Milk Quality Research Articles

RELAÇÃO ENTRE BOAS PRÁTICAS DE ORDENHA, ÍNDICES DE QUALIDADE DE LEITE E BEM-ESTAR ANIMAL

Milk quality is directly related to milking management practices and herd health, with mastitis being one of the main diseases that compromise milk production. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of good milking practices on milk quality and animal welfare, with an emphasis on reducing mastitis and somatic cell count (SCC). The research was carried out at Fazenda Roxa, in Candeal-BA, with 70 cows, 40 of which were in lactation. Milk samples were collected before and after the implementation of good practices, which included reorganization of the milking line, disinfection of teats, cup testing for mastitis detection, and training of milkers. The results showed a significant reduction in SCC, from 1,100,000 cells/ml to 550,000 cells/ml, within the limits of the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). Furthermore, there was a decrease in the incidence of clinical mastitis, indicating the effectiveness of good practices in improving milk quality. The study also showed that such practices contribute to animal welfare and the production of healthier milk, with economic benefits for producers. The implementation of these practices is essential to ensure the production of healthy milk, with positive impacts on the quality of food products and food safety.

The Interaction of Microalgae Dietary Inclusion and Forage-to-Concentrate Ratio on the Lipid Metabolism-Related Gene Expression in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue of Dairy Goats

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been shown to be effective in enhancing the quality of ruminant products, including meat and milk. However, under these dietary conditions, the de novo lipogenesis could be influenced, too. On the other hand, even if the forage-to-concentrate ratio (F:C) is also a key factor affecting lipid metabolism in small ruminants, there is scarce information about its interaction with dietary PUFA. This study investigates the potential of the F:C ratio as a lever to manipulate lipid metabolism in dairy goats under high dietary PUFA supplementation. For this purpose, twenty-two crossbred dairy goats [Alpine × Local (Greek) breeds] (BW = 50.6 ± 6.1 kg) at early lactation (70 ± 10 days in milk) during the age of 3–4 years old, were separated into two homogeneous subgroups (n = 11). In the first phase, each goat was fed 20 g Schizochytrium spp./day followed by either a high-forage (20 HF) or a high-grain (20 HG) diet, while in the second phase, each goat was fed 40 g Schizochytrium spp./day followed once again either a high-forage (40 HF) or a high-grain (40 HG) diet. The F:C ratio of a high-forage and high-grain diet was 60:40 and 40:60, respectively. Tail fat tissue samples were collected by biopsy on the 42nd day of each experimental phase (last day). Significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the gene expression of ACACA, CBR2, COX4I1, ELOVL5, ELOVL7, LEP, and SCD were presented in goats fed 40 g compared to those fed 20 g Schizochytrium spp., while the gene expression of ACACA, AGPAT2, AGPAT3, ELOVL5, ELOVL6, EPHX2, FASN, and SCD was decreased in high grain compared to high-forage diets. This study also indicated that with the aim to enrich goat products with PUFA by increasing their levels in the diet, lipid metabolism is negatively affected. However, a diet with higher forage inclusion can partially attenuate this condition.

The unrevealed links: periodontal health, human milk composition, and infant gut microbiome dynamics.

This review aims to identify the mechanistic relationships related to periodontal diseases and its possible association with changes in human milk composition and the composition and function of infants' gut microbiome. Maternal health conditions, especially inflammatory, are associated with altered human milk composition. It is not known whether maternal oral inflammatory diseases, including periodontal diseases, deleteriously affect human milk composition. A narrative review was conducted according to SANRA, the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles, guidelines. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane database of systematic reviews were searched from September 2019 up to December 2023 using keywords such as breast/human milk, maternal health/infections, and periodontal diseases. Reference lists of relevant articles were also screened. Our primary outcome of interest was human milk composition (i.e., any changes in macronutrients, immunological components, etc.). Secondary outcomes included changes in human milk microbiome and subsequent changes in the infant gut microbiome. Outcomes were synthesized using a narrative approach where the existing evidence and current literature were summarized. No risk of bias assessment of the studies was performed in this review. The search yielded no studies investigating the relationship between periodontal diseases in nursing mothers and changes in human milk composition. However, a dose-response relationship exists between the severity of periodontal diseases and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth. Mastitis and diabetes affected milk lipids. Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) was increased in mastitis, whereas reduced concentrations were reported in diabetes. Potential biological pathways through which periodontal diseases can negatively affect human milk composition include the systemic dissemination of inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, PGE2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β that can be up-regulated by bacterial by-products. This biological plausibility needs to be investigated, given the potentially negative impact on the quality of human milk that could be caused by periodontal inflammation.

