Microbiological Analysis of Beef Meat Collected at different Hours of the Day in Ekpoma Town Market

A study on the microbiological analysis of beef meat collected at different hours of the day in Ekpoma market was carried out. 1 Kg of meat sample was purchased from the market at the different times (8 am, 12 noon and 5 pm) respectively. A part was cut into ten samples of ten grams each, which served as replicates. They were put in a clean polythene bag, labeled accordingly, and taken to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. Ten grams of the meat samples were weighed and homogenized into 90 mls of sterile distiller de-ionized water, using a sterile warring blender and ten folds dilution of the homogenates was made using sterile pipettes. Mean counts of total proteolytic bacteria count (TPC), total viable count (TVC), Coliforms, Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas organisms and Bacillus spp, were all determined in the collected samples. Results from the study showed that total proteolytic bacteria count (TPC) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in samples collected at 5pm having 7.867, compared with those collected at 12 noon and 8 am having 6.050 and 5.267 log10 CFU/g respectively. Total viable count (TVC) were significantly (P<0.05) lesser at 8am having 4.517, compared with 12 noon and 5 pm which recorded 5.520 and 7.723 log10 CFU/g respectively. Also, coliforms counts were significantly (P<0.05) higher at 5 pm when compared at 12 noon and 8 am, while Pseudomonas count recorded significantly (P<0.05) lesser value at 8 am having 1.193, compared with 12 noon and 5 pm which had 2.500 and 3.557 log10 CFU/g respectively. Total Bacillus counts also recorded a significantly (P<0.05) lesser values of 1.100 at 8am compared with 1.823 at 12noon and 3.030 at 5 pm, while those of Salmonella spp. recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher value of 3.030 at 5 pm compared with 3.283 and 2.937 log10 CFU/g recorded at 12 noon and 8 am respectively. This shows that microbiological analysis of beef meat were higher as the time (hours) of the day progressed. In conclusion, meat should be bought from the market in the early hours (8 am) of the day.