Milk Replacer Research Articles

Effectiveness of the liquid method of feeding suckling piglets

The article examined the dependence of sow productivity, the growth rate of suckling piglets, their weight at transfer to rearing, the consumption of precursor feeds, and their costs on dry and liquid feeding systems for piglets in the suckling period. The dependence on feed costs for piglet feeding, veterinary drugs for prevention, and the costs and profitability of piglet rearing in these feeding systems were analyzed. It was found that the use of the liquid milk replacer Opticare Milk helped to improve the survival rate of piglets up to weaning by 7.5 %, increase their number in the sow's nest at this time by 7.0 %, increase the average daily growth of suckling piglets by 20.4 %, increase the absolute weight gain by 19.8 %, increase the weight of the piglet litter at weaning by 22.0 % and increase the individual weight of the piglets at weaning by 14.7 % compared to piglet litters fed dry granulated starter provide Superior Neonatal. Multiple fertility, high fertility, and litter weight of piglets at birth did not depend on how piglets were fed during the suckling period. With liquid feeding of suckling piglets, the proportion of piglets with diarrhea decreased by 12.20 % and the costs for the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases increased by 58.5 %, the costs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases by 55.4 %, and the veterinary costs for rearing a piglet during the suckling period by 53.8 % compared to analogs with dry feeding. To 1 kg of gain, these costs increased by 33.1 % due to prevention and 28.4 % due to treatment, resulting in a 28.5 % overrun of the total costs for treatment and prevention. In general, the costs for feeding and medical and preventive measures increased by 157.8 % per animal and 122.2 % per 1 kg of gain compared to dry feeding. At the same time, under the liquid feeding system for suckling piglets, the cost of keeping a sow per weaned piglet fell by 6.00 %. The proportion of these costs per piglet decreased by 21.6 %, and the cost of keeping a sow per 1 kg increased. Still, the cost of a piglet at weaning increases by 13.2 %, the cost of 1 kg live weight of piglets at weaning increases by 5.6 %, the share of feed and veterinary components in the cost of rearing a piglet increases by 9.1 %, and by 3.4 %. At the same time, the market value increases by 14.7 %, the income from rearing a piglet rises by 17.9 %, and the profitability of rearing a piglet increases by 1.95 %.

Influence of material characteristics on plant-based milk alternative properties

Plant-based milk alternatives are gaining increasing relevance in the food industry, but the influence of plant proteins and fibers on the specific product properties has not yet been explored. In this study, the influence of soy protein isolate and the oat fiber β-glucan on the emulsion and powder properties of plant milk alternatives is analyzed. The components exhibit different behavior at the oil-water interface after homogenization, thereby affecting droplet size distribution, dynamic viscosity and emulsion stability in terms of electrostatic repulsion. To determine the interactions of the components at the interface, the individual raw materials soy protein isolate and oat bran as well as mixtures of both were investigated. The measurements highlight variations between the fiber component and the plant protein source at the interface. The identified differences in emulsion characteristics also manifest in spray drying with different particle sizes and lipid encapsulation efficiencies.

Identification of the key aroma compounds in flaxseed milk using stir bar sorptive extraction, aroma recombination, and omission tests

Flaxseed milk is a plant-based dairy alternative that is rich in nutrients. Due to the low concentration of odor compounds in flaxseed milk, it cannot be completely extracted. This poses significant challenges for analysis. Therefore, this study developed a method suitable for extracting volatile compounds from flaxseed milk and compared it with three other extraction methods. It was found that Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction had the best extraction performance, identifying 39 odorants. Flavor dilution factors ranged from 1 to 512, with higher values observed for esters. 13 key odor compounds were identified (odor activity value > 1) using the external standard method for quantification; these included four aldehydes, three pyrazines, two alcohols, two esters, and two other compounds. Pyrazine compounds exhibited the highest concentrations. Aroma recombination and omission experiments showed that nine key odorants contributed significantly to the flavor profile of flaxseed milk, imparting aroma of cucumber, green, mushroom, fruity, sweet, and coconut.

