It was investigated the knowledge of goat milkers on milking hygiene, before and after a Good Production Practices (GPP) training course, through a qualitative approach. In order to achieve this objective, milkers from three goat dairy farms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were interviewed, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The responses to the questions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using the Discourse of the Collective Subject methodology. Milkers were then trained through a one-hour lecture following a content-based exposition and dialogue approach on "GPP principles" and "recommended hygienic procedures for milking". Two months after training, the milkers were interviewed again using the same questionnaire as before. No difference was found between discourses obtained before and after training. Individual analysis of the discourses showed that milkers had previous experience milking of animals, liked their jobs and were willing to learn more about it. However, they had no clear suggestions on how to improve their work routine.
discourse of the collective subject; food handlers; milkers; inservice training; occupational health