Bacterial contamination of drinking water used at dairy farms in Quetta, Balochistan

Drinking water is one of the main sources of bacterial organisms in farm animals. A study was carried out to observe the presence of Coliform bacterial species from drinking water samples obtained from randomly selected dairy forms at Quetta. Coliform bacterial species were identified by performing the different cultural, staining and biochemical tests. Among 100 water samples obtained from different dairy farms of Quetta, 17 samples were contaminated with Coliform bacteria. It was observed that buffalo farms were the most contaminated (22%) than the cattle farms (12%). Of 50 water samples studied from buffalo farms, the prevalence of Coliform bacteria was recorded in 11 samples (22 %). While 50 water samples were obtained cattle farms showed 6 (12%) the presence of Coliform organisms. The contamination of water samples with Coliform bacteria was found higher in buffalo farms than cattle farms. The bacterial load in ml^sup -1^ water sample of buffalo farms the mean number of 197 colonies was counted while bacterial counts were recorded as 3.29X10^sup 4^ and the mean number of 167 colonies ml^sup -1^ was recorded at cattle farms. While bacterial counts was recorded as 2.93X10^sup 4^ Overall, drinking water samples collected from different dairy farms in Quetta contaminated with Coliform bacteria. The bacterial load/population in water samples of different dairy farms at Quetta was detected higher than standard bacterial concentration level by WHO.