Nudging plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy in a real-life online supermarket: A randomized controlled trial

A shift from predominantly animal-based to plant-based consumption can benefit both planetary and public health. Nudging may help to promote such a shift. This study investigated nudge effects on plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy in an online supermarket. We conducted a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled real-life online supermarket trial. Each customer transaction was randomized to a control arm (regular online supermarket) or an intervention arm (addition of placement, hedonic property and dynamic social norm nudges promoting meat and dairy alternatives). Outcomes were the aggregate of meat and dairy alternative purchases (primary outcome), the number of meat purchases, dairy purchases, meat alternative purchases, and dairy alternative purchases (secondary), and retailer revenue (tertiary). Generalized linear mixed models with a Conway–Maxwell Poisson distribution were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Analyzed data included 8488 transactions by participants (n = 4,266 control arm, n = 4,222 intervention arm), out of which 2,411 (66%) were aged above 45 years, 5,660 (67%) were females, and 1,970 (23%) lived in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. Intervention arm participants purchased 10% (IRR 1.10 (95% CI 0.99–1.23)) more meat and dairy alternatives and 16% (1.16 (0.99–1.36)) more meat alternatives than control arm participants, although these findings are not statistically significant. There was no difference in dairy alternative purchases (1.00 (0.90–1.10)). Intervention arm participants purchased 3% less meats (0.97 (0.93–1.02)) and 2% less dairy products (0.98 (0.95–1.02)) than control participants. Retailer revenue was not affected (0.98 (0.95–1.01)). Online nudging strategies alone did not lead to a statistically significant higher amount of plant-based purchases, but replication of this work is needed with increased study power. Future studies should also consider nudging strategies as part of a broader set of policies to promote plant-based purchases. Trial registrationProspectively registered on 14th of May 2022. ISRCTN16569242 (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16569242).

Enhancing dairy sustainability: Rheological, sensory, and physical-chemical properties of low-fat fermented beverages incorporating buttermilk

Buttermilk is a co-product of butter manufacturing, possessing techno-functional, nutritional, and functional properties. However, it is often discarded or underutilized by the dairy industry, particularly in developing countries. The objective of this study was to develop five formulations of low-fat fermented dairy beverages by varying the ratios of skim milk and buttermilk: F1 (100 % skim milk); F2 (75 % skim milk, 25 % buttermilk); F3 (50 % skim milk, 50 % buttermilk); F4 (25 % skim milk, 75 % buttermilk); and F5 (100 % buttermilk). These formulations underwent analyses for centesimal composition, pH, syneresis, water holding capacity, microbiology, rheology, and sensory evaluation. The substitution of milk with buttermilk did not impact the centesimal composition and pH (pH‾=4.48) of the beverages. Furthermore, the inclusion of 25 % buttermilk reduced whey separation by ∼3 % on the day of production and increased the water holding capacity from 58.89 % to 62.72 % of the beverages during 16 days of storage. All formulations presented non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour and apparent viscosity at 50 s−1 from 0.85 to 1.17 Pa s (at 5 °C) and 0.57–0.98 Pa s (at 25 °C). F4 and F5 presented lower gel strength compared to the other treatments. Among the formulations, F3 demonstrated favorable acceptance (global impression = 7.47) and a positive inclination towards the purchase (2.27), with no significant difference from the sample containing 100 % milk (F1). However, the Rate-All-That-Apply test revealed that sensory attributes characteristics of butter, such as flavour, aroma, and greasiness, negatively affected the acceptance of beverages with higher concentrations of buttermilk (F4 and F5). Consequently, utilizing buttermilk as a partial substitute (≤50 %) for milk proved to be a viable alternative to produce nutritious, sensory-pleasing, and cost-effective food items, thereby bolstering the bio-economy in the dairy chain.

The Prevalence and Compliance of Health Claims Used in the Labelling and Information for Prepacked Foods within Great Britain.

In the EU and Great Britain (GB), all health claims (HCs) on food must be authorised before use and should comply with Regulation 1924/2006. In GB, all HCs, authorised or not, are listed in the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register. This study reviews the prevalence and compliance of HCs on prepacked foods sold within three GB supermarkets and via their grocery shopping websites. In June 2023, food labels and online product information of 440 products were evaluated across three food categories-dairy and dairy alternatives; fruit juices, fruit juice drinks and fruit smoothies; and teas and infusions. In store, 26.3% of products carried an HC and 28.3% online. The prevalence of HCs was higher when compared with data from 2016. Overall compliance was high, in store (94.3%) and online (90.0%), with no statistically significant difference in overall HC compliance between in store and online products (p = 0.724). The HC violations observed in the present study were due to non-compliant wording of HCs or use of non-authorised HCs. This study demonstrates changes in the HC landscape and the need for continued monitoring of the prevalence and compliance of HCs as consumer trends alter.

