Milk Quality Research Articles

Total bacterial count and somatic cell count in bulk and individual goat milk around kidding: two longitudinal observational studies.

Total bacterial count (TBC) and somatic cell count (SCC) are important quality parameters in goat milk. Exceeding the bulk milk TBC (BMTBC) thresholds leads to price penalties for Dutch dairy goat farmers. Controlling these milk quality parameters can be challenging, especially around kidding. First, we describe the variation and the peaks around kidding of TBC and SCC in census data on Dutch bulk milk over the last 22 years. Second, to explore causes of these elevations, we studied the variation of TBC and SCC in individual goat milk from 3 weeks before to 5 weeks after kidding and their association with systemic response markers interferon-γ (IFN-γ), calprotectin, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), body condition score (BCS) and fecal consistency. We visited 4 Dutch dairy goat farms weekly for 10 to 16 weeks around kidding. Some of the goats had been dried off, other goats were milked continuously throughout pregnancy. A total of 1,886 milk samples from 141 goats were collected for automated flowcytometric quantification of TBC and SCC measurement. IFN-γ, calprotectin and BHB were determined twice in blood of the same goats, most samples were collected after kidding. The BCS and fecal consistency were scored visually before and after kidding. We found a strong correlation between TBC and SCC (Spearman's rho = 0.87) around kidding. Furthermore, in the third week before kidding, the average TBC (5.67 log10 cfu/mL) and SCC (6.70 log10 cells/mL) were significantly higher compared with the fifth week after kidding, where the average TBC decreased to 4.20 log10 cfu/mL and the average SCC decreased to 5.92 log10 cells/mL. In multivariable linear regression models, farm and stage of lactation were significantly associated with TBC and SCC, but none of the systemic response markers correlated with TBC or SCC. In conclusion, TBC and SCC in dairy goats were high in late lactation and decreased shortly after parturition. For SCC, the dilution effect might have caused the decrease, but this was not plausible for TBC. Moreover, the excretion of bacteria and cells in goat milk was not associated with the selected systemic response markers that were chosen as a read out for general immunity status, intestinal health and metabolic diseases. Therefore, we assume that the TBC increase before kidding and the decrease after parturition is caused by other systemic, possibly hormonal, processes. To reduce BMTBC and BMSCC, it would be advisable to keep milk of goats with highest numbers of bacteria and cells in their milk out of the bulk milk during end lactation. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of withholding this end lactation milk from the bulk tank.

Enhancing Dairy Production through Virtual Reality: A Comparative Study of Milk Quality and Quantity in Open and Closed Environments

Abstract: In dairy production, understanding the factors influencing the milk production is crucial for enhancing productivity and ensuring quality. The research revolves around the concept of usage of Virtual Reality (VR) Technology for stimulating milk extraction by contrasting the result of Open and Close cow farming in India. A comparative analysis was conducted on milk quality and quantity between Open and Close cows, with a focus on the impact of pre and post production VR exposure on Close cow farms. This study comprises a summation of (no of cows) samples gathered from diverse geographical areas engulfing both (Open and Closed) settings. The study exhibits the effectiveness of VR bridging the gap between Close and Open environments. Findings suggest that VR has the potential to harmonize the milk production environment and enhance overall production.The dairy milk production is based on changing environment and geographical area

An automated fluorescent immunoassay for on-site screening of AFM1 in raw milk at the ppt level

In the dairy industry, the quality of raw milk as it is collected from dairy farmers must be strictly ensured. Therefore, when on-site screening of typical carcinogens in raw milk, this technology must simultaneously be convenient to operate and highly sensitive. Here, an automated and fluorescent immunoassay system for screening trace amounts of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw milk was developed. The whole immunoassay procedure can be processed in a true “sample-to-results” paradigm, avoiding the tedious manual operation of the traditional indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) method. In addition, we designed an integrated fluorescent spectrometer that can quantitatively measure fluorescent signals with high sensitivity. The automated and fluorescent immunoassay system can screen AFM1 in raw milk samples with an ultra low limit of detection (4.7 pg/mL in raw milk). The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 8.3 pg/mL, which is approximately 4-fold lower than that of traditional ic-ELISA. When the system was applied to screen actual raw milk samples, the recovery rates ranged from 79.4% to 104.6%, with a coefficient of variation ranging from 8.9% to 15.2%. Overall, we believe that the automated and fluorescent immunoassay system can provide a one-stop solution that is user-friendly and highly sensitive for screening trace AFM1 contaminants in raw milk.

