Iranian Dairy Research Articles

Risk factors and population attributable fractions for displaced abomasum in Iranian dairy cattle: a retrospective analysis of field data.

Displaced abomasum (DA) usually occurs in the early postpartum period and can negatively affect production and welfare of dairy cows. The objective of this research was to identify predictors for the occurrence of DA in Iranian Holsteins. Therefore, we analyzed data collected from six commercial dairy farms in Iran (calving between January 2011 and October 2020). We used generalized linear mixed-effects model to identify predictors based on estimates of odds ratios (ORs). Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were then calculated, as these are expected to more accurately prioritize risk factors on population level by considering the association between the risk factor and the its prevalence in the population. Over the 6 herds, the average percentage of DA was 2.5% (range 1.1-3.4% across herds). The results showed that calving during winter increased the odds of DA 1.4 times. Cows with high milk fat-to-protein ratio before the occurrence of disease, abnormal calving (including dystocia, stillbirth, and twinning) and long pregnancy length (≥ 280 d) showed increased odds of DA with ORs of 1.52, 1.31 and 1.30, respectively. Milk yield was also positively associated with DA in next lactation. Among the modifiable predictors of DA, the highest PAF was for the ratio of milk fat-to-protein (11.0%); other PAFs were retained placenta (4.1%), metritis (3.1%), abnormal calving (2.7%), and ketosis (2.7%). The results of the present study can provide managers with the a helpful strategy to reduce the occurrence of DA.

Screening of lactic acid bacteria for highly producing extra and intracellular folate and their potential use in production of bio-enriched yogurt

In this study, firstly, Microbial Assay (MA) was performed to evaluate the levels of intra and extracellular folate (Quatro folate) produced by 43 lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from traditional Iranian dairy products. The results obtained from strain screening showed that two strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus, two strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis and one strain of Lactobacillus helveticus are highly folate producing. However, two strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus produced higher amounts of folate (133.23 μg/mL and 102 μg/mL, respectively). In the second phase, eight yogurt samples were produced by using the two highest folate producing strains and compared with the control sample. The folate production in yogurt samples showed that Y8 sample has the highest amount of folate (117.93, 38.81 μg/mL determined by microbial and HPLC assay methods, respectively). It was found that the microbial assay method has the ability to measure different forms of folate derivatives compared to the HPLC method. The results exhibited that the isolates examined in this study showed the ability to produce extracellular folate at higher levels and can be used as bio-enrichment cultures to produce functional foods.

The Prevalence of Brucella Spp. in Dairy Products in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Brucellosis, a significant zoonotic disease, threatens food safety substantially, particularly in developing nations such as the Middle East. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of Brucella spp. in Iranian milk and dairy products through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A thorough search of international and domestic databases from January 2008 to October 2023 identified 38 relevant studies encompassing 11,130 samples for meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of Brucella spp. in Iranian dairy products was 22% (95% CI: 16-28%). The highest and lowest overall prevalence of Brucella spp. in milk were found in raw goat milk 27% (95% CI: 11-42%) and raw camel milk 15% (95% CI: -0.42 to 72%), respectively. The overall prevalence of traditional cheese, ice cream, and cream is estimated to be 9% (95% CI: -16 to 35%), 2% (95% CI: -2.78 to 2.82%), and 9% (95% CI: -0.94 to 1.12%). Geographical disparities were evident, with Zanjan province reporting the highest contamination rate, 53%, while Razavi Khorasan province had the lowest, 1%. However, the prevalence of Brucella spp. in Iranian dairy products has fluctuated over time, with a significant association between the study year and sample size. Comprehensive planning, robust policy implementation, and rigorous monitoring are imperative to mitigate and ultimately eliminate Brucella contamination in dairy products effectively. Further research is essential to refine prevalence estimates and develop targeted prevention strategies to safeguard public health.

Study of Akabane disease in an Iranian dairy herd: a re-emerging disease.