Oat-based milk alternatives: the influence of physical and chemical properties on the sensory profile.

Oat-based milk alternatives (OMAs) have become increasingly popular, perhaps due to their low allergenicity and preferred sensory attributes when compared to other milk alternatives. They may also provide health benefits from unique compounds; avenanthramides, avenacosides, and the dietary fibre beta-glucan. This has led to a variety of commercial options becoming available. Being a fairly new product, in comparison to other plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs), means little research has been undertaken on the sensory profile, and how it is influenced by the physical and chemical properties. This study investigated the sensory, physical and chemical profiles of current commercially available OMAs, that varied in fortification, use of stabilisers, and oat content. The volatile compounds and their respective aromas were analysed using solid phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O). Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for identification of avenanthramides and avenacosides. Particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) were analysed using a Mastersizer and Zetasizer, respectively, with colour analysis carried out using a colourimeter, and viscosity measurements using a rheometer. Descriptive sensory profiling was used to assess the impact on the sensory characteristics of the different samples and the sensory data acquired were correlated with the instrumental data. Samples with smaller particle size appeared whiter-both instrumentally and perceptually. The only clear plastic packaged product differed substantially in volatile profile from all other products, with a higher abundance of many volatile compounds, and high overall perceived aroma. Avenanthramides and avenacosides were present in all samples, but differed significantly in abundance between them. The results suggested smaller particle size leads to whiter colour, whilst differences in processing and packaging may contribute to significant differences in aroma. Astringency did not differ significantly between samples, suggesting that the variation in the concentrations of avenacosides and avenanthramides were below noticeable differences.

Inclusion of essential oils in a calf milk replacer and their effects on growth performance and the immune and oxidative systems

Inclusion of essential oils in a calf milk replacer and their effects on growth performance and the immune and oxidative systems

Investigating nutritional strategies during a rest period to improve health, growth, and behavioral outcomes of transported surplus dairy calves

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding surplus dairy calves a milk replacer (MR) or one of 2 different oral rehydration solutions (ORS) during a mid-transportation rest period on metabolic and clinical health indicators, growth, and behavioral outcomes after arrival to a calf-raising facility. Surplus dairy calves (n = 128) were transported in 4 cohorts from February to July 2022 for 12 h to a holding facility, rested for 8 h, then transported for an additional 6 h to a calf-raising facility. Upon arrival to the holding facility, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: MR (n = 43), a high sodium ORS developed for diarrhea (ORS-D; n = 43), or a high potassium ORS developed for transportation (ORS-T; n = 42). The exact age of calves at transportation was unknown, however all calves were under 14 d of age. Calf body weight at enrollment was 43.9 ± 5.9 kg, 43.7 ± 6.5 kg, and 45.0 ± 4.5 kg for calves fed MR, ORS-D, and ORS-T, respectively. Calves were fed 2.0 L of their treatment twice, once upon arrival and once before leaving the holding facility. At unloading and reloading at the holding facility, calves were weighed and blood sampled. Calves were also health scored at unloading at the holding facility. After arrival at the calf-raising facility, calves were weighed, health scored, and blood sampled. Blood samples were collected at 24 and 48 h and body weight (BW) was recorded at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 5 d, 7 d, 14 d, and at 8 wks after arrival to the calf-raising facility. Calves were also health scored daily for 14 d, which included fecal consistency scoring and evaluating the presence or absence of respiratory disease. Lying time, lying bouts, and activity index were measured during transportation and from 3 d relative to transportation using accelerometers. At arrival to the calf-raiser, calves fed ORS-D had higher concentrations of NEFA and BHB than calves fed MR. Furthermore, calves fed ORS-T had higher concentrations of BHB at arrival to the calf raiser compared with calves fed MR. In the 14 d after arrival to the calf-raiser, there was evidence that calves fed ORS-T had a higher proportion of days with diarrhea and respiratory disease compared with those fed MR. During transportation, calves fed ORS-T had a lower activity index than calves fed MR, suggesting that ORS-T calves had lower overall activity. Additionally, on the day of transportation (d 0), ORS-T and ORS-D calves had a lower activity index than calves fed MR. There were no treatment effects on growth outcomes. The results of this study suggest that feeding MR rather than an ORS during a mid-transportation rest period could minimize fat mobilization and can potentially improve diarrhea and respiratory disease but does not affect growth outcomes after arrival to calf-raisers.

