The critical control points in milk handling, determination of bacterial load of milk at eachrncritical control points and farm water, isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens inrnmilk were determined from September 2003 to March 2004. A total of 178 raw milk samplesrnfrom various critical points, and 77 farm water samples were taken three times from 27 smallrnholder dairy farms of Adaa-Liben district dairy and dairy products producers and marketingrnco-operative society. Pasteurized milk samples (n=100) were taken from Mama milkrnprocessing plant. Specific gravity, alcohol and Californian mastitis tests were used asrnscreening tests, and total aerobic plate counts (TAPC) and coliform counts from milk and thernmost probable number (MPN) of coliform counts from farm water were conducted. Isolationrnand identification of the bacteria in the milk was conducted following standard methods.rnThe specific gravity values of milk from the dairy ownerâ€™s were in the range of 1.025 torn1.029. The normal range being 1.026 to 1.032 at 20 oC. Nine percent of the samples hadrnvalues below 1.026, an indication of some adultration with addition of water. All the milkrnsamples tested were alcohol test negative. Pooled milk was taken from 25 dairy farms and thernCMT results showed that 76 % of the total samples were CMT negative and the remaining 24rn% were positive for CMT, indicating the presence of mastitis.rnThe mean total aerobic plate counts of raw milk samples analyzed were 2.10x105 (udder),rn1.58x107 (bucket), 1.50x108 (storage container), and 5.67x109 cfu/ml upon arrival atrnprocessing plant. The mean coliform counts were 4.84x103 (udder), 1.37x105 (bucket),rn1.67x106 (storage container), and 1.26x107 cfu/ml upon arrival at processing plant. Thernincrement of the TAPC and coliform counts at each critical control points were observedrnstatistically significant (P < 0.001) for both counts. There was no significant variationrnbetween milk collection centers and the interactions between milk collection centers andrncritical control points for TAPC and coliform counts (P > 0.1). According to internationalrnstandards of raw milk quality both the TAPC and coliform counts have values above thernupper limits set. These include 10.4% of the raw milk samples from udder, 45.4% of raw milkrnsamples from milking bucket and 100% of raw milk samples from storage containers andrnXrnupon arrival at processing plant for TAPC.and 37.7% of the raw milk samples from udder,rn96.1% of raw milk samples from milking bucket and 100% of raw milk from storagerncontainer and upon arrival at processing plant for coliform counts. Analysis of water samplesrnfrom the farms revealed that 54.6% were poor (non potable) quality.rnPasteurized milk in this study had TAPC and coliform counts ranging from 2.65x103 torn7.2x105 and 0 to 7.5x103 cfu/ml, respectively. Based on the international standards, 7% andrn27% of pasteurized milk fall below the standards set for TAPC and coliform counts,rnrespectively.rnIn the course of this study the frequent bacterial pathogens isolated from raw milk samplesrntaken from the udder include: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermidus,rnStaphylococcus epidermidus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Streptococcus agalactae,rnStreptococcus uberis, Streptococcus bovis, Corynebacterium bovis, Corynebacteriumrnulcerans and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Similarly, samples from milking bucket, storagerncontainer and upon arrival at processing plant were additionally contaminated with bacterialrnpathogens such as Micrococcus, Rhodococcus spp, Enterococcus fecalis, Bacillus spp,rnEscherchia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacterrnaglomerans, Klebsiella pneumonia and Citrobacter freundi. Streptococcus pyogenes andrnEnterobacter aerogenes. Bacteria of public health significance isolated were Staphylococcusrnaureus, Streptococcus agalactae, Corynebacterium ulcerans, Corynebacteriumrnhaemolyticum, Streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia. coli.rnBacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus intermidus, Staphylococcus epidermidus,rnStaphylococcus chromogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes Enterococcus faecium,rnCorynebacterium haemolyticum, Corynebacterium ulcerans and Klebsiella oxytoca which arernnormally eliminated by efficient pasteurization, were still present in the pasteurized milkrnsamples.rnThe present study showed that:rn TAPC and coliform counts of raw milk were increased at all critical points from udderrnto upon arrival at processing plant significantly. However, the counts decreased tornlower level after pasteurization.rn Most probable number (MPN) of coliform counts from farm water samples showedrn55.6% were of non-potable qualityrnXIrn The number and types of isolated bacteria increased after the milk left the udder tornupon arrival at processing plant due to exogenous contamination sources.rn The health of dairy herd, milking and storage conditions, unclean milk equipment,rnfrequent transferring of milk into different containers and sieves, contaminated waterrnwere some of the basic determinants of milk quality. Furthermore, the milk was alsornsubjected to more contamination as it was transported long distances to the processingrnplant under high ambient temperature and without cold chain facility and usingrnmaterials which were not airtight.rnThe high level of counts and isolate numbers and types found in the milk represent a poorrnkeeping quality and public health risk to the consumer and this suggests the need forrnimproved hygiene practice at all levels in the dairy.rnKeywords: Milk, TAPC, Coliform counts, MPN, Raw, Pasteurized, Critical points, CMT