A total of 30 samples of locally processed cow milk were purchased within Bauchi metropolis and analyzed bacteriologically. Some qualitative and quantitative parameters were tested. The presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus species and Lactobacillus species were tested for. Standard plate count was carried out in all the samples to ascertain their bacteriological quality. From the results of the analysis, highest bacterial count was recorded in sample 10 with 8.0 x109 cfu/ml while the lowest count was recorded in sample 26 with 1.2x102 CFU/ml. About 24 (80%) of the samples were contaminated with bacterial count of ≥ 105 CFU/ml only 6 samples (20%) were found to be within the expected limit (≤ 105 cfu/ml). S. aureus was isolated in 9 samples (30%), E.coli in 8 samples (27%) Lactobacillus spp. in 4 samples (13%) Streptococcus spp. in 4 samples (13%) while Salmonella typhi was isolated in 5 samples (17%). Generally the bacteriological quality of the samples analyzed was alarmingly unsatisfactory, which may be attributed to the health and hygiene of the cows, the environment in which the cows are housed and milked, the procedures used in cleaning and sanitizing the milking and storage equipment as well as the temperature and length of time of storage which allow microbial contaminants to multiply and increase in number.

Keywords: Locally processed cow milk, Bacteriological analysis.