Sensory characteristics of plant-based milk alternatives: Product characterisation by consumers and drivers of liking

Like other plant-based (PB) product categories, PB milk alternatives (PBMA) are in ascendency as part of the green consumer transition and a greater focus on personal health. However, consumption remains far below that for cow’s milk, and among multiple barriers to uptake, inferior sensory properties is one problem, nutritional inadequacies another. While exceptions exist in both instances, a general need for improved products remains. The present research is situated in this nexus, and its primary aim was to contribute new consumer-centric insight regarding the sensory drivers of liking/disliking in the PBMA category. This was achieved through a central location study with adult New Zealanders (n = 143, not regular PBMA consumers) who tasted 18 different PBMA samples spanning a broad range of PB ingredients (soy, oat, coconut, almond, rice, cashew, peanut, macadamia, lentil, hemp, sesame) in different product types (single PB source, blends, barista style) with varying nutritional profiles. The most liked sample (6.5/9), which was made from soy, had the nutritional profile that most approximated cow’s milk (3 g/100 mL protein), as well as a milky appearance and taste. Its mouthfeel was smooth, and this sensory characteristic was also paramount for barista-style PBMAs being well-liked (>5.9/9) regardless of their constituent PB ingredient (oat, almond, coconut). Opportunities for product innovation within this type of PBMA was identified including for using barista-style beyond hot beverages, as these samples received positive liking scores on average. The same applied to blends as multiple-source PBMAs can facilitate improved nutritional composition, and significant scope seemed to exist to identify more liked vs less liked PB ingredient combinations (e.g., almond/rice vs coconut/sesame). By identifying, through penalty/lift analysis that positive sensory drivers of PBMA liking span all sensory modalities (appearance, taste, flavour, texture and mouthfeel), it becomes easier to appreciate that products in this category are complex and challenging to optimise. A second minor research aim was focused on the modulating influence of PBMA consumption frequency on product liking and the sensory drivers of liking. The key result was a positive association between liking and higher consumption frequency, and greater appreciation of sweet, coconut, nutty and cereal/oaty characteristics of PBMAs.

Chromium in the Diet of Dairy Calves: Benefits for Growth Performance, Feed Efficiency, Digestibility, and Health.

Chromium (Cr) is a mineral that helps animals subjected to stressful conditions. The suckling period is characterized by several stressful episodes, particularly during the first hours after birth and at weaning. There is little consumption of concentrate by calves in the first weeks of life; consequently, consuming any supplement added to feed would be negligible. Thus, the hypothesis was that the calves would take it in earlier if Cr were consumed in a milk replacer instead. Therefore, our study aimed to determine whether including organic Cr in calf feed (via milk replacer or concentrate) during the suckling phase would improve calf health and growth performance. Twenty-four male Holstein calves with an average age of 8 ± 4 days and 39.8 ± 6.9kg average body weight were used. Calves were randomly divided into three groups: (a) Chromium-Milk (CR-M), receiving 4mg Cr/animal/day via milk replacer during the 60 experimental days of suckling (n = 8); (b) Chromium-Concentrate (CR-C), receiving 4mg Cr/animal/day via concentrate (n = 8); (c) Control (C), animals that did not receive Chromium (n = 8). The experiment lasted 75 days, divided into two well-defined stages: suckling (1-60 days) and weaning (61-75 days). Body weight weekly, daily feed intake, and blood samples taken every two weeks during the experiment were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, the apparent digestibility evaluation was carried out, with the results of weight and consumption carried out, and a feed efficiency analysis was carried out. It was observed that the inclusion of organic Cr (regardless of whether it was milk or concentrate) increased body weight gain (kg) for the CR-C group: 41.8kg, CR-M: 40.4kg compared to the C: 34.2kg (p = 0.01). The protein digestibility was higher in the CR-M group (52%, p = 0.05). Cr consumption increased Cr concentrations in the serum of the calves and was higher in the first week in the animals in the CR-M group. This did not happen for the C group; however, with higher concentrate consumption, Cr concentrations increased and remained high until the end of the experiment. Glucose concentrations were higher in the groups that consumed Cr. Total protein concentrations were higher in the CR-M and CR-C groups than in group C. Immunoglobulin A concentrations were higher in groups CR-C and CR-M than in group C (days 40 and 60). In conclusion, the adding Cr to calf feed improves their health, indirectly favors growth performance, and increases protein digestibility.

