Physico Chemical Properties of Cow Milk Produced and Marketed in Dire Dawa Town, Eastern Ethiopia

The present study is primarily aimed at assessing the physico chemical properties of cow milk samples sold by dairy farms and milk vendors in Dire Dawa Town. A total of 30 cow milk samples were collected and examined. The mean values for pH, specific gravity, titratable acidity, protein, fat, total solids and solids-not-fat contents of milk samples collected from dairy farms were 6.627±0.135, 1.030±0.001, 0.165±0.022% lactic acid, 3.42±0.139%, 3.862±0.412%, 12.575±0.635% and 8.75±0.301% respectively. However, the corresponding values for milk vendors were 6.43±0.062, 1.025±0.001, 0.195±0.009% lactic acid, 3.274±0.083%, 3.85±0.284%, 12±0.572% and 8.15±0.308%. On the other hand, the respective values for pasteurized milk were 6.65±0.070, 1.031±0.0007, 0.15±0.014% lactic acid, 3.05±0.098%, 3.7±0.141%, 10.8±0.282% and 7.1±0.141% respectively. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found for the values of total solids, solids not-fat and protein between the sources of milk samples. The present study showed that dairy farm milk producers and milk vendors follow poor milk handling practices. Keywords: Fat, PH, Protein, Raw milk, Pasteurized milk