Akabane virus is a teratogenic pathogen transmitted by Culicoides spp. to ruminants. The virus induces anomalies in the central nervous system in the developing fetus, resulting in arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly (A-H) syndrome. During three outbreaks of the disease (2002, 2013, and 2020), 77 calves were born in Varamin, Iran, with A-H syndrome. The presenting neurologic signs were categorized into three main groups, as common, less common, and uncommon signs. The common signs were unawareness of the surroundings, blindness, deep depression, partial failure of suckling, and unintelligent behavior. The less commonly noted signs were hyperexcitability, regurgitation, head pressing, compulsive walking, and kicking, while the uncommon signs comprised protrusion of the tongue, making sounds resembling barking, carnivore-like milk drinking, and deafness. Arthrogryposis, dome-shaped skull, kyphosis, torticollis, lordosis, scoliosis, and spina bifida were the diagnosed skeletal defects. Upon necropsy, hydranencephaly, hydrocephaly, and microencephaly were seen in the calves presenting neurologic signs, while astrocytosis, astrogliosis, focal gliosis, perivascular, perineuronal, and submeningeal edema, perivascular cuffing, non-suppurative meningitis, non-suppurative encephalitis and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, and perivascular and parenchymal hemorrhage were seen in samples obtained from the brains. RT-PCR detected Akabane virus in the brain tissues of the affected calves. This is the first clinical study of Akabane disease in calves in Iran.

Impact of reproductive traits on productive life in Iranian Holstein dairy cows.

Enhancing reproductive performance is a key strategy to mitigate involuntary culling rates, thereby extending productive life (PL) and ultimately improving profitability in dairy cattle herds. A piecewise Weibull proportional hazards model was used to investigate the effect of several important reproductive traits on PL in Holstein dairy cows. Data comprised 200,747 lactation records from 82,505 cows sired by 1952 bulls across 36 dairy herds. PL was defined as the number of days from the first calving to the last milk record or censoring. The statistical model accounted for the time-dependent fixed effects of changes in herd size, year-season, milk production, fat and protein contents, and the time-independent fixed effect of age at first calving. Herd-year and sire effects were also included as random effects. Reproductive traits include calving traits such as calving ease (CE), calf size (CZ), and calf survival (CS), as well as female fertility traits such as number of inseminations per conception (NI), days from calving to first service (CFS), days from first service to conception (FSC), and days open (DO). All reproductive traits had a significant effect on PL (p < 0.001). Each reproductive trait was analysed separately. The relative risk (RR) of being culled increased as the severity of calving difficulties increased in both primiparous and multiparous cows. Cows that calved small or large calves showed a higher risk of being culled compared with those that calved medium size calves. The increased RR of culling was observed only for primiparous cows that gave birth to dead calves. In addition, cows that required more NI, a longer CFS, FSC, and DO had shorter longevity. These insights can deepen our comprehension of the factors affecting PL and provide information for refining management and breeding strategies, which could lead to increased profitability and sustainability in Iranian dairy farming.

Risk factors of clinical endometritis in an Iranian dairy farm

Clinical endometritis is one of the most common causes of declining reproductive performance in dairy cows. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of some factors including cow’s parity, milk yield, dystocia, retained placenta, calf sex, calving season, abortion, and stillbirth on the incidence of clinical endometritis and the effect of clinical endometritis on open days in an Iranian dairy farm. Uterine health of 557 dairy cows was evaluated by rectal palpation and ultrasonography during 30-35 days after calving. The presence of mucopurulent secretions in the vagina and vulva as well as the ultrasonographic observation of echogenic secretions in the uterine lumen were considered endometritis. The effect of the mentioned factors on the incidence of clinical endometritis was then analyzed in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. The chance of developing clinical endometritis in the low-producing cows was 27.2% higher than that of the high-producing cows (p=0.06). Other parameters had no significant effect on the incidence of endometritis. The incidence of clinical endometritis in the studied herd was 49.5%. Based on the results of this study, the low milk yield may be a risk factor for developing clinical endometritis in the studied herd's condition, while parameters of the parity, dystocia, retained placenta, calf sex, calving season, abortion, and stillbirth was not effective in the occurrence rate of endometritis. There was no association between clinical endometritis and days open in the studied herd.

