N. DESMASURES, F. BAZIN AND M. GUÉ GU E N. 1997. Raw milk from 27 farms was sampled over 6 months for listerias, salmonellas, Yersinia enterocolitica and campylobacters. Total bacterial counts and somatic cell counts were measured. Lactococci, lactobacilli, dextran-producing leuconostocs, Brevibacterium linens, yeasts and moulds, Staphylococcus aureus and other Micrococcaceae, Pseudomonas, coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens and spores of anaerobic lactate-fermenting bacteria were also counted. Pseudomonas (2000 cfu ml ) and Micrococcaceae (720 cfu ml −1 ) were the most numerous groups. Lactic acid bacteria were detected in all samples. Coliforms were present in most samples, but 84% of samples had counts ³100 cfu ml −1 . Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 62% of milks, the average count was 410 cfu ml −1. About 80% of supplies had ¾10 E. coli cfu ml −1 and all samples had ¾1 Cl. perfringens cfu ml −1. Two of the tested milks were positive for salmonellas (2·9%), four were positive for Listeria monocytogenes (5·8%), 25 for Yersinia enterocolitica (36%) and one for campylobacters (1·4%).