Impact of Raw Milk Quality on Dairy Products & Payment Systems

The trend of microbial quality of raw milk is affected by the seasonal variation in in milk production practices and ambient temperature with the season. A payment system, which includes testing for selected parameters, with subsequent rejection and/or penalties or bonuses, is considered functional to improving raw milk quality. In addition to the minimal legal requirements, milk may be graded (and paid) according to its “quality,” usually measured according to composition (fat, protein, lactose, other solids, free fatty acids), hygienic quality. Psychrotrophic microbes, particularly Pseudomonas spp., are found in the microbiota of chilled milk because they can grow at temperatures below their optimal growth temperature. Psychrotrophic counts ranging from 105 to 108 CFU/ml in refrigerated raw milk affect cheese quality, since the synthesized thermoresistant enzymes affect the nutritional value, sensory properties and texture. Therefore, stringent measures must be implemented throughout the dairy supply chain to ensure the microbial quality of raw milk is maintained at safe levels, thus safeguarding the integrity and safety of dairy products for consumers.

Strategies for Preventing Environmental Mastitis in Dairy Farming: A Review

The dairy industry must adhere to stringent international standards due to the growing demand for healthy, high-quality, and affordable dairy products worldwide. To ensure the quality of raw milk, key markers such as Bulk Milk Somatic Cell Count (BMSCC) and Total Bacterial Count (BMTBC) have become standard benchmarks. However, mastitis, the most common disease affecting dairy cows, poses a significant risk to both animal welfare and the long-term sustainability of the dairy sector. Mastitis leads to reduced milk production, increased treatment costs, milk withholding during treatment, higher labor requirements, and premature culling of affected cows. In India alone, mastitis costs the dairy industry 2.37 billion rupees annually, with subclinical mastitis accounting for approximately 70% of this loss. While contagious infections have been effectively controlled, environmental mastitis pathogens such as Streptococcus uberis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella spp now pose the primary concern for mastitis control. The management of cow bedding materials is crucial as they serve as a significant source of exposure to these environmental infections. This review study provides a detailed discussion of environmental mastitis pathogen control, emphasizing the critical role of bedding materials in reducing the risk of exposure to these pathogens.

Effects of cold storage and freezing on sheep’s milk

Sheep’s milk production in Brazil is focused on the industrialization of high added value derivatives. Some factors, such as seasonal production, short lactation period, and microbiological contamination, cause a shortage of this raw material throughout the year. It is well known that low temperatures are used in the conservation of dairy products and the objective of this study was to verify the microbiological and physical-chemical quality in refrigerated and frozen raw sheep’s milk. Standard plate counts, psychrotrophics, Staphylococcus aureus, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms, as well as titratable acidity, pH, and water activity were analyzed in samples 1 day after refrigeration and 8 and 15 days after freezing temperatures. Overall, the results of refrigerated milk were based on the legislation, but frozen milk showed high values of aerobic plate, S. aureus, and acidity, especially after 15 days of storage. Psychrotrophics and coliform counts were also high, indicating a risk for the quality of the raw milk and derivatives, which emphasizes the importance of handler training for good practices in the farm, as well as in the dairy industry. Freezing may be a viable strategy; however, additional studies testing lower temperatures and previous milk pasteurization are necessary to guarantee milk quality and consumer safety.