Importance of Rigorous and Ongoing Monitoring of Animal Feed Quality and Storage Conditions to Mitigate Aflatoxin M1 Contamination in Dairy Products in Iran: A Health Policy Brief

Background: Milk and dairy products are essential for global nutrition, and ensuring their safety is crucial. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a carcinogen from contaminated animal feed, poses a significant threat to consumers. Objectives: This "health policy brief" highlights the critical need for meticulous and constant monitoring of Iran's animal feed quality and storage conditions to minimize AFM1 contamination in dairy products. Methods: Comprehensive review papers on AFM1 were reviewed in Iranian dairy products, drawing evidence from various databases. Results: The prevalence of AFM1 contamination in Iranian dairy products, particularly risky for children due to extensive consumption, exceeds safety limits, with livestock feed identified as the primary source. Public health demands rigorous monitoring practices, such as stricter feed quality and storage regulations, regular aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) testing, stakeholder collaboration, and public awareness. There are many benefits associated with these measures, including lowering AFM1 levels in dairy products, improving food safety standards, minimizing AFM1 exposure risks, especially for children, and increasing consumer confidence in the integrity of the Iranian dairy industry. Conclusions: Continuous monitoring of animal feed is crucial to safeguard public health and ensure the safety of Iranian dairy products, particularly for children. This comprehensive approach, collaboration, and public awareness are vital to mitigating AFM1 contamination and promoting Iran's safe and robust dairy industry.

Characterization of Brucella spp. circulating in industrial dairy cattle farms in Iran: a field study 2016 - 2023.

Bovine brucellosis, an infectious disease transmitted by Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus, presents a significant zoonotic risk for agricultural economics and animal health. The primary objective of this study was to present a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and features of Brucella strains within the industrial dairy farming sector in Iran. Rose Bengal plate test, standard agglutination test, and indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay tests were used to confirm all seropositive animals. A total number of 1,311 bovine samples from seropositive animals including were collected from 224 farms in 21 provinces of different regions of Iran and examined. The discovered Brucella isolates were phenotyped and molecularly characterized. The isolates were all B. abortus or B. melitensis. Bacteria analysis revealed that 70.53% of seropositive farms were tested positive for Brucella strains, predominantly B. melitensis biovar 1 (43.42%) and B. abortus biovar 3 (27.11%). Geographical distribution revealed that B. melitensis biovar 1 was the most common in dairy cow farms (16 provinces), followed by B. abortus biovar 3 (six provinces). Also, the prevalence of B. melitensis biovar 2, B. melitensis biovar 3, B. abortus biovar 1, B. abortus biovar 2 and RB51 vaccine were restricted to certain provinces. AMOS (abortus melitensis ovis suis)-polymerase chain reaction and Bruce-ladder PCR confirmed species identification. These results highlighted the complexity of bovine brucellosis in Iran and illustrated that B. melitensis was spread from small ruminants to cattle. This study provided important epidemiological insights for targeting future brucellosis control programs in the Iranian dairy farms.

Bovine Brucellosis Infection in Iranian Dairy Farms: A Herd-level Case-control Study

