Dairy Sector Research Articles

Application of solar thermal collectors for milk pasteurization to explore the potential of renewable energy in the dairy sector: Challenges and possibilities

Dairy farming has become a key business to fulfill the daily milk needs in populated countries like India. Conversely, pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in raw milk are killed by applying different heat treatments to increase shelf life, preserve quality, and ensure safety. Among the heat treatment processes used at the dairy plant, pasteurization consumes a significant amount of heat, which increases the energy demand in the dairy sector. Since milk pasteurization occurs between 65°C and 150°C, multiple solar thermal collector alternatives are available for various kinds of pasteurization processes. Employing solar thermal collectors for milk pasteurization allows the dairy sector to use free solar energy. Solar energy in milk heat treatments minimizes fuel and power consumption, reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. However, solar milk pasteurization in dairy sector is limited by the large area requirement, high initial cost, and weather dependency. There have been attempts to use different types of solar thermal collectors to pasteurize the milk in an effort to replace conventional energy usage with solar energy. The parameters of milk heat treatment, primarily pasteurization, have been discussed concerning energy usage. The benefits and limitations of various solar collectors for milk pasteurization and other heating applications in the dairy sector have been addressed. Multiple studies on integrating various solar thermal collectors with different pasteurization systems have been reviewed, summarized, and concluded.

Science, technology, and innovation in the dairy sector

Science, technology, and innovation in the dairy sector

Temperature Monıtorıng of Chıllıng System Usıng IoT Technıques

The chilling of milk in dairy sector is important to increase the life time of the milk as well as the quality of milk. The chilling of milk means rapid cooling of raw milk sufficiently at low temperature so that the growth of microorganisms present in the milk is tested. During the chilling process the temperature of milk should be reduced to less than 10°C. The manual process of monitoring the temperature of chilling system continuously is impossible and the continuous running of the compressor is not feasible. Maintaining the chill water temperature at the required level increases the efficiency and the cost of electricity is reduced due to the compressor maintenance. This project aims to continuously monitor the temperature of chiller using IoT techniques. The temperature monitoring sensor helps to send the reading of chiller temperature regularly. If the chiller temperature goes at high rate NodeMCU (Node Micro Controller Unit)-ESP8266 and IFTT application are used as an interface between the user and microcontroller to generate and send the notification to the end users.

Analysing the impact of climate change on dairy farming as perceived by the women farmers: Application of analytical hierarchy process

Impact of climate change on various sectors across the globe is quite evident and the dairy sector is no exemption to the threats of changing climate. Most of the activities in dairy farming are performed by women. Dairy farming is a source of sustainable income for the women in rural areas. Women are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change due to their socio-economic position in the society. So, an attempt was made to capture the impacts of climate change on dairy farming from women farmers’ perspective. A total of 360 women farmers were approached for the study. Analytical hierarchy process was used to identify which of the four components and 16 sub-components of dairy farming are most affected due to changing climate. Analysis of farmers’ responses revealed that productive performance was perceived to be the most affected component and average daily milk yield was perceived to be greatly affected due changes in climate.

A Review of Options and Costs for Mitigating GHG Emissions from the U.S. Dairy Sector

The U.S. dairy sector is a significant emitter of methane and nitrous oxide, with the US EPA estimating it produced around 90 Tg CO2 eq. in 2021. This paper reviews the literature on and evaluates various mitigation actions for reducing GHG emissions in the U.S. dairy sector, focusing on both direct and indirect emission sources. We conducted a narrative literature review based on the cradle to gate life-cycle assessment method, covering the entire dairy supply chain up until milk enters retail establishments, including dairy and feed producing farm practices, processing, transportation, and their associated emissions/costs. The papers included were selected over a three year process depending on discussions with experts and issues mentioned in the emerging literature. We review significant opportunities for the U.S. dairy sector to reduce emissions, particularly through improved enteric fermentation and manure management practices. Additionally, we cover the potential for mitigating indirect emissions from feed production, processing, and transportation, areas less frequently covered in existing studies. This review also covers a gap in the literature by integrating economic findings including cost analysis and incentives to mitigate based on the social value of emissions reductions.

