Capacitação de produtores de leite caprino para implantação de boas práticas de ordenha no município de Barra de Santa Rosa-PB.

Abstract

Goat farming in Brazil dates back to the colonial period, when the first animals were brought by the Portuguese to meet the settlers’ food needs. In modern times, the goat herd has been expanding; in 2020, the herd grew by 4%, reaching a total of 12.1 million head, according to municipal livestock surveys released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). In that year, 95% of the country’s goat herd — 11.5 million head — was located in the Northeast. Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 4.3% increase, with the states of Bahia, Pernambuco, Piauí, Ceará, and Paraíba together accounting for 87.1% of the national herd. This project aimed to train and raise awareness among goat milk producers in the municipality of Barra de Santa Rosa, Paraíba, about the importance of an adequate hygiene routine during goat milking. To achieve this, two stages were carried out: in the first, we held a meeting with the goat farmers and the city’s Secretary of Agriculture to present the project and explain our approach, as well as how we would conduct visits to the properties of each of the 10 producers selected to participate. In the second stage, we visited the farms, got to know each property, and, within their specific realities, adapted our suggestions and recommendations to improve hygiene routines and obtain higher-quality milk. We also distributed hygiene kits for milking, containing paper towels, 70% alcohol, a cup with antiseptic solution for pre- and post-dipping, and an informational leaflet. These kits were assembled in partnership with the municipal government of Barra de Santa Rosa, the Federal University of Paraíba, and Facene College.