Milk production and composition in warm-climate regions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Milk production is a key component of the agriculture sector in the tropics and subtropics, contributing 47.32% to global milk production. This study aimed to quantify milk production and composition (fat and protein) in warm-climate regions located between 30 degrees north and south of the equator. A meta-analysis was conducted using the standardized mean (SM) for milk production, fat percentage, and protein percentage, all adjusted for dry matter intake (DMI), focusing on lactating ruminants. A total of 42, 11, 15, and 16 research papers were selected for cows, buffalo, sheep, and goats, respectively, encompassing 2421 animal records from experiments published between 1992 and 2024. The SM for milk production was 10.38, 9.77, 0.79, and 1.13kg/day/animal for cows, buffalo, sheep, and goats, respectively. Due to the significant variance between different cow breeds, the study divided the cows into three main groups based on breed type crossbreds, foreign, and local breeds. The SM for milk production per animal was 11.49kg/day for crossbreds, 22.95kg/day for foreign breeds, and 7.13kg/day for local breeds. The effect of DMI on the SM of milk production for cows, sheep, and goats was highly significant. For milk fat, the SM was 3.95, 6.64, 4.70, and 3.56% for cows, buffalo, sheep, and goats, respectively. Regarding milk protein, the SM was 3.36, 3.91, 4.34, and 3.45% for cows, buffalo, sheep, and goats, respectively. The results of this meta-analysis highlight that warm-climate regions are significant contributors to global dairy production. Furthermore, improving ruminant milk production and quality in hot climates need further efforts.

Spore-Forming Clostridia in Raw Cow Milk from Northern Italy: A Trend Analysis over the Past 20 Years

Clostridium species are known for their impact on animal and human health, but also for the spoilage of foodstuffs. Their spores contaminate milk and result in germination and gas production, the latter being particularly evident in the cheeses that suffer severe depreciation. To address this issue, the Primary Production Department of the IZSLER institute in Brescia, Italy conducts the Most Probable Number (MPN) method on bovine milk samples collected from Northern Italian dairies between 2004 and 2023. This approach leverages two semi-quantitative protocols, S2 and S3, to detect Clostridium species spore forms upon customer request. Here, we would like to present an a-posteriori analysis on the results of the S2 and S3 protocols. The goal of this study is to highlight the differences between these two methods and provide evidence of the actual decrease in Clostridium species in raw cow milk over a 20-year period. Our analysis shows that client demand for S2 has progressively decreased, while S3’s has remained constant, and both protocols reveal a significant reduction in positives; furthermore, S3’s greater sensitivity made it more responsive to environmental changes. This highlights the necessity of choosing the appropriate testing protocol that accounts for both regulatory standards and environmental factors. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring to manage Clostridium species contamination and ensure milk quality.

The Microbiological Quality of Raw Ovine Milk in the Banat Region of Romania with a Focus on Escherichia coli and Its Pathogenic Potential and Antimicrobial Resistance

This study investigated the bacteriological quality of raw ovine milk produced by farms located in the Banat region of Romania. Additionally, the pathogenic potential and antimicrobial resistance of the isolated Escherichia coli strains were evaluated. A total of 95.8% (69/72) of the screened bulk tank milk samples, collected at the farm level immediately after milking, demonstrated appropriate total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TMB) counts, varying from 3.32 to 6.09 log10 CFU/mL. However, 4.2% (3/72) of the samples were above the regulatory limit of 6.18 log10 CFU/mL. E. coli was identified in 66.6% of the examined samples, and from the total number (n = 48) of isolates, 18.8% harbored the stx2 gene, highlighting pathogenic potential. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing with the Vitek2 system of the isolated E. coli strains revealed resistance against ampicillin (45.8%), gentamicin (20.8%), ticarcillin–clavulanic acid (18.8%), cephalexin (18.8%), amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (8.3%), and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (2.1%). Additionally, 64.6% of the strains showed intermediate resistance against amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, while no resistance was recorded against imipenem. Five (18.5%) strains were multidrug-resistant. This study’s results underline hygienic sanitary deficiencies during the milking phase and indicate that raw ovine milk can be contaminated with pathogenic and multidrug-resistant E. coli strains, highlighting a potential risk to public health. Further studies are encouraged to better understand the risk posed to the consumer via the consumption of ovine milk and derived products.

Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale to assess exclusive breastfeeding: a cross-sectional study in rural China.

Despite the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, the proportion of exclusively breastfed children remains low in rural China. Self-efficacy is one of the most crucial modifiable factors predicting breastfeeding behavior. However, existing instruments in China do not specifically measure self-efficacy for exclusive breastfeeding but rather measure self-efficacy for any breastfeeding. Furthermore, they have been validated only in high-income Chinese settings. We sought to adapt and validate an instrument to measure exclusive breastfeeding self-efficacy within rural Chinese contexts. We introduced relevant items to Dennis' Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), which can assess maternal self-efficacy for exclusive breastfeeding. It was then implemented in a multistage random cluster sampling design and cross-sectional survey with home-visit interviews among women 0-6 months postpartum (n = 654) in the rural areas of four counties in Sichuan, China. We performed item-total and adjusted item-total correlations, as well as exploratory factor analysis to remove redundant items and determine the latent factor structure. We further applied confirmatory factor analysis to test the dimensionality of the scale. We then assessed the reliability of the scale and conducted tests of predictive and divergent validity. Known group comparisons were made by primiparous status and breastfeeding support level. We compared the validated Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale with the BSES-SF in terms of reliability and validity to explore the added value of scale modification. Our modification of the BSES-SF to target exclusive breastfeeding produced 19 items. This was further reduced to 15 items based on adjusted item-total correlations and exploratory factor analysis, forming the Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. This scale had three dimensions: "Breast milk supply and quality," "Breastfeeding skills," and "Exclusive breastfeeding" subscales. The Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and overall reliability with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.91. Predictive and divergent validity and known group comparison assessments supported its validity. Robust psychometric evaluations demonstrated enhanced validity and reliability compared to the original BSES-SF. Our Exclusive Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale is valid and reliable for measuring exclusive breastfeeding self-efficacy within rural Chinese contexts and is ready for adaptation and validation for clinical and programmatic use elsewhere, particularly within LMICs.

Metabolomics Reveals the Mechanism by Which Sodium Butyrate Promotes the Liver Pentose Phosphate Pathway and Fatty Acid Synthesis in Lactating Goats

This study aimed to explore the effects of sodium butyrate on liver metabolism in goats subjected to a high-concentrate diet. We randomly assigned twelve Saanen-lactating goats into two groups, one of which received a high-concentrate diet (concentrate: forage = 60:40, control group), while the other received the same basal diet supplemented with sodium butyrate (SB) (10 g/kg basal diet, SB group). Compared with the control diet, the SB diet considerably increased the milk fat percentage and content (p < 0.05), with an increase of 0.67% in the milk fat content of the SB group. By employing a global metabolomics approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS), we identified 6748 ions in ESI+ mode and 3573 ions in ESI− mode after liver isolation from both groups. A total of twenty-three metabolites, including phospholipids, fatty acids, and ribose phosphate, were found to be dysregulated according to a search against the human metabolome database (HMDB). Pathway analysis revealed activation of the pentose phosphate pathway, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis. The SB diet also modulated the expression of key lipogenic enzymes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD-1), which are downstream targets of the transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1c (SREBP-1c), inducing a significant upregulation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) levels in the liver were elevated after the lactating goats were fed the SB diet (p < 0.05). Our study reveals that the SB diet may offer substantial benefits in enhancing the milk quality of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) goats. This is accomplished by augmenting the activity of the liver pentose phosphate pathway and the process of de novo fatty acid synthesis in lactating goats.