Seasonal assessment of mastitis in crossbred goats: A thermographic approach

Sub-clinical mastitis exhibits a higher prevalence in dairy goats than clinical mastitis, necessitating the adoption of non-invasive diagnostic techniques such as infrared thermography (IRT) to detect this economically significant production disease in the dairy sector. Accordingly, this study aims to employ IR imaging of the udder and teat quarters of lactating crossbred goats (Alpine × Beetal and Sanen × Beetal) across various seasons, utilising IRT, to discern cases of sub-clinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM). Over a year, 100–110 lactating crossbred dairy goats underwent consistent IRT screenings, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of udder health status using the California mastitis test and somatic cell count (SCC). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to establish the cut-off values for different thermographic parameters in this study. The results revealed that the SCC increased significantly (p < 0.01) in healthy, SCM, and CM milk samples across the seasons. The analysis of ROC revealed a comparatively higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for udder thermograms during SCM than CM and vice versa for teat thermograms. IRT analysis reflected a difference (p < 0.01) in the udder and teat thermograms among quarters of healthy, SCM, and CM in summer, winter, autumn, and rainy seasons. A significant increase (p < 0.01) in udder thermograms was observed for quarters affected with SCM and CM relative to healthy, with an increase of 1.89 and 2.94 °C in winter, 0.85 and 1.63 °C in summer, 0.73 and 1.41 °C in rainy, and 1.33 and 2.38 °C in autumn, respectively. Similarly, for teat thermograms it was 1.79 and 2.81 °C in winter, 0.76 and 1.41 °C in summer, 0.70 and 1.37 °C in rainy, and 1.09 and 1.93 °C in autumn, respectively. Therefore, regardless of the seasons examined in this study, IRT proves to be an effective and supportive tool for early mastitis detection in lactating crossbred dairy goats.

What Triggers Change in Antimicrobial Use?

SummaryThis article considers how different ‘triggers' contribute to changes in the use of antimicrobials. Drawing on the Triggering Change model, the article suggests that the use of antimicrobials is path dependent: economically, socially and culturally invested in maintaining a steady trajectory, with incremental changes. Triggering events – such as farm succession, financial crisis, or disease outbreak – are required to break these dependencies and stimulate transitions to new farming trajectories. The article investigates which triggering events are significant in the context of responsible antimicrobial usage, in three European countries, spanning the beef, dairy, poultry and pig sectors. Results demonstrated that major reductions in antimicrobial use are often part of larger transition processes. Triggers led to major changes on farm which included reduction in antimicrobial use amongst other changes. When antimicrobial change occurred in isolation, it was typically in response to legislation, and progressed incrementally over time. To achieve major changes in antimicrobial use thus requires policies which work with trigger events such as supporting training of successors, and enabling farmers who have experienced major disease outbreaks to ‘build back better’. Working to shape what farmers understand as ‘good farming’ through education, regulations and benchmarking, are also important options.

Reproductive Biotechnology Tools as a Game Changer for the Dairy Sector: The Case of Sexed Semen and Estrus Synchronization to Produce Seedstock Dairy Heifers

Human curiosity about the sexual orientation of living things has a long history. For thousands of years, livestock owners wanted to find a suitable way to predict the sex of the progeny to be born for their herds on their farm. Thanks to the development of semen sexing technology, animal breeding has undergone a revolution, which allows farmers to control the sex of their offspring. Sexed semen enhances overall productivity and also assists farmers in meeting the rising demand for high-quality dairy animals by enabling them to selectively generate seedstock female calves. The technology is a one-stop solution to enhance breed improvement especially in a country like Ethiopia where 97 percent of the cattle population is indigenous, which is not selected for milk production and results in undernourishment for animal source origin diet, including milk and meat. The benefits of using sexed semen include sex selection, improved genetic selection, enhanced breeding effectiveness, better control over herd dynamics, greater financial gains, environmental sustainability, and improved animal welfare. Hence, with the finding of this study, an overall result of a 98% response rate 95% female skewness, and 79% conception rate was recorded after being inseminated with sexed semen. The finding of the response rate is closer to the results reported by another researcher, while the average conception rate is comparatively higher. This could be due to careful animal selection, the use of fertile quality semen, proper heat detection, and inseminating at an optimum window of time. In general, from the piece of this study, it is possible to foresee and conclude that the adoption and application of sexed semen technology is a groundbreaking and game-changer technology for the dairy industry in a country like Ethiopia, which overcomes the limitations of improved crossbred dairy cattle, replacement heifers, and high milk prices on the one hand, a shortage of grazing land, and environmental destruction due to a decreasing number of unwanted cattle population on the other side.