Casein micelle formation as a calcium phosphate phase separation process: Preparation of artificial casein micelles through vacuum evaporation and membrane processes

Industrial-scale production of artificial casein micelles (ACM) is required to produce dairy alternatives from recombinant casein. However, the currently common micelle preparation method of dropwise mixing casein and salt solutions is inefficient and may prove difficult to scale up. Here, we view casein micelle formation as a process driven by calcium phosphate phase separation in the presence of casein. On this basis, we developed novel routes to prepare ACM through vacuum evaporation, forward osmosis, or reverse osmosis. ACM prepared through these methods have similar properties and improved coagulation behaviour compared to those prepared through the currently common method and natural bovine casein micelles. The properties and functionality of the micelles depend on the preparation time and surface area available for micelle formation, with longer times and larger surfaces (i.e. lower fluxes) yielding smaller ACM that form firmer curds. These novel processes enable fast, efficient, and continuous production of ACM for application in future dairy alternatives. Industrial relevanceArtificial casein micelles can be used as a building block in the production of animal-free milk and cheese based on precision fermentation. The herein described novel processes to prepare artificial casein micelles are based on vacuum evaporation, forward osmosis, and reverse osmosis, which are mild, resource-efficient, and easily scalable processes. The processes require a dilute feed stream (e.g. caseins after precision fermentation), provide an elegant way to minimise local differences in the concentration of caseins and ions during micelle production, and offer the opportunity to design continuous micelle formation processes. These are all advantages over the existing methods to prepare artificial casein micelles with regard to industrial application.

An Occurrence Study of Mycotoxins in Plant-Based Beverages Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Mycotoxins are toxic mold metabolites that can adversely affect human and animal health. More than 400 mycotoxins have been identified so far. Cereals and nuts are the predominant mycotoxin-contaminated foodstuffs. Plant-based drinks produced from cereals, nuts, and legumes have grown in popularity. The mycotoxins accumulated in these crops may transfer to these beverages. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and optimized for the assessment of 22 mycotoxins in commercially available plant-based drinks in Latvia and Lithuania. A total of 64% of the seventy-two analyzed beverages were positive for one to sixteen mycotoxins, with deoxynivalenol, beauvericin, and enniatins A, B, B1, T-2, and HT-2 toxins detected most frequently. The European Commission has not yet set guidelines for the maximum mycotoxin concentrations in plant-based beverages, nor has the European Food Safety Authority conducted a risk assessment. Therefore, acute exposure studies were provided for the Latvian population based on the assumed replacement of dairy milk with plant-based beverages to ascertain the safety of plant-based milk substitutes. Based on the observed levels of mycotoxin prevalence and contamination levels and assumed exposure, it can be concluded that tested plant-based beverages may be relatively safe. However, exposure to emerging mycotoxins should be considered.

Effects of Supplementing Milk Replacer with Sodium Butyrate on Dairy Calves.

Diarrhea and respiratory diseases pose significant challenges in the rearing of pre-weaned calves, motivating the investigation of tools to improve gastrointestinal tract development, health, and overall performance in young calves. Consequently, the primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an additive incorporated into milk replacer to promote the development and health of the animals. Forty-six dairy calves were randomly assigned into two treatments: control (CON, n = 23; with 15 females and 8 males), and sodium butyrate (SB, n = 23; with 15 females and 8 males). The calves in the SB treatment group were supplemented with 4 g/d of unprotected sodium butyrate (Adimix, Adisseo, China), added to the milk replacer from 4 to 60 days of age. Water and starter were fed ad libitum. The study evaluated several parameters, including feed intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH, ammonia and volatile fatty acids, blood metabolites (glucose, insulin-like growth factor type 1, urea, β-hydroxybutyrate), hemogram, health scores, performance, and feed efficiency. Bull calves were euthanized at 60 days of age for organ comparison, while heifer calves were assessed for carryover effects up to 90 days of age. Data were analyzed independently using linear mixed models using the nlme package in R, and the Artools package for non-parametric categorical outcomes. Although the feed intake and performance variables exhibited differences within weeks, no divergence was observed between treatment groups. Notably, a positive treatment-by-week interaction was identified for starter feed intake (p = 0.02) and total dry matter intake (p = 0.04) during pre-weaning for CON animals. Ruminal parameters, blood metabolites, and hemogram values such as glucose, urea, insulin-like growth factor type 1, mean corpuscular value, lymphocytes, and neutrophils displayed differences within weeks during the pre-weaning stage, but similar results within groups. No differences between supplemented and non-supplemented calves were found across nutrient digestibility, organ development, and histology. Regarding health scores, differences were noted within weeks for fecal and respiratory scores during the pre-weaning stage, and only the respiratory score during the post-weaning stage. Consequently, butyrate supplementation did not elicit improvements or negative effects in the body development or health status of dairy calves.