Background: Brucellosis is one of the most important and common diseases among humans and animals, with great health and economic significance. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate some risk factors of brucellosis infection in Iranian dairy farms. Methods: This study is a herd-level case-control study on dairy farms. Case dairy farms (95 dairy farms) included all registered cases of disease during 14 months of studying with at least one positive serum cow (Rose Bengal, Wright, and 2-mercaptoethanol tests consecutively) and control dairy farms (95 dairy farms) in the condition of at least two disease-free years were selected and matched due to the capacity, and geographical area with case dairy farms. The obtained data were analyzed by the multivariate conditional logistic regression test and SPSS software, version 20. Results: According to the statistical relationship between studying independent variables and brucellosis infection in herd, the hygiene and disinfection of watering points (washing at least three times a week and using detergent or disinfectant) reduce the risk of brucellosis infection (OR=0.04, 95% CI, 0.003%-0.499%) and factors such as the history of abortion (OR=7.01, 95% CI, 1.51%-32.59%), the replacement of livestock from outside (OR=7.87, 95% CI, 1.07%-58.07%) and introducing new livestock during last 12 months (OR=7.27, 95% CI, 1.20%-43.90%) increase the risk of brucellosis infection. Conclusion: More serious attention to rancher training, the observance of hygienic principles, and legal restriction of livestock displacement are among the recommended strategies to prevent brucellosis infection on the farm.

Effect of ultrasonographic lung consolidation on health and growth in dairy calves: A longitudinal study

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a common and complex disease process in calves. Subclinical disease exists and early detection can be challenging due to inconsistent or nonexistent clinical signs. Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) is often used and has the potential to improve the identification of respiratory diseases. Combining systematic TUS with clinical examination allows distinguishing BRD, including upper respiratory tract disease (clinical signs of respiratory disease, but no significant lung consolidation), clinical pneumonia (clinical signs of respiratory disease along with lung consolidations), and subclinical pneumonia (no clinical signs, but lung consolidations). Data on subclinical pneumonia are scarce, particularly outside of the North American or European contexts similar to Iran in west Asia with a dry and semi-arid climate and intensive breeding systems similar to North America which breeding calves begin in individual boxes, then moving to group pens, and finally to free stall or open shed housing systems. The first objective of this longitudinal study was to use weekly ultrasonography to monitor calves from birth until weaning in an Iranian dairy herd. The second objective was to look for any association between individual lung consolidation episode or cumulative consolidation episodes on preweaning growth. Thoracic ultrasonography TUS was performed on calves (n = 221) weekly from birth to weaning (8 wk), and scanning occasions for each calf were equally distributed with 1-wk intervals (using consolidation threshold ≥3 cm as a specific lung consolidation definition, and ≥1 cm as a more sensitive threshold). Calf body weights were recorded using a weight tape. Other information recorded were transfer of passive immunity (TPI) using serum Brix (%) ≥8.4% as adequate TPI within the first week after birth and the treatment history of the calves. The main strategy for modeling was to determine how long-term lung consolidation affects average daily gain (ADG) during the preweaning period. A linear model was used to determine the effect of the number of weeks with consolidation on ADG. Using consolidation threshold of ≥3 cm, the mean (±SD) of total ADG for calves with no consolidation episode, one consolidation episode, and 2 or more consolidation episodes were: 0.45 (±0.10), 0.39 (±0.10), and 0.38 (±0.11) kg/d, respectively. In the final multivariable regression analysis model and based on consolidation threshold of ≥3 cm, calves with one and 2 or more consolidation episodes had significantly lower ADG ± standard error of 0.04 ± 0.02 kg/d, and 0.06 ± 0.02 kg/d, respectively compared with animals with no consolidation episode. A total of 20% of calves (46/229 calves that entered the study) were treated for respiratory disease based on clinical signs (based on farmer examination). The final model also included specific confounders related to ADG and their interactions with lung consolidation (transfer of passive immunity [TPI] and BRD treatment). An overall of 86% of adequate TPI was obtained. BRD treatment based on farmer diagnosis had a larger negative effect on preweaning ADG than ultrasonography-diagnosed consolidation episodes (lower ADG ± SE of 0.10 ± 0.03 kg/d). When using a more sensitive consolidation threshold (≥1 cm as consolidation), the number of weeks with consolidation was also negatively associated with the ADG in the multivariable linear regression model with significant difference of 0.05 ± 0.02 kg/d for nonconsolidated calves versus calves consolidated for 2 or more weeks and insignificant difference of 0.01 ± 0.02 kg/d for nonconsolidated calves versus calves with 1 consolidation episode.