Genome-Wide Association Study as an Efficacious Approach to Discover Candidate Genes Associated with Body Linear Type Traits in Dairy Cattle.

Body shape traits are very important and play a crucial role in the economic development of dairy farming. By improving the accuracy of selection for body size traits, we can enhance economic returns across the dairy industry and on farms, contributing to the future profitability of the dairy sector. Registered body conformation traits are reliable and cost-effective tools for use in national cattle breeding selection programs. These traits are significantly related to the production, longevity, mobility, health, fertility, and environmental adaptation of dairy cows. Therefore, they can be considered indirect indicators of economically important traits in dairy cows. Utilizing efficacious genetic methods, such as genome-wide association studies (GWASs), allows for a deeper understanding of the genetic architecture of complex traits through the identification and application of genetic markers. In the current review, we summarize information on candidate genes and genomic regions associated with body conformation traits in dairy cattle worldwide. The manuscript also reviews the importance of body conformation, the relationship between body conformation traits and other traits, heritability, influencing factors, and the genetics of body conformation traits. The information on candidate genes related to body conformation traits provided in this review may be helpful in selecting potential genetic markers for the genetic improvement of body conformation traits in dairy cattle.

Temporal Trends and Future Projections: A Deep Dive into India’s Buffalo Milk Production Through Time Series Modelling

Background: Buffalo milk production in India plays a significant role in the global dairy market, with a rich history deeply intertwined with the country’s economy and culture. Over six decades, the dynamics of buffalo farming have been pivotal in shaping India’s dairy landscape. Methods: This paper delves into the subject by analysing a comprehensive time series dataset spanning six decades. The focus lies on understanding the economic and cultural significance of buffalo farming, particularly in relation to milk production. Four forecasting models-ARIMA, SES, Seasonal Naive and ETS-are employed to discern temporal patterns in buffalo milk production. Result: The study reveals that the ARIMA and ETS models outperform SES and Seasonal Naive models in capturing and elucidating data behaviour. Their superior performance underscores their efficacy in predicting buffalo milk production trends accurately. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to optimize buffalo milk production and foster long-term growth in India’s dairy sector.

Use of distinct projective techniques in investigating participants' perception of a clean label dairy product: A study on the presence of additives/stabilizers in Ultra high temperature processing milk's label in Brazil

AbstractUsing an online questionnaire, the perception of additives/stabilizers in ultra‐high temperature (UHT) milk was investigated using different projective techniques. Clustering data on the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) identified two groups of participants, Moderates and Judicious, with the latter assigning significantly higher agreement scores for all FCQ items. In the Word Association task, clean label UHT milk was more associated with “Nutrients and Constituents” by the Moderates and less by the Judicious, suggesting that for part of the interviewed participants, the absence of stabilizers increases the general quality of the product. In the Product Personality Profiling task, the same product was related to “young people” and a “balanced diet” by the Moderates. At the same time, the Judicious was designed for a stereotype of healthy living. Finally, the methodologies used provide valuable insights into the dairy sector, holistically highlighting the nuances in consumer preferences and expectations, offering a significant strategic opportunity for developing and promoting new clean‐label products in the segment.Practical ApplicationInvestigating consumer perceptions regarding the absence of additives offers valuable insights for marketing strategies and product development aimed at different consumer market segments, especially the dairy sector, and contributes to consumer psychology and behavioral research. At the same time, the food industry can use these findings to improve attribute communication, build consumer confidence, and adapt products to identified preferences, reflecting a practical intersection between academia and the industry.