The impact of replacing milk with plant-based alternatives on iodine intake: a dietary modelling study.

Cow's milk is the primary source of iodine in the UK, but consumption of plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA) is increasing and these products are often not fortified with iodine. We evaluated the impact that replacing current milk consumption with PBMA would have on iodine intake. We used data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2016-2019) for children (1.5-10years), girls 11-18years, and women of reproductive age (WRA). We used a dietary modelling approach with scenarios using brand-leveliodine-fortification data (0, 13, 22.5, 27.4 and 45µg/100mL). Relative to usual diet, we calculated change in iodine intake, and the proportion with intake below the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) or above the upper limit. For all groups, replacement with PBMA, either unfortified or fortified at the lowest concentration, resulted in a meaningful decrease in iodine intake, and increased the proportion with intake < LRNI; compared to usual diet, iodine intake reduced by 58% in children 1.5-3years (127 vs. 53µg/day) and the proportion with intake < LRNI increased in girls (11-18years;20% to 48%) and WRA (13% to 33%) if anunfortified PBMA was used. Replacement of milk with PBMA fortified at 27.4µg/100mL had the lowest impact. Replacing milk with commercially available PBMAs has potential to reduce population iodine intake, depending on the fortification level. PBMAs fortified with ≥ 22.5 and < 45µg iodine/100mL would be required to minimize the impact on iodine intake. Research is needed on the impact of total dairy replacement.

Effects of weaning age and pace on blood metabolites, cortisol concentration, and mRNA abundance of inflammation-related genes in gastrointestinal, adipose, and liver tissue of Holstein dairy calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of weaning age and pace on blood metabolites, cortisol concentration, and mRNA abundance of inflammation-related genes in Holstein dairy calves. A total of 70 1-d-old calves (38.8 ± 4.4 kg BW ± SD), blocked by sex and birth BW, were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The first factor was weaning age, which was either early (6 wk) or late (8 wk). The second factor was weaning pace, which was either abrupt (4 steps down over 3 d; the initial milk replacer was 7.6 L, which was reduced by 1.9 L in each step-down) or gradual (7 steps down over 14 d; the initial milk replacer was 7.6 L, which was reduced by 1.09 L in each step-down), generating early-abrupt (EA), early-gradual (EG), late-abrupt (LA), and late-gradual (LG) treatments. All treatments had 10 female and 8 male calves, except EA that had 1 fewer male calf. Milk replacer (24% CP, 17% fat) was bottle fed, up to 1,200 g/d, twice daily (0600 h and 1800 h). The EA and EG treatment calves received 46.2 kg of milk replacer, and the LA and LG treatment calves received 63 kg of milk replacer. The study had 2 cohorts (2020, n = 40; 2021, n = 31), and each cohort included all treatments. Blood was collected from the jugular vein at 0900 h at 3 and 7 d of age, and a day before starting and a day after weaning completion. Male calves were humanely killed a day after weaning. Rumen, jejunum, large intestine, liver, omental adipose and perirenal adipose tissues were sampled to determine the mRNA abundance of inflammation-related genes. Weaning pace, age, pace × age, birth BW, and sex were included as fixed and cohort was included as random effects in the model. Blood metabolites and cortisol were analyzed as repeated measures, and sampling day, pace × sampling day, and age × sampling day were also included as additional fixed effects. Significance was noted at P ≤ 0.05 and tendencies when 0.05 <P ≤ 0.10. The EA calves showed a tendency to have the greatest nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration compared with all other treatments. We observed a pace × day effect on serum NEFA and BHB; calves weaned at an abrupt pace had an increased level of NEFA after weaning compared with those weaned gradually. Calves weaned at the gradual pace showed the greatest serum BHB after weaning. Most mRNA abundances for inflammation-related genes affected by treatments showed a similar pattern. They were downregulated by the abrupt (liver IL-1β) and early weaning (jejunum TNF-α and ICAM), and in some cases, the interaction intensified the effect, demonstrating a weakened immune response in calves experiencing more stressful conditions (EA: IL-6 in the liver and NF-κB in the perirenal adipose tissue). Overall, the downregulation of the mRNA abundance of inflammation-related genes in EA calves may be attributed to the suppression of the immune system and an immature immune response. Furthermore, the greater NEFA in EA calves could be attributed to a reduced starter intake, less developed rumen, or shorter time during the weaning transition.

