Assessing the microbiological profile of raw goat milk and understanding producer practices and perceptions

Raw milk sales are legal in 30 states, including Mississippi, where regulations are largely management-based and not food-safety related. The research objectives were to analyze the microbial profile of raw goat milk from Mississippi farms and assess food safety practices and perceptions of dairy goat farmers. Deficiencies and opportunities for improvement in raw goat milk safety were identified. Staphylococcus spp. was present in most (70%) milk samples but aligned with drying-off. E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and coliforms were observed in 4, 10, and 12 samples, respectively; no Salmonella spp. or Listeria monocytogenes were detected. The survey highlighted farmers\u27 need for educational opportunities on safe milk handling with emphasis on handwashing. Most producers (80.8%) are willing to invest more in their farms, creating strategic opportunities for extension outreach to help with market expansion and sustainability. Overall, training accessibility could help producers nationwide by encouraging safe milk handling and best management practices