Strategic thinking as a potential factor in the growth of companies in the dairy sector

The article refers to how in a competitive and changing environment, dairy companies need to implement effective strategies to ensure their growth and sustainability, emerging as a crucial factor for the business success of the sector. In this same scenario, strategic thinking implies the ability to analyze the environment, identify opportunities and threats, and formulate action plans to achieve long-term objectives. This research focused on a quantitative, field, non-experimental methodology. Descriptive statistics were used to tabulate the information; the results of the study reveal a strong commitment of the company to identify market opportunities and reinforce its competitive strengths. The indicators associated with these areas showed a high level of presence within the organization, which shows a solid foundation for future growth

Realizing the Potential of Eastern Uganda’s Smallholder Dairy Sector through Participatory Evaluation

Realizing the Potential of Eastern Uganda’s Smallholder Dairy Sector through Participatory Evaluation

Understanding the Dairy Sector in Slovenia: A Modeling Approach for Policy Evaluation and Decision Support

This study investigates the dairy sector in Slovenia, focusing on farm heterogeneity, efficiency in resource utilization, and policy implementations. Through a modeling approach, we explore the differences among dairy farms, considering factors such as herd size, farm management, natural conditions, and production potential. Based on 32 typical dairy farms, representing the entire dairy sector, composed of 6400 dairy farms, the analysis was performed using the farm model (SiTFarm). We emphasize the importance of accurate assessments, given the variability of policy impacts across farm types. While medium-to-large, specialized farms dominate milk production, smaller farms, particularly in less favored areas, hold social and environmental importance despite facing competitive challenges. Addressing environmental sustainability could involve promoting practices that improve milk yield and include grazing, as this tends to lower greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of milk (−5%). Dairy farms contribute about one-third of the generated revenue in Slovene agriculture, of which a good half goes to farms located in less favored areas. They manage a good quarter of permanent grassland in Slovenia, and it is certainly the sector that can achieve the highest return on these areas. In 75% of the farms, the gross margin is higher than 1756 EUR/ha and using best practices they exceed 3400 EUR/ha. The model results indicate that the average hourly rate on dairy farms during the observed period falls within the range of EUR 7.3 to 17.4 of gross margin for most farms, with the top-performing ones exceeding 24 EUR/h. However, due to the significant reliance on budgetary payments (on average, 58% of the gross margin), the implementation of the common agricultural policy strategic plan generally leads to a deterioration in the economic indicators of dairy farms. This impact is particularly pronounced on medium-sized and larger farms, increasing the effect on income due to the substantial fixed costs involved. Our findings underscore the interplay between policy interventions, farm characteristics, and sectoral outcomes, offering valuable insights for policy-makers and stakeholders.

Factors that Impact the Efficiency of Cream Separator Machine for the Food Industry

This study examines the variables that impact the effectiveness of cream separator machines in the dairy sector, with a specific emphasis on centrifugal force, temperature, and vibration. The process of cream separation, which is crucial in dairy production, has progressed from manual techniques to sophisticated mechanical centrifugal separators. The objective of this study is to optimize the performance of these machines, which is imperative due to the increasing need for low-fat skimmed milk. The study utilizes a disc centrifuge to examine the impact of centrifugal forces. The setup consists of more than 24 discs, which are used to measure the volume of fluid passing through the spaces between the discs and to determine the efficiency of separation. The experiments involved using flow rates of 600 ml/min, 1200 ml/min, and 1800 ml/min to alter the temperature from 7 °C to 15 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C. The findings indicated that decreased temperatures significantly enhance the efficiency of skimming. The study also examines the impact of machine-induced vibration on the efficiency of separation. The study concludes that excessive vibration negatively impacts productivity, therefore, it is essential to incorporate vibration control into the design of separators. The key findings suggest that optimizing centrifugal force is crucial. Inadequate force leads to incomplete separation of fat, while higher flow rates decrease separation efficiency. Temperature regulation is equally crucial, and reducing temperatures enhances efficiency. Effective vibration control is essential for maintaining optimal separation quality. This study makes a valuable contribution to the advancement of cream separator machines by highlighting the importance of accurate management of centrifugal force, temperature, and vibration. This is crucial for enhancing productivity and meeting the requirements of the market. The findings offer valuable insights for the dairy industry, assisting in the development and functioning of advanced cream separators that provide enhanced performance and economic advantages for producers.