Effects of tributyrin supplementation in calf starter on growth, blood parameters and development of rumen and small intestine in Holstein calves fed milk replacers with different fatty acid profile

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tributyrin (TB) supplementation in calf starter on development of the rumen and small intestine for calves fed two milk replacers differing in fatty acid composition. Fifty-four Holstein calves (38 heifers and 16 bull calves) were assigned to one of the four treatments: (1) milk replacer containing 31 g/kg C8:0 and 29 g/kg C10:0 in total fatty acids (MR-) and calf starter without TB (ST-) (MR-ST-; n = 14), (2) MR- and calf starter with a TB supplement (600 g/kg TB and 400 g/kg silicon dioxide) at 6 g/kg of DM (ST+) (MR-ST+; n = 13), (3) milk replacer containing 26 g/kg C4:0, 57 g/kg C8:0, and 56 g/kg C10:0 in total fatty acids (MR+) and ST- (MR+ST-; n = 13), and (4) MR+ and ST+ (MR+ST+; n = 14). Milk replacers were offered at 600 g/d (powder basis) from 8 to 14 d, increased up to 1300 g/d from 15 to 21 d, 1400 g/d from 22 to 49 d, decreased down to 700 g/d from 50 to 56 d, and 600 g/d from 57 to 63 d, and then weaned at 64 d of age. Data and samples were collected until 91 d of age. All the calves were fed one of the calf starters and chopped hay ad libitum from 8 d of age. Bull calves were euthanized at weaning to determine weights of digestive organs and evaluate ruminal and small intestinal morphology. Calf starter and milk replacer treatments did not affect dry matter intake, growth performance, digestive organs weights (kg/100 kg of body weight), and rumen papillae length. However, calves fed ST+ had greater ratio of villus height to crypt depth (2.20 vs. 1.84; P < 0.01) in the ileum compared to those fed ST-. In addition, calves fed MR+ had less crypt depth (240 vs. 298 µm; P = 0.02) and greater ratio of villus height to crypt depth (2.22 vs. 1.91; P < 0.01) in the ileum compared to those fed MR-. A tendency for interaction between milk replacer and calf starter treatments was observed for the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum, in which TB in calf starter increased the ratio only for calves fed MR-. Milk replacer treatment did not affect plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) concentration. However, calves fed ST+ had greater plasma GLP-2 concentration compared to those fed ST- after weaning (1.16 vs. 0.80 ng/mL; P < 0.02). These results suggest that TB supplementation for dairy calves may affect small intestinal morphology at weaning, and increase plasma GLP-2 concentration after weaning.

Dietary supplementation of 3'-sialyllactose or 6'-sialyllactose elicits minimal influence on cognitive and brain development in growing pigs.