Improving the functionality of biosensors through the use of periodic and quasi-periodic one-dimensional phononic crystals

Abstract Resonant acoustic band gap materials have steered a new sensing technology era. This study is presented to investigate of the one-dimensional (1D) phononic crystals (PnCs), involving periodic, as well as quasi-periodic 1D layered PnCs represented as a highly sensitive biosensor to detect and monitor the quality of milk. In this regard, the numerical findings show that the examined periodic PnCs structure outperformed the quasi-periodic structure. In particular, it provides a wider phononic band gap and greater sensitivity as well. In addition, the quasi-periodic design (especially Fibonacci sequence S4) introduces multiple resonance peaks via transmission spectra, which may lead to some conflicts during the detection process. The findings reveal that the frequency of the resonant peak can effectively change with varied milk solution concentrations and temperatures. The optimized sensor is capable of differentiating between concentrations ranging between 0 and 50 % with a 10 % step, and it can also differentiate between temperatures, which range between 5 °C and 50 °C. This makes it ideal for precise detection of other liquids and solutions. The sensor performs efficiently for all milk solution concentrations. Here, the findings demonstrated that the examined defective PnC structure exhibited the most favorable sensitivity of the value of 94.34 MHz, so it showed the highest sensitivity when varying milk concentrations. In addition, the configurated sensor provided high QF and FOM values of 3,853.645161 and 157.42, respectively. On the other hand, the sensor performs very well for all temperatures of the milk solution. As such, the S 4 quasi-periodic structure is characterized as the optimal sensor structure when varying temperatures, introducing a sensitivity of 4.78 MHz/°C, QF of 4,278.521, and FOM of 7.48 °C−1.

Effect of dietary supplementation of yeast culture Saccharomyces cerevisiae in lactating female goats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of adding a novel yeast culture, Saccharomyces cerevisiae refermented sorghum distiller's dried grains with solubles (SSDDGS), to the diets of lactating female goats on lactation performance and lamb growth performance. We divided 10 lactating Dazu black goats of similar age, weight, and offspring into two groups: one fed a pelleted diet with 50 g/day SSDDGS (ET), and the other without SSDDGS as a control (EC) for 7 weeks. We monitor the weight changes of each goat and collect blood and milk samples from experimental ewes at specific times for hormone and milk composition determination. We use ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to detect metabolites in the serum of lactating ewes. Our results showed that SSDDGS supplementation significantly reduced female goats' average daily weight loss during weeks 2–4 of lactation and increased serum IGF-1 and prolactin levels at week 4 (p < 0.05). SSDDGS supplementation in early lactation significantly increased milk protein, lactose, and ash content (p < 0.05). UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that SSDDGS changed the levels of 58 metabolites in the serum of lactating goats. These metabolites were mainly involved in the sohingolipid signaling pathway, and cysteine, methionine, and sphingolipid metabolism. In summary, Yeast culture SSDDGS reduced weight loss, enhanced milk quality, and modified metabolic profiles in early lactation goats, providing insight into the potential regulatory role and mechanism of yeast culture in lactation female goats.

Review of hemp components as functional feed and food ingredients: impact on animal product quality traits and nutritional value

This review examined the potential of hemp components as functional feed and food ingredients, focusing on their impact on the quality and nutritional value of animal products. Following hemp legalization, there was growing interest in its potential to enhance animal diets and processed animal products due to its rich nutritional profile, including high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential amino acids, and fibre. Incorporating hemp components into feed for monogastric animals, particularly poultry, improved lipid stability, sensory attributes, and the fatty acid composition of meat and eggs. Hemp supplementation for ruminants, especially in goats, increased PUFA and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in milk, improved meat tenderness, and enhanced oxidative stability. However, research on hemp supplementation for pigs and beef remained limited, indicating the need for further exploration of these species. Hemp cake, rich in protein, fibre, and essential fatty acids, was the most widely used hemp component due to its economic viability, nutritional benefits, and sustainability, contributing to improved meat and milk quality. Regulatory concerns about the transfer of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) residues in the produced animal products restricted the use of hemp biomass. In processed animal products, hemp components were studied for their potential to enhance nutritional value, replace animal fats, and serve as natural preservatives. Although they improved the fatty acid profile and antioxidant properties of meat products, challenges such as textural changes and increased lipid oxidation needed to be addressed for optimal use. Limited studies on dairy products indicated promising nutritional enhancements, but textural issues could impact consumer acceptance. In conclusion, hemp components show significant potential for improving the quality and nutritional value of animal products. Further research is necessary to address regulatory, sensory, and formulation challenges and to expand their application across different animal species and processed animal products.