LPS-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction Reduces Oocyte Maturation and Developmental Competence of Buffalo Embryos via ROS Mediated TLR4 Signalling.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gram-negative bacteria has reportedly been associated with infectious diseases like metritis, which has a substantial adverse effect on animal reproductive performance and causes serious financial losses for the dairy sector. The current work aimed to establish the impact of LPS on in vitro oocyte maturation and subsequent in vitro developmental competence of oocytes, as well as to investigate the explanatory molecular mechanism underlying this effect. Buffalo cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were challenged with 0, 5, 10 and 20 µg/mL LPS during IVM followed by IVF and IVC. Cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation, cleavage and blastocyst rate, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) and transcript abundance of genes related to inflammation, antioxidation and apoptosis were evaluated. The maturation and subsequent embryonic development competency were found to be significantly (p≤0.05) reduced with the addition of 10 and 20µg/mL LPS to IVM media. ROS production accompanied by a decreased ΔΨm was recorded in LPS-treated oocytes in comparison to the control group (p≤0.05). Our results were further supported by the transcriptional expression of proinflammatory (TLR4, CD14 and RPS27A) and apoptotic gene (Caspase 3) which were found to be significantly increased while antioxidant genes (SOD2 and GPX1) were decreased significantly in matured oocytes and blastocyst after LPS exposure. The deleterious effects of LPS are mediated through ROS generation, which triggers inflammatory processes via the TLR4 pathway and impairs oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development.

Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and resistant gene identification of bovine subclinical mastitis pathogens in Bangladesh

Subclinical mastitis (SCM), a silent threat in the dairy sector of Bangladesh poses a significant economic impact and serves as a potential source of infection for healthy cows, hindering efforts to achieve milk self-sufficiency. Despite the importance of this issue, limited research has been conducted on mastitis in Sylhet region of Bangladesh. This study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility profile and resistant genes detection on pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) causing SCM. In a cross-sectional study utilizing convenience sampling, 325 milk samples were collected from apparently healthy dairy cows. Initially, SCM was detected using the modified Whiteside test (MWST) method. Suspected positive samples were then subjected to bacteriological culture and standard biochemical assays, followed by molecular identification through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted on all PCR-positive samples using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. In the Sylhet district, the prevalence of SCM was 64.92 % (211 out of 325) at the individual animal level and 82.69 % (43 out of 52) at the herd level. Among the SCM-positive animals, S.aureus was found in 31.75 % (67 out of 211) of cases, E.coli in 81.99 % (173 out of 211), and K.pneumoniae in 66.82 % (141 out of 211). K.pneumoniae had the highest prevalence at 60 % in Zakiganj, S.aureus at 45 % in Zakiganj, and E.coli at 72 % in Bishwanath Upazila. Extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) genes blaTEM, blaOXA, blaCTX-M1,blaCTX-M2,MultiCaseDHA were identified. Additionally, antibiotic resistance genes tet(A), AAC(3)-iv, and Sul1 were also detected. The pathogens exhibited resistance to Penicillins (ampicillin, amoxicillin), Cephems (cefuroxime, ceftazidime), and Tetracyclines (tetracycline). However, all three bacteria were highly sensitive to meropenem, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted antimicrobial stewardship and effective control measures to mitigate the impact of SCM on dairy production and animal health in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh.

Peptidoglycan recognition protein-1 gene polymorphism and its association with mastitis in Murrah buffalo