Sialylated human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), such as 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL) and 6'-sialyllactose (6'-SL), are abundant throughout lactation and at much higher concentrations than are present in bovine milk or infant formulas. Previous studies have suggested that sialylated HMO may have neurocognitive benefits in early life. Recent research has focused on infant formula supplementation with key nutrients and bioactives to narrow the developmental gap between formula-fed and breastfed infants. Herein, we investigated the impact of supplemental 3'-SL or 6'-SL on cognitive and brain development at two time-points [postnatal days (PND) 33 and 61]. Two-day-old piglets (N = 75) were randomly assigned to commercial milk replacer ad libitum without or with 3'-SL or 6'-SL (added in a powdered form at a rate of 0.2673% on an as-is weight basis). Cognitive development was assessed via novel object recognition and results were not significant at both time-points (p > 0.05). Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess structural brain development. Results varied between scan type, diet, and time-point. A main effect of diet was observed for absolute volume of white matter and 9 other regions of interest (ROI), as well as for relative volume of the pons on PND 30 (p < 0.05). Similar effects were observed on PND 58. Diffusion tensor imaging indicated minimal differences on PND 30 (p > 0.05). However, several dietary differences across the diffusion outcomes were observed on PND 58 (p < 0.05) indicating dietary impacts on brain microstructure. Minimal dietary differences were observed from myelin water fraction imaging at either time-point. Overall, sialyllactose supplementation had no effects on learning and memory as assessed by novel object recognition, but may influence temporally-dependent aspects of brain development.

Probiotics in milk replacer affect the microbiome of the lung in neonatal dairy calves.

Probiotics have been investigated for their many health benefits and impact on the microbiota of the gut. Recent data have also supported a gut-lung axis regarding the bacterial populations (microbiomes) of the two locations; however, little research has been performed to determine the effects of oral probiotics on the microbiome of the bovine respiratory tract. We hypothesized that probiotic treatment would result in changes in the lung microbiome as measured in lung lavage fluid. Our overall goal was to characterize bacterial populations in the lungs of calves fed probiotics in milk replacer and dry rations from birth to weaning. A group of 20 dairy calves was split into two treatment groups: probiotic (TRT; N = 10, milk replacer +5 g/d probiotics; Bovamine Dairy, Chr. Hansen, Inc., Milwaukee, WI) and control (CON; N = 10, milk replacer only). On day 0, birth weight was obtained, and calves were provided colostrum as per the dairy SOP. On day 2, probiotics were added to the milk replacer of the treated group and then included in their dry ration. Lung lavages were performed on day 52 on five random calves selected from each treatment group. DNA was extracted from lavage fluid, and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene hypervariable regions 1-3 were amplified by PCR and sequenced using next-generation sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) for the identification of the bacterial taxa present. Taxa were classified into both operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). Overall, the evaluation of these samples revealed that the bacterial genera identified in the lung lavage samples of probiotic-fed calves as compared to the control calves were significantly different based on the OTU dataset (p < 0.05) and approached significance for the ASV dataset (p < 0.06). Additionally, when comparing the diversity of taxa in lung lavage samples to nasal and tonsil samples, taxa diversity of lung samples was significantly lower (p < 0.05). In conclusion, analysis of the respiratory microbiome in lung lavage samples after probiotic treatment provides insight into the distribution of bacterial populations in response to oral probiotics and demonstrates that oral probiotics affect more than the gut microbiome.

Antioxidant properties of soy-dairy milk blends fermented with probiotics

ABSTRACT&#x0D; Objective: Evaluate the effect of the substitution of cow milk with soy beverage on the antioxidant properties, physicochemical parameters, and sensory quality of the probiotic and conventional fermented beverages.&#x0D; Design/methodology/approach: Different combinations of soy beverage (T1=80%, T2=60%, T3=40%, and T4=20%) with cow milk (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%, respectively) were fermented with either conventional or probiotic cultures. The antioxidant activity of fermented beverages was evaluated by DPPH method and the samples were also characterized for protein, fat, solids non-fat, density, and acidity. Sensory evaluation was done in order to determine the acceptability of the fermented beverages.&#x0D; Results: Overall, most treatments fermented with the probiotic culture showed higher (P&lt;0.05) antioxidant capacity compared to those fermented with the conventional culture. In contrast, for both starter cultures, it was observed that the T1 treatment displayed the highest (P&lt;0.05) antioxidant activity compared with the other treatments (T2, T3, and T4). Similarly, the treatment T1-probiotic culture was the most preferred, being the aroma and appearance, the sensory properties scored with the highest degree of liking.&#x0D; Study Limitations: Follow-up research is needed to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for antioxidant properties exhibited by fermented soy-dairy milk beverages.&#x0D; Findings/conclusions: Probiotic cultures can be used to generate soy-dairy milk fermented beverages with noticeable antioxidant and sensory properties.