The effect of months of year upon milk production and quality was estimated through evaluation of ten dairy production units classified as specialized (S), partially specialized (PS) and not specialized (NS), which were visited on 11 months of the year. Bulk tank milk was sampled to determinate physical and chemical characteristics and somatic cell count (SCC), mastitis percentage and milk production (liters/cow/day). Besides that, samples of feeds and water used for drinking and cleaning were collected. There were not significant differences between months for milk production, crioscopy, percentages of fat, total solids, non protein nitrogen and SCC, but true protein percentages were higher on October and November, and casein showed higher values on October, November, March and April. Total solids were higher on December. Acidity varied in same way as mastitis percentage, higher on November and May. Negative relations between milk production and percentage of fat, percent of mastitis and somatic cell count were detected, while a positive one was verified between milk production and lactose percentage. Milk obtained during the year showed differences between months for protein fraction, acidity, solids non fat and percentage of mastitis. Water quality did not change among collection months and it was acceptable for drinking and cleaning.
mastitis; milk physical-chemical characteristics; milk production; sazonal variation; somatic cells count