A wide variety of environmental or contagious microorganisms implicated in mastitis, impede the economic growth of dairy sector. Identification of polymorphism in candidate gene of host’s immune system and to rule out mastitis resistant allelic form of candidate gene usually remains prime focal point of research. Bovine peptidoglycan recognition protein-1 (PGLYRP-1), exclusively present in the granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes has direct microbicidal properties. The present study was carried out to find the association between PGLYRP-1 polymorphic alleles with mastitis. Milk samples for somatic cell count and blood samples for PCR-RFLP analysis of PGLYRP-1 gene were collected from 20 mastitis negative and 20 mastitis positive Murrah buffaloes. There was significant difference in somatic cell count of mastitis and mastitis free animals. All amplified PCR products of ~862 bp size of partial region of PGLYRP-1 gene were subjected to each restriction enzyme (HincII or TaqαΙ or ApaI). Polymorphism in the partial region of PGLYRP-1 gene had not been established using PCR-RFLP as uniformity in pattern of digested fragments was seen. Target sequence PGLYRP-1 gene of Murrah buffalo was cloned and sequenced. BLAST analysis revealed sequence identity of PGLYRP-1 of Murrah buffalo with Bos taurus (JN085441.1) sequence at NCBI was 96%, 96% with Bos indicus (JN085440.1) and 96% with Bos indicus X Bos taurus (EU746454.1). In phylogenetic tree, the target sequence of PGLYRP-1 gene of Bubalus bubalis are found more closely related to Bos taurus than to Bos indicus.

Green Lean Six Sigma in the food industry: a systematic literature review

PurposeThe current paper aims to discuss the implementation of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) in the food industry to improve sustainable practices. The focus is more specifically on dairy processors to ascertain the current state of the literature and aid future research direction.Design/methodology/approachUtilising a systematic literature review (SLR), the paper addresses various terms and different written forms in the literature. The study characterises the current deployment of GLSS in the food industry and explains the reported benefits of this approach.FindingsGLSS, a concept that has yet to be fully explored in the food industry, as in other sectors, holds significant potential to enhance the food industry’s sustainability practices. The dairy sector, a subsector of the food industry known for its high greenhouse gas emissions, is a prime candidate for the application of GLSS. In instances where it has been applied, GLSS has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving sustainability, reducing waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and minimising water usage. However, the specific tools used and the model for GLSS implementation are areas that require further study, as they have the potential to revolutionise food industry operations and reduce their environmental impacts.Practical implicationsBenchmarking of this research by the food industry sector and by academics can aid understanding of the practical application of GLSS tools and aid implementation of these practices to evolve the dairy processing sector in the next decade as sustainability champions in the sector.Originality/valueThis study extensively analyses GLSS in the food industry, with a particular focus on dairy processors.

УПРАВЛІННЯ ЗМІНАМИ НА ПІДПРИЄМСТВАХ МОЛОКОПРОДУКТОВОГО СЕКТОРУ УКРАЇНИ

The article is devoted to studying modern trends in the development of Ukraine's milk processing sector. It also reveals the level of actual dairy product consumption by the country's population. As the study results showed, it has been significantly lower than the recommended parameters in recent years. Your role in the dairy sector is crucial to addressing this issue and shaping the future of the industry. The dynamics of milk production volumes by main categories of producers were analyzed. The key structural changes in the industry's development have been identified, among which the most significant is the long-term concentration of production in the sector of small producers—households. In the modern structure of milk production, the share of households in the population is 66%, and 31% is provided by agricultural enterprises of various forms of management. The concentration of production of dairy raw materials within the household sector is accompanied by a low number of problematic issues that hold back the potential of greening, innovative development, and increasing the competitiveness of domestic dairy products. However, there is a silver lining. Strategic orientations for further management changes in the dairy sector of Ukraine's enterprises were outlined, highlighting the potential for organic dairy production. The activation of further development of organic dairy production and the greening of dairy products and trade brands were identified as critical factors. According to the current assessment, the share of organic milk production in EU countries is insignificant. This creates real prospects for Ukrainian dairy companies to increase their competitive potential in the domestic and European milk products market. Based on the research results, a list of the main characteristics inherent in organic production in the country's dairy sector was substantiated. The set of key challenges that necessitate the constant management of changes in the dairy industry enterprises are outlined. The main ones are defined as: structural disparities by category of milk producers, constant complication of dairy product quality standards by the EU, loss of the potential of domestic feed production, low paying demand of the population of Ukraine, slow pace of transformations towards greening and implementation of sustainable development initiatives of the agri-food sector of Ukraine. However, the research results also demonstrated active trends in the development of trademarks of dairy companies in Ukraine, which contributes to a more intensive formation of competitive advantages among them. These findings are crucial for understanding the current state and potential future of the dairy sector, and they also inspire hope for the industry's future.