10 from farm/producer, 10 from milk collectors, and 10 from the cafeteria for physical property and chemical composition analysis. For the analyses of data General Linear Model (GLM) was implemented. The result of (mean ± SE) percentage of added water, PH, and Specific gravity were a significant difference (p<0.05) between the study town but there was no significant difference between the study town in the finding of Titratable acidity and freezing point. All the physical parameters of milk quality obtained from farms, milk collectors, and cafeterias were significantly different (p<0.05) except freezing point. The mean result of protein, lactose, fat, and TS were significantly different (p<0.05) between Burayu, Sabeta, and Sululta but no statistical difference between study town in the result of SNF and ash percentage. Except for ash, all the chemical compositions of milk were significantly different (p<0.05) among the critical point of milk quality. From this result, most of the physicochemical property of milk sample obtained from farm fulfills the minimum requirement of Ethiopia quality standard but when it was camas to the milk collectors and cafeterias, the physicochemical content was below the limits of Ethiopia quality standard; this indicated that the adulteration of milk in the study area increased from producer to end-user. The finding of this study provided recent information on milk physicochemical quality from farm to the cafeteria which can be an important input for regulatory bodies (FMCA) of Ethiopia.
