Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate physicochemical quality and consumption pattern of milk at smallholder urban dairy farms in Jimma town of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 54 smallholder dairy farming households were randomly selected and interviewed with pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The results revealed that the mean fat, protein, lactose and solids-not-fat (SNF) content were 4.38 ± 0.06, 2.96 ± 0.01, 4.34 ± 0.13 and 7.79 ± 0.60, respectively. The organoleptic characteristics of the raw milk samples were more or less similar except milk from two farms which showed off-flavour (in 10% milk sample). The mean daily milk production was 36.43±32.74 kg per household. The study revealed that most (98.1%) of the respondents consume milk and processed milk products as a major part of their diet. Fresh whole milk was the most widely consumed dairy product (35.2%) and consumption of processed milk products was low. Farm household average daily per capita milk consumption was 215.38 milliliter (ml). The major dairy products produced and consumed by the respondents were naturally fermented whole milk (ergo), butter (Kibe), butter milk (Arera), cottage cheese (ayib), whey (aguat) and ghee (nitir kibe).