Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part C (2026)

The present study evaluated the efficacy of different concentrations of Marigold leaf extract used as a pre-milking udder wash on the bacteriological quality of raw milk in crossbred cows. Twelve healthy lactating crossbred cows were randomly allotted to four udder wash treatments, namely clean water wash as control, Marigold leaf extract at 20 g per litre of water, 40 g per litre of water and 60 g per litre of water. Milk samples were collected aseptically after milking and analyzed for total bacterial load and different physiological groups of bacteria using standard microbiological techniques. The results revealed a significant reduction in bacterial counts in Marigold-treated groups compared to the control, with the highest reduction observed at the 60 g per litre concentration. Coliform bacteria were absent in all treatments, indicating satisfactory hygienic conditions. The study demonstrated that Marigold leaf extract can be effectively used as a natural, economical and eco-friendly alternative to chemical udder disinfectants for improving the bacteriological quality of raw milk under farm conditions.