One hundred and ninety strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated from goat's milk, whey and cheese at various stages of manufacture.Sixteen different coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) species were recovered, 3 of which were predominant: Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus xylosus.The prevalent species were recovered at least at two different stages of cheese manufacturing, suggesting a better adaptation to the environment. After 15 days of ripening, the cheeses showed lower counts of Micrococcaceae.