Physicochemical and sanitary parameters of bovine bulk milk processing centers in the Amazon region, Peru

Evaluating quality and microbiological parameters in bovine milk processing centers is essential for ensuring public health and product quality and positively impacting the local economy. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and sanitary parameters of bovine milk in the Amazon region. For this purpose, 31 samples were collected from milk processing centers in the region. The following quality parameters were evaluated: somatic cell count; physicochemical parameters: fat, protein, nonfat solids, lactose, ash, pH, and density; and microbiological parameters: mesophilic aerobic bacteria and total coliforms in the raw milk. For data analysis, mean comparison tests were performed using Kruskal‒Wallis and Tukey tests, and cluster and principal component analysis was performed using R software version 4.3.2 and InfoStat version 2018p. The results for the 31 milk processing centers showed significant differences in all the parameters evaluated; fat, somatic cell count, and density were within the technical specifications of the Supreme Decree N° 007-2017-MINAGRI. Microbiological analyses revealed significant variability in total coliforms and mesophilic aerobic bacteria. Cluster analysis revealed five groups with similar characteristics, with Group 1 exhibiting high somatic cell, lactose, and ash contents and Group 3 exhibiting higher fat contents. Principal component analysis highlighted the significant contributions of total coliforms, aerobic bacteria, and somatic cells to the degradation of milk quality. Although somatic cell counts meet specific standards, elevated levels of coliforms and aerobic bacteria are of concern. These findings are essential for ensuring food safety and improving milk quality.

Reproduction of the technology for the production of “Rossiysky” cheese in laboratory conditions, depending on the quality of milk

Relevance. Dairy processing enterprises are expanding the range of dairy products with the introduction of production of various cheeses. Small producers have also become active in cheese production. In 2023, the decrease in the price and demand for raw milk had a particularly strong impact on collective (farmer) and personal subsidiary farms. This caused the need for milk processing in rural conditions. Our research is aimed at developing technology for the production of ”Rossiysky” cheese for peasants and farms.Methods. The Kjeldahl method determined the mass fraction of protein, acid method — the mass fraction of fat, calculated — the mass fraction of dry matter and skimmed milk residue, ultrasonic — the mass fractions of milk fat, protein, lactose, milk powder, skimmed milk residue, the amount of added water, mineral salts, density, freezing point, temperature, by the express method — active acidity.Results. The chemical composition and physico-chemical properties of raw milk were studied in winter and spring. It was found that the mass fraction of fat in milk reaches 4.31–4.65%. Mass fraction of protein is 2.92–3.02%. The ratio of milk fat to protein is 1.48–1.54, with the recommended norm being 1.1–1.25. Changes were made to the technological scheme for the production of “Rossiysky” cheese, taking into account the characteristics of the quality of milk and the equipment used in the conditions of peasants and farms. To obtain milk with the required protein to fat ratio, the mixture was normalized. “Rossiysky” cheese was produced from normalized milk. The quality of cheese in terms of organoleptic, physico-chemical and microbiological indicators meets the requirements of regulatory documents.

Evaluation of heat-induced changes and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural formation in mare milk - a comparative study to cow milk

Mare milk is known for therapeutic properties due to the presence of bioactive components that are sensitive to thermal treatments and tend to lose their activity. Accordingly, mare milk is consumed raw or frozen, but for food safety reasons recent studies suggest mandatory pasteurization of mare milk before consumption. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of different heat treatments on mare milk quality and compare those to heat induced changes in cow milk. In all milk samples, the total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), antioxidant capacity (AC) by the DPPH and FRAP methods, changes in colour (ΔE*), concentration of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and the total phenols (TPC) were determined. Heat induced protein denaturation was monitored by SDS-PAGE, while NIR was applied for qualitative analysis of structural changes. In-bottle sterilization at 116 °C/16ʹ and 120 °C/5ʹ showed to be inappropriate for mare milk processing, since they resulted in the most intense colour changes (ΔE*>5), the highest free and total HMF concentrations (40.70 μmol/L free, 70.26 μmol/L total HMF at 116 °C/16ʹ; 35.49 μmol/L free, 58.12 μmol/L total HMF at 120 °C/5ʹ) and the most intense protein denaturation. On contrary, the applied HTST regimes (72 °C/20”, 85 °C/30”, 90 °C/5ʹ) and thermisation at 63 °C/15” were appropriate for mare milk processing considering the studied qualitative changes. Thereby, the HMF concentration, FRAP, TPC and ΔE* value, combined with NIR analysis showed a good potential to be used as rapid and useful tools for monitoring the intensity of heat induced changes in mare milk.