A fuzzy programming model for optimizing the inventory management problem considering financial issues: A case study of the dairy industry

In today's competitive environment as well as the dynamic nature of the business environment, managing inventory and financial flows has become more challenging. As inventory and financial flows are interdependent, setting an optimal plan for managing them simultaneously can have a dramatic impact on the company's efficiency The literature indicates that previous studies have rarely considered financial considerations in the inventory management problem. Thus, this study proposes a multi-objective programming model to optimize the inventory management problem for dairy products. In the model, material substitution is considered in order to assist in managing the inventory value. A fuzzy model is developed to deal with uncertain parameters such as inventory costs, raw milk volume, and the cost of purchasing raw materials. Then, a real-world case study is conducted in the Iranian dairy industry. Additionally, the proposed model is solved using a multi-choice goal programming approach. Further, sensitivity analyses are conducted in order to investigate the impact of critical parameters on the research question. Finally, managerial insights and theoretical implications are discussed. Based on the results, raw milk volume decreases inventory costs, and material substitution decreases inventory value as obsolete materials are used in products.

Application of machine-learning algorithms to predict calving difficulty in Holstein dairy cattle

Context An ability to predict calving difficulty could help farmers make better farm-management decisions, thereby improving dairy farm profitability and welfare. Aims This study aimed to predict calving difficulty in Iranian dairy herds using machine-learning (ML) algorithms and to evaluate sampling methods to deal with imbalanced datasets. Methods For this purpose, the history records of cows that calved between 2011 and 2021 on two commercial dairy farms were used. Using WEKA software, four commonly used ML algorithms, namely naïve Bayes, random forest, decision trees, and logistic regression, were applied to the dataset. The calving difficulty was considered as a binary trait with 0, normal or unassisted calving, and 1, difficult calving, i.e. receiving any help during parturition from farm personnel involvement to surgical intervention. The average rate of difficult calving was 18.7%, representing an imbalanced dataset. Therefore, down-sampling and cost-sensitive techniques were implemented to tackle this problem. Different models were evaluated on the basis of F-measure and the area under the curve. Key results The results showed that sampling techniques improved the predictive model (P = 0.07, and P = 0.03, for down-sampling and cost-sensitive techniques respectively). F-measure ranged from 0.387 (decision tree) to 0.426 (logistic regression) with the balanced dataset. However, when applied to the original imbalanced dataset, naïve Bayes had the best performance of up to 0.388 in terms of F-measure. Conclusions Overall, sampling techniques improved the prediction model compared with original imbalanced dataset. Although prediction models performed worse than expected (due to an imbalanced dataset, and missing values), the implementation of ML algorithms can still lead to an effective method of predicting calving difficulty. Implications This research indicated the capability of ML algorithms to predict the incidence of calving difficulty within a balanced dataset, but that more explanatory variables (e.g. genetic information) are required to improve the prediction based on an unbalanced original dataset.

Control measures to reduce Neospora caninum abortions in dairy farms: a pilot study in Iran.

Neospora caninum plays an important role in abortion and economic losses in dairy industry worldwide. The main target of this work was to detect the infection rate of N. caninum in various hosts in dairy farms for identifying the risk factors and applying appropriate control programs to reduce the number of abortions. The study was conducted in dairy farms with high incidence of abortion in Hamedan province, West of Iran. After the primary assessment, we conducted a controlling program for reducing the Neospora‑infection rate and associated abortions. Before implementing the control program, the seropositivity was 24.8% in cows (N=476 distributed in 10 farms) and 8.6% (N=185) in dogs. Abortion occurred in 3.57% of pregnant cows. 94.1% of aborted cows were positive for Neospora‑infection. Based on molecular technique, the infection rate was detected in 7.3% of cats (N=41), in 25% of pigeons (N=19)and in 11.8% of rodents (N=51). After the implementation of neosporosis control programs in the farms, the seropositivity of N. caninum decreased to 8.2% in cows and 2.9% in dogs. After the one‑year follow‑up, no cases of abortions were reported in the farms. This was the first parallel evaluation of Neospora‑infection and controlling programs in Iranian dairy farms. Regular control of rodents, retesting of seronegative animals and farm biosecurity measures are recommended for reducing the abortion incidence. The access of dogs to the herd and to aborted materials should be restricted.

