The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of cleaning and disinfection processes during hand milking and machine milking on the basis of determination of selected microbial indicators. It was found, that milk samples of hand milked ewes contained significant lower somatic cells count, total count of microorganisms, coliforms, Escherichia coli and coagulase-positive staphylococci in comparison with milk samples obtained from the machine milked ewes.