Utilization of Purple Napier Grass Silage on Milk Quality and Blood Antioxidant Activity in Lactating Dairy Goats

In this study, our subjects were 18 female crossbred Saanen lactating goats; the goats weighed approximately 43.25 ± 2.35 kg and had been producing milk for 14 ± 2 days. They were assigned to three equally sized experimental groups based on the cycle of the lactation period. In accordance with the randomized complete block design (RCBD), six animals were randomly assigned to the treatments in each block. There were three treatments: (1) control = Napier Pakchong-1 grass silage (NPS); (2) = sweet grass silage (SGS); and (3) = purple Napier silage (PNS). Our findings show that the goats fed with purple Napier grass silage had a higher DM intake (1805.97 g/day) than those that underwent a different treatment (1312.76 and 1443.43 g/day). The goats fed with purple Napier grass silage had higher protein digestibility (79.85) than those fed with Napier Pakchong-1 and sweet grass silage. There were significant differences in the ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen. Nevertheless, purple Napier grass silage significantly increased butyric acid 2 and 4 h after feeding and increased the number of microorganisms. In the dairy goats fed purple Napier grass silage, we observed a reduction in protozoa and methanogen populations. The levels of antioxidants shown by the plasma indices differed in the goats fed with purple Napier grass silage and showed enhanced milk composition, higher levels of total antioxidants, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the plasma, reduced protozoa methanogen, and a decreased level of malondialdehyde in the plasma. This study highlights that purple Napier grass silage has the potential to be a beneficial source of roughage for lactating dairy goats.

Effect of sonication time on physical and foaming properties of pasteurized milk

This study investigates the impact of ultrasonication duration on the properties of milk foam. Milk samples were subjected to ultrasonication for varying durations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 min), resulting in different sizes of native fat globules (249.5, 221.5, 222.6, 207.5, and 244.8 nm, respectively). The results indicate that viscosity increases as fat globule size decreases, with slight effect on zeta potential. NanoFoamer was identified as the optimal method providing the highest between foamability and stability (p < 0.05). Notably, foaming performance decreases after 7 min of sonication, highlighting the importance of selecting an appropriate frothing method to achieve the desired foam characteristics. Comparisons with non-ultrasonicated milk suggest that ultrasonication duration not only influences foamability by reducing fat globule size but also enhances foam stability through alterations in the fat globule sizes. Analysis of the foam structure revealed that smaller fat globules initially produce smaller, more numerous air bubbles with polyhedral shapes and well-defined lamellae. However, excessive reduction in fat globule size destabilizes the foam due to competitive protein adsorption and altered membrane composition, resulting in larger, less stable bubbles over time. Exploring ultrasonication times to enhances quality of milk and foam properties, offering significant benefits for dairy processing, product innovation and customer satisfaction.

Melatonin implants in late pregnancy increase yield and enhance milk quality in dairy goats

Melatonin implants in late pregnancy increase yield and enhance milk quality in dairy goats

Impact of training dairy farm personnel on milking routine compliance, udder health, and milk quality

Among various farm procedures, an appropriate milking routine is crucial for reducing mastitis and enhancing milk safety and quality. However, inadequate compliance with milking routines remains a primary factor contributing to variability of milk quality among herds. Training farm workers is essential for ensuring compliance with milking routines, which directly impacts milk quality and udder health. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of a training session on dairy farm workers' understanding of the milking routine, behavioral changes during milking, and subsequent effects on milk quality and udder health. Farm workers (n = 112) from 16 commercial dairy farms in Michigan and Ohio participated in the project. The training session was delivered using an active learning approach prioritizing group discussions, and focused on the pathogenesis, identification, and risk factors for mastitis, and the rationale and importance of each step in the milking routine. Pre- and post-training evaluations were conducted to measure changes in knowledge, parlor evaluations were performed to determine behavioral change, and data from clinical mastitis cases and bulk tank somatic cell count were used to estimate udder health and milk quality. Segmented and linear mixed regression analyses were used to assess the impact of the training intervention. Participants were mostly milking technicians (61.1%) with 70% of them having less than 1 year of experience and a median tenure in their jobs of 9 mo. Knowledge of the milking routine increased from 49.3% to 67.6% of correct answers after training. Based on parlor evaluations, the pre-milking disinfectant contact time increased by 9 s per cow. The percentage of milkings with inadequate preparation time decreased from 69% (before training) to 48% (after training). The proportion of insufficient teat coverage during post-milking disinfection decreased from 9.8% (77 out of 782) before training to 5.9% (34 out of 572) after training. There was a significant increase in clinical mastitis cases during the immediate week after the training. Additionally, the upward trend in bulk tank somatic cell count was halted. Our results suggest an improvement in overall mastitis identification and milk quality, underscoring the importance of targeted training programs for farm workers in improving milking routine compliance, enhancing milk quality, and promoting better udder health.