The conjugation of productive features of dairy cattle of the Holstein breed

Relevance. Currently, in the Sverdlovsk region, more than 75% of the total number of cattle belongs to the Holstein breed, created by absorbing domestic black-and-white cattle into Holsteins. The study of the variability of the productive qualities of cows during lactation is important for identifying the possibility of increasing productive longevity and the efficiency of breeding and using Holstein cattle of the Ural selection in the conditions of the Middle Urals.Methods. The study was conducted in one of the typical livestock complexes of the Holstein black-and white cattle breed in the Sverdlovsk region. All cows that completed four lactation periods were included in the assessment. Milk productivity was assessed by control milks, milk quality indicators: MJ and MDB in milk in an average milk sample from each cow, once a month correlation coefficients between productive characteristics were calculated in the Uralplemcenter dairy laboratory. The automated program “SELEX. Dairy cattle.”Results. As a result of the conducted studies, it was found that significantly more milk was produced from age-and-sex cows during the third lactation than during the first and second, as well as the fourth lactation (p ≤ 0.01 — for the first, p ≤ 0.05 — for the second and fourth). The live weight significantly increased with age in the second lactation at p ≤ 0.01 relative to the first, and from the third onwards — at p ≤ 0.001 relative to the first lactation. There is a tendency to decrease the mass fraction of fat (MJ) in milk and a simultaneous increase in MDB with age from the first to the fourth lactation. When carrying out breeding work, it is possible to take into account the positive correlation coefficients for predicting the further milk productivity of cows according to the milk yield of the first heifers, the invariance of milk quality indicators with changes in milk yield and the positive effect of live weight of cows on their productivity. The research is exploratory and was carried out within the framework of scientific research of the Ural State Agrarian University (state registration No. AAAA19-1191014000069).

TECHNOLOGY FOR CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF MILK QUALITY USING MAGNETIC FIELD

In production, various methods are used to control the quality of manufactured products due to physical and chemical effects. In recent years, the principle of the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been increasingly used in the management and control of technological processes in food production. This paper examines the possibility of using the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance for the purpose of automated control of milk quality by a magnetic field. By studying the isotopes of the NMR spectra of the specified product, it is possible to determine whether the product is natural or artificial, that is, its cost and quality. This work also provides a block diagram of the technological process and explains the expressions for receiving NMR signals and processing them with the creation of a magnetic field using electromagnets in an automated control system. This method allows not only to control the process, but also to determine the physical properties of milk and dairy products, contributing to changes in quality. To do this, it is necessary to maintain the optimal value of the generated magnetic field with very high accuracy.

Impact of pre-partum nutraceutical or monensin intraruminal boluses on colostrum quality and Holstein dairy cows’ performance: exploratory field study

A smooth transition phase is the key for optimal dairy cows’ performance and reduced antibiotics use. Therefore, the objective of our Our study was to compare the effect of an antibiotic growth promoter and a nutraceutical bolus, onhealth, colostrum, milk production, and profitability in transition dairy cows. Seventy-five animals blocked by parity, previous milk yield, lactation length, and body condition score (BCS) were assigned in a randomised design to 1 of 3 groups: control (CON; N = 26) receiving no treatment; monensin (MON; N = 27) receiving, a slow-releasing intraruminal bolus of sodic monensin at −20 d relative to expected calving; nutraceutical (ECS; N = 22) receiving, at −5 d before the expected calving an intraruminal bolus of Echinacea purpurea dry extract, vitamin E, l-carnitine and Silybum marianum released within 24h. Colostrum yield and density were recorded; its composition and immunoglobulins content were analysed. Every 20 days BCS was recorded; individual milk yield was recorded daily until 70DIM and monthly thereafter until 305 DIM. Milk quality was tested monthly. An economic evaluation until 70DIM was performed. Colostrum and Δ BCS were analysed by analysis of covariance. Economics and BCS were analysed with ANOVA, and milk yield and quality with ANOVA for repeated measures. The MON and ECS had lower colostrum protein and His, Arg, Ala, Met, Val and Ile content, and in higher milk yield until 35 (ECS) and 70 (MON) DIM compared to the CON. A trend for a higher partial income was observed for MON and ECS compared to the CON group, suggesting a positive impact of the treatments.

