EFFECT OF YEAR AND SEASON ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND HYGIENIC QUALITY OF ORGANIC COWS MILK

Sa？etak The aim of this study was to determine the effect of year and season on the chemical composition and hygienic quality of raw organic cow's milk. The study included 15 organic farms engaged in organic production of milk in the Osijek-Baranja County. In the raw milk samples (n = 1 769) following chemical parameters were determined: the proportion of fat, protein, lactose, non-fat solids, and hygiene parameters: number of microorganisms and somatic cells. It was determined a significant (p <0.05) effect of the year (2011, 2012, 2013) on all studied parameters except to the total number of microorganisms. Season had a significant effect on a chemical parameters (p <0.05), while hygiene parameters were not affected by season. The highest proportions of fat, protein and dry matter were recorded during the autumn and winter period, and lactose during the winter and spring period. The results showed that the year and season significantly affected the majority of the studied parameters in organically produced milk