Immunological quality of colostrum and specific antibodies against enteropathogens in the colostrum and transition milk of crossbred Gir × Holstein cows.

Colostrum management is crucial for enhancing the immune response against enteropathogens and the survival of dairy calves during the first few weeks of life. However, few physiological studies have investigated the dynamics of general and specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) content in cow milk during early lactation stages, particularly in that of crossbred Gir × Holstein dairy cows, the most predominant dairy cattle population in tropical countries, such as Brazil. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of parity and milking order on the volume and quality of colostrum, transition milk, and mature milk in crossbred Gir × Holstein cows using three traditional on-farm tests. The dynamics of IgG in the mammary secretions and the specific antibody levels against enteropathogens were also determined using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during the early stages of lactation. Fifty healthy Gir × Holstein cows were divided into two groups based on parity number, i.e., primiparous (n = 18) and multiparous (n = 33). They were monitored from the first to the 43rd milking. The colostrum volume and quality were evaluated using a colostrometer, Brix refractometer, and Colostro Balls after the first milking, in addition to the colostral IgG levels measured using sandwich ELISA as a reference standard. On-farm tests showed that the colostrum samples obtained from Gir × Holstein cows exhibited an optimal colostrum quality based on the literature criteria, regardless of parity number; however, the IgG mass was higher in the colostrum of multiparous (201 ± 67.03g) cows than in that of primiparous (144 ± 32.40g) cows. The volume and composition of transition and whole milk were also assessed at the second to ninth, 11th, 13th, 15th, 29th, and 43rd milkings. Multiparous cows produced higher volumes of transition milk than primiparous cows. In addition, multiparous cows exhibited a higher total solids percentage in their postpartum mammary secretions than primiparous cows. A higher percentage of inhibition of specific antibodies against Escherichia coli K99 was observed in the blood serum of multiparous cows than in that of primiparous cows. The volume and composition of mammary secretions changed over time; milk production increased, whereas total solids, total IgG, and specific antibody levels against most enteropathogens decreased, regardless of parity. Additionally, an association between parity and time was observed with respect to milk yield, the Brix score (%), and specific antibody levels against the Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin in mammary sections and against coronavirus and rotavirus in blood samples. This association indicated higher values in multiparous cattle than in primiparous cattle at specific time points. In conclusion, this study reveals postpartum time-dependent changes in the physiological and immunological components in the mammary secretions and blood of crossbred Gir × Holstein cows from the first to the 43rd milking. These results will contribute to the development of future research in Gir × Holstein-specific neonatology, which is genetically adapted to tropical and subtropical countries.

Milk Adulteration Identification using Hyperspectral Imaging and ML

Milk adulteration poses a global concern, with developing countries facing higher risks due to unsatisfactory monitoring systems and policies. Surprisingly, this common issue has often been overlooked in many countries. Contrary to popular belief, adulterants in milk can result in severe health risks, potentially leading to fatal diseases. Detecting and categorizing milk adulteration is crucial for consumer safety and the dairy industry. This research is divided into 2 breakthroughs, destructive and non-destructive methods. In the destructive method, the Lactoscan system was used for qualitative analysis: (Solid Not Fat (SNF), density, fat, lactose, conductivity, solids, protein, temperature, and pH level). The research also examines non-distractive hyperspectral imaging (HSI) through HSI Specim Fx-10 (397-1003 nm) analysis to detect various phases of milk adulteration for accurate and user-friendly imaging-based adulterants detection and categorization. Preprocessing involves radiometric correction, image resizing, region of interest (ROI) selection for feature extraction, and empirical line method (ELM) to calculate spectral reflectance signature. Machine learning techniques (Logistic Regression (LRs), Decision Tree (DTs), Support Vector Machine (SVMs), and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDAs)), are employed, with LDA excelling in adulteration identification by learning the spectral signatures. These algorithms are trained and validated using a developed milk adulteration data set. Training, testing, and validation accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, Kappa, and Matthew's correlation coefficient (MCC) metrics showcase the effectiveness of