Enhancing milk quality assessment: A novel approach using an optical tongue with fiber-based Mach–Zehnder interferometry

The incorporation of advanced technologies in agricultural industry procedures has boosted operational efficiency, enabling more effective data collection and analysis. In this study, we developed an ”optical tongue” using fiber-optic Mach–Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) built from micro tapered long-period fiber gratings (MT-LPFGs). This tool was employed to collect data related to milk quality, with results indicating a high potential to improve the quality control of dairy products. These advances demonstrate the potential of optical fiber sensor technologies in the agricultural industry and quality control.

ASSESSMENT OF THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF RAW MILK FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF PRIMARY MILK PROCESSING

As you know, the quality of milk cannot be improved during its processing, therefore the milk quality management system at production facilities should be focused on high-tech processes of its production. It has been scientifically proven that the process of obtaining and collecting milk, its primary processing, storage and transportation are the least controlled production processes. Therefore, the study of the milking technology impact and primary processing on the quality of the obtained milk remains relevant. An analysis of production and primary processing of milk was carried out at the farm of “Lany Vinkovechchyny” LLC in Khmelnytskyi region, and in order to improve the quality of the obtained milk raw materials, it was proposed to optimize the technology of primary processing of milk, in particular, to supplement the traditional scheme of primary purification with a fine filter. It was established that there is a dependence between the quality of raw milk and the technology of primary processing, so with successive purification of milk with a filter of coarse and then fine purification, the number of mesophilic aerobic and facultatively anaerobic microorganisms (KMAFAnM) in milk was at the level of 228 thousand CFU /cm3, which corresponds to the highest grade, at the same time, during one-time filtration in a closed flow with a coarse filter, the milk contained 332 thousand CFU /cm3, which is according to DSTU 3662:2018. corresponds only to the first kind indicator. After double filtration, only 259,000/cm3 somatic cells were found in the milk samples, which is 27.6% less than in the milk samples that underwent single purification. The proposed measures to improve the quality and safety of raw milk through the consistent use of filters for coarse and fine primary cleaning made it possible to increase the quality of milk and increase financial income for the farm.

Nutritional factors affecting camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk composition.

Saharan population in Algeria still depending on bovine milk, which suffers from serious constraints undermining its sustainability. Camelus dromedarius milk has experienced growing demand following the emerging market requirements for livestock production and dairy farming over the past decade. The present work aimed at analysing the effect of nutritional regime on milk quality. The differences in pH, Acidity D°, Ash and Fats were significant. The pH was negatively influenced by the intensification conditions such as the much higher use of concentrates. The major constituents of milk were strongly and positively correlated with barley, wheat bran, TN/Kg.DM (Total Nitrogen/ Kg. Dry Matter), Kg.DM, Concentrates and daily watering. The results showed that a good energy-protein balance around 73g PDI/UFL (Protein Digestible in the Intestine/Energetic Forage Unit for milk production) was beneficial for a better milk protein ratio. The use of corn, soybeans, palm dates and VM-premix (Vitamin Mineral) supplementation were also favourable to the synthesis of fats. Crude fiber and cell walls were better valued in the synthesis of fats with the availability of concentrates and the increasing of TN /Kg.DM and VM-premix rate in dietary regime. The vitamin C content elevate following high ratio of UFL /Kg.DM and PDI/UFL. For thus, the influence of nutritional status can lead to major improvements that need also more advanced and detailed studies.