Formulation of nanoemulsion carriers containing Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) and Gijavash (Froriepia subpinnata) essential oils for enriching Doogh (Iranian dairy drink).

Today, the increasing use of chemical preservatives in foods is considered one of the main problems in food industries. This study aimed to produce the pasteurised Doogh (Iranian yogurt drink) containing a nanoemulsion of essential oil (EO) with appropriate quality. A factorial test based on a completely randomised design with two treatments in three levels, including EO type (pennyroyal, Gijavash, and their equal combination) and a control sample was applied to assess the physicochemical and sensory properties of Doogh. The highest negative zeta potential and antioxidant activity percentage were observed in the sample containing the nanoemulsion of pennyroyal and enriched with a combination of two essential oils. The microbial evaluation results indicated that the total microorganism count was minimised in the Doogh containing the nanoemulsion of Gijavash. The nanoemulsions of pennyroyal and Gijavash can be added into Doogh formulation to produce a new product with maximum sensory acceptability.

Evaluation of probiotic potential of autochthonous lactobacilli strains isolated from Zabuli yellow kashk, an Iranian dairy product.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic potential and anti-biofilm activity of five lactobacilli strains which isolated and identified from an Iranian product. Five lactobacilli strains, which were isolated from Zabuli yellow kashk, were evaluated for the presence of probiotic properties, such as resistance to low pH, resistance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, bile salt tolerance, hydrophobicity, and auto- and co-aggregation. In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility, adherence to Caco-2 cells (human colon cancer cell line), anti-adhesion activity, ability against biofilm formation and biofilm degradation of mentioned strains against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PTCC 1707 were assessed. All the strains tested showed acceptable characteristics, but Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TW57-4 appeared of particular interest. Some probiotic properties of this strain were similar and in some cases higher than the commercial probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (standard sample). Cholesterol assimilation and radical-scavenging activity of Lpb. plantarum TW57-4 were 70.2% and 62.3%, respectively. The adhesion degree of Lpb. plantarum TW57-4 was 10.6%. Applying competition and inhibition assay, this strain showed 55.3% and 62.3% of competition and inhibition activity in adhesion of P. aeruginosa PTCC 1707 to the intestinal cells, respectively. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that Lpb. plantarum TW57-4 strain can be used as a promising candidate for in-vivo studies with the aim of developing new probiotic starter cultures. The present study furthers our understanding of lactobacilli strains behaviour after consumption to establish their beneficial effects.

Effect of Pectin on Anti-diabetic and Anti-oxidant Properties of Fermented Milk by Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Traditional Iranian Dairy Products

Effect of Pectin on Anti-diabetic and Anti-oxidant Properties of Fermented Milk by Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Traditional Iranian Dairy Products

Safety Evaluation of Doogh, a Traditional Iranian Dairy Product, in Khuzestan, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study on Microbiological, Chemical and Toxicological Aspects

Safety Evaluation of Doogh, a Traditional Iranian Dairy Product, in Khuzestan, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study on Microbiological, Chemical and Toxicological Aspects

Herd-level contamination of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella in milk of Iranian dairy farms

