The aim of the study was to examine the influence of milk collection system (neighbourly milk cooling center vs. direct collection), delivery size and season on hygienic quality of raw milk purchased by one of the leading dairy co-ops in the Central Poland. Significantly better milk hygienic quality was noticed in case of collection by neighbourly milk cooling centres. Delivery size significantly influenced milk quality. Bigger deliveries were of much better quality than the smaller ones. Delivery season had also significant influence on milk quality. The worst milk was purchased during the summer season (June – August). TBC and SCC levels in examined milk were rather high and amounted to 143 and 408 thousand per ml respectively, thus did not fulfil the EU standards for milk of the best hygienic quality.

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