Overcoming Stunting Through Local Wisdom Community Towards a Food Consumption Diversity: A Preliminary Research of Torbangun Leaves (Coleus Amboinicus L) Biscuit

Objective: This paper shows that torbangun leaves (Coleus Amboinicus L) are suitable for nursing mothers in a practical, comfortable, and healthy form according to the standards of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, namely in the form of biscuits. In the Batak ethnic group in Indonesia, it was found that local wisdom in the community that torbangun leaves are believed to improve the quality of breast milk for infants aged 12-24 months. Various studies show that the torbangun leaf contains elements that can increase a baby's height and nutrition.
  
 Method: The research was conducted experimentally to obtain biscuits from torbangun leaves based on the biscuits' aroma, texture, taste, and color. The last method is to intervene in stunting children aged 12-24 months. Children were grouped into children who were given biscuits with torbangun leaves and children who were given biscuits without torbangun leaves for three months every day.
  
 Result and Conclusion: The findings from the organoleptic test showed that the most suitable biscuits to be given to children aged 12-24 months were biscuits with the addition of torbangun leaf flour. There was a significant difference in body length in children who were given biscuits mixed with torbangun leaves and without torbangun leaves.
  
 Research implications: Research related to food consumption diversity comes from traditional knowledge of the Toba Batak ethnicity, which can be modified into healthy food to overcome stunting. From this initial research, the food industry can develop it into biscuits as a supplement for children aged 6-24 months.
  
 Originality/value: The value of this study lies in new findings in the field of supplementary diet and food consumption diversity for nutritional improvement in children aged 6 -24 months. To ensure reliability, the habit of adding food supplements to nursing mothers based on traditional knowledge of one ethnicity was studied through laboratory studies. Furthermore, the raw materials always used by breastfeeding mothers are checked to be modified into biscuits so that they are easy to obtain, easy to use, and low cost.

Knockdown of PROX1 promotes milk fatty acid synthesis by targeting PPARGC1A in dairy goat mammary gland

Goat milk is rich in various fatty acids that are beneficial to human health. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA-seq analyses of goat mammary glands at different lactation stages revealed a novel lactation regulatory factor, Prospero homeobox 1 (PROX1). However, the mechanism whereby PROX1 regulates lipid metabolism in dairy goats remains unclear. We found that PROX1 exhibits the highest expression level during peak lactation period. PROX1 knockdown enhanced the expression of genes related to de novo fatty acid synthesis (e.g., SREBP1 and FASN) and triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis (e.g., DGAT1 and GPAM) in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs). Consistently, intracellular TAG and lipid droplet contents were significantly increased in PROX1 knockdown cells and reduced in PROX1 overexpression cells, and we observed similar results in PROX1 knockout mice. Following PROX1 overexpression, RNA-seq showed a significant upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PPARGC1A) expression. Further, PPARGC1A knockdown attenuated the inhibitory effects of PROX1 on TAG contents and lipid-droplet formation in GMECs. Moreover, we found that PROX1 promoted PPARGC1A transcription via the PROX1 binding sites (PBSs) located in the PPARGC1A promoter. These results suggest a novel target for manipulating the goat milk-fat composition and improving the quality of goat milk.

Qualitative characteristics of sheep’s and goat's milk in Albania

Cost-effective methods are crucial in small-scale operations to assess the physicochemical properties of milk, identify potential clinical or subclinical mastitis, and test β-lactams in small ruminants. The aim was to evaluate the importance of physicochemical characteristics, somatic cells, and antibacterial substances as factors for monitoring the quality and safety of bulk tank milk from sheep and goats. Furthermore, we aimed to elucidate the influence of grazing capacity on the composition of sheep's milk. The fat content of sheep's milk (n=119) was found to be 7.7%, with a range of 5.3% to 9.9%. The average fat content of dairy goats (n=33) was found to be 4.9%, with a range of 2.8-6.7%. The results indicate that 2.8% of sheep milk samples and 7.8% of goat milk samples exhibited clear positive reactions when assessed using the California mastitis test. β-lactam antibiotics were present in 0.7% of sheep milk samples, but not in any of the goat milk samples using lateral flow strips. This measurement method can be useful to detect adulterated milk and better understand the quality and safety of small ruminant milk before processing.

