Amanuel Bekuma - Oromia Livestock Resource and Fishery Development Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dame Debela - Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF), P.O.Box ۴۰۰۳, Finfine, Ethiopia
Agare Mokenin - Oromia Livestock Resource Development Agency, Finfine, Ethiopia

This study assessed the raw cow milk chemical composition, hygienic practices, and marketing system in the supply chain of the Wachale district of North Shewa. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from ۶۸ randomly selected dairy farmers, and ۶۰ raw cow milk samples were used for chemical analysis. Out of the total milk produced (۱۴.۶۴±۱.۱۰litres/households/day); the highest proportion (۱۳.۶۶±۰.۹۹) was sold as raw milk through an informal marketing system with no quality control. And a little proportion (۰.۵۴±۰.۰۷) was used for human consumption, implying that milk consumption is not a strong habit in the study area. The result also revealed that the chemical compositions of raw cow milk samples collected did not meet the quality standards. Furthermore, raw milk was delivered to the next actors in the open sunshine and roadsides on the ground, which was dusty and not protected from wind and road traffic. The result also demonstrated that the selling prices of raw milk at the farmers’ level were very low, forcing producers to adulterate the milk with water and remove fat to compensate for the low price. Due to many constraints, milk production and handling practices in the study area are low and of poor quality, and thus appropriate dairy husbandry and sanitary milk handling practices should be promoted to increase milk productivity and quality in the study area.This study assessed the raw cow milk chemical composition, hygienic practices, and marketing system in the supply chain of the Wachale district of North Shewa. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from ۶۸ randomly selected dairy farmers, and ۶۰ raw cow milk samples were used for chemical analysis. Out of the total milk produced (۱۴.۶۴±۱.۱۰litres/households/day); the highest proportion (۱۳.۶۶±۰.۹۹) was sold as raw milk through an informal marketing system with no quality control. And a little proportion (۰.۵۴±۰.۰۷) was used for human consumption, implying that milk consumption is not a strong habit in the study area. The result also revealed that the chemical compositions of raw cow milk samples collected did not meet the quality standards. Furthermore, raw milk was delivered to the next actors in the open sunshine and roadsides on the ground, which was dusty and not protected from wind and road traffic. The result also demonstrated that the selling prices of raw milk at the farmers’ level were very low, forcing producers to adulterate the milk with water and remove fat to compensate for the low price. Due to many constraints, milk production and handling practices in the study area are low and of poor quality, and thus appropriate dairy husbandry and sanitary milk handling practices should be promoted to increase milk productivity and quality in the study area.

Milk Composition, Milk Consumption, Milk Marketing, Hygienic Practice