The bulk milk examination is a reliable screening tool for monitoring the quality of milk in the farms. The infection to Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella sp. Was evaluated in bulk milk samples of dairy farms in Hamedan province, West part of Iran. All the dairy farms (n = 149) were examined for N. caninum, T. gondii and Brucella infections using milk ring test (MRT), microbiology, serology (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay), and molecular techniques. Based on molecular methods, Brucella-infection was negative in all farms; while, 55 %, 5.4 % and 2.7 % of samples were positive for N. caninum, T. gondii and mix infection, respectively. The highest Neospora-infection was detected in the farms with history of abortion in fall and winter. There was significant association between Neospora-infection and the presence of dogs and rodents in the farms, herd size, and age of the animals. Also, a significant association was seen between Toxoplasma-infection and the presence of cats and rodents in the farms, as well as age of the animals. Average total bacterial count (TBC) was calculated 1.14 × 106±1.1 × 106. The highest TBC was in the farms from Central locations of studied area (5.7 × 106±2.24 × 106), farms with more than 120 animals (7.9 × 106±2.8 × 106), and farms with ≥50-months age (1.74 × 106±6.3 × 105) in spring and summer (6.9 × 106±3.7 × 106). The number of somatic cells was estimated between 1 × 104 and 2 × 106 (Average = 4.2 × 105±3.39 × 105). The current study was a comprehensive evaluation of Neospora, Toxoplasma and Brucella infections in milk samples of Iranian dairy farms for the first time. Neospora-infection is responsible for economic losses in the region. Health education and milk pasteurization are so helpful for inhibiting the milk borne diseases. To reduce the risk factors, predict and design the appropriate schemes like redundant of heterogeneous animals are recommended.

A Time-Dependent Sustainable–Flexible Supplier Selection Considering Uncertainty and TODIM Method in Iranian Dairy Industries

Nowadays, by increasing awareness on environmental and social responsibilities, stakeholders and people put more pressure on the enterprises and companies to respect these issues. Owing to the fact that suppliers as the upstream of the supply chain play an important role in success and prosperity, the sustainability of suppliers would be a must and enterprises need to create and utilize an integrated assessment model based on related criteria in every specific industry. However, these sustainability and environmental criteria especially would be critical in the cold chain and dairy industries; to our knowledge, there are not enough surveys related to this category. Interval triangular fuzzy numbers have been utilized to overcome uncertainty of the linguistic notions of the experts in this area. As criterion’s weight and even its matter would be changed during the time horizon, fuzzy time function would be applied to illustrate these modifications during the time. For solving our integrated sustainable–flexible multi-criteria model, we take advantage of TODIM, a discrete multi-criteria method based on prospect theory in uncertainty which includes gain and loss of decision simultaneously. Finally, managerial insight and associated sensitivity analysis of the ability and robustness of the proposed decision framework have been illustrated in the small- and medium-scale dairy industries in Iran.

Vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in Iranian dairy cattle.

Placentally, transmission of Neospora caninum plays significant role on retaining of infection and economic losses in dairy farms. The objective of present study was to assess placental transmission of N. caninum in Iranian dairy cattle. A total of 476 blood samples of pregnant dairy cattle were randomly collected for serology test using ELISA technique. Genomic DNA was extracted and subjected for conventional PCR and Nested-PCR to amplify 330bp and 100bp fragment length of NC5 gene, respectively. Positive animals were follow-up during gestation till abortion and/or full term delivery occurred. Molecularly, 25.3% (118/476; 95% CI: 21%-28.6%) of examined animals were seropositive for N. caninum infection in Holstein cattle (15.1%) with <2 years-old (75%) and history of abortion. The infection was detected. TT and abortion occurred in 13.6% and 3.57% of animals, respectively. Aborted cattle (94.1%, 16/17) were significantly infected to N. caninum and history of abortion was recorded in 42.4% of infected cattle. Placental transmission and abortion in naturally infected dairy cattle due to N. caninum was the first molecular evidence in all examined herds of cattle. It was also uncovered N. caninum had significant role on cattle abortion. Further studies for culling of seropositive cattle with history of abortion, associated risk factors related to neosporosis and lunch control program for reducing side effects of infection are essential in the region.