Milk productivity of cows-daughters of different sires of foreign breeding

The widespread use of Holstein sires of different selections in the breeding of dairy cattle and the study of their influence on the productive traits of daughters is relevant and of practical importance. The purpose of the research was to study the milk productivity of cows-daughters of different sires of foreign breeding. The research was carried out in one of the breeding farms in the Sverdlovsk region for breeding Holstein black-and-white cattle. The object of the research was Holstein sires of diff erent breeding and their daughters. A comparison was made of the milk production of daughters of four sires: Alta Bloomberg (country of origin USA), Bourbon (Denmark), Norton (Germany) and Lisborn (Canada). It was found as a result of the research that the diff erence in milk yield between herdmates daughters of diff erent sires was statistically insignificant, but there was a tendency for higher milk yields in the daughters of the sires Alta Bloomberg, Norton and Lisborn, compare to the daughters of the sire Bourbon. In the milk of the daughters of sires Alta Blumberg and Norton, the mass fraction of fat in milk was higher (p ≤ 0,05–0,01), and in the daughters of the sire Bourbon, the mass fraction of protein was higher (p ≤ 0,01). Signifi cant differences were also revealed in the chemical composition of milk from cows-daughters of different sires. The results of the assessment on sanitary and hygienic indicators confirmed the high quality of milk. Indicators of bacterial contamination of milk and the presence of somatic cells in milk were low and met the requirements for premium milk. A significant difference was established in the increase in the number of bacterial and somatic cells in milk with the age of cows in daughters of the sires Alta Blumberg and Bourbon (p ≤ 0,05–0,01). In the milk of the daughters of the sires Norton and Lisborn, a statistically significant difference was obtained only for somatic cells (p ≤ 0,01 and p ≤ 0,001).

Pollutants in Breast Milk: A Scoping Review of the Most Recent Data in 2024.

Perinatal exposure to pollutants, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals, poses significant risks to both mothers and children, marking this period as highly vulnerable. Despite the well-acknowledged benefits of breastfeeding, there exists a gap in comprehensive understanding regarding the impact of environmental pollutants on breast milk, underscoring the critical need for this study. Our research addresses this gap by exploring the intersection of environmental health and lactation, situated within the broader 'One Health' concept, thus contributing a novel perspective to the existing body of knowledge. This scoping review aims to examine recent research on the persistent presence of organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals in breast milk, thereby elucidating the environmental setting's impact on milk quality. We seek to highlight the innovative angle of our study by emphasizing the 'One Health' concept, which has not been thoroughly explored in the context of lactation and environmental pollutants. We performed a scoping review, consulting two online databases to identify articles published from 1995 to 2023 that reported on pollutants in breast milk, using the PRISMA checklist. This methodological approach underlines the comprehensive and up-to-date nature of our literature review, ensuring the relevance and timeliness of our findings. From a total of 54 relevant articles, findings indicate that POPs are present in higher concentrations in breast milk the longer the lactation period. These findings highlight the persistent and bioaccumulative nature of such contaminants, offering new insights into their long-term implications for maternal and infant health. This exposure does not appear time-sensitive, suggesting pollutants accumulated in maternal fat compartments can be excreted into human milk years after exposure, a novel finding that underscores the importance of considering long-term environmental exposures in lactation research. The presence of POPs and heavy metals in both infant formula and maternal milk underscores a critical need for further comparative studies to understand the health implications better. Our discussion extends the current dialogue on the safety of breastfeeding in polluted environments, providing a new framework for assessing risks and benefits. While breastfeeding remains the WHO-recommended nutrition for optimal infant growth, the findings emphasize the importance of continued risk reduction policies to protect mothers and infants from environmental contaminants in breast milk. Our conclusion calls for an integrated approach, combining public health, environmental science, and clinical practice to develop effective strategies for reducing exposure to environmental pollutants. This multidisciplinary perspective is a significant contribution to the field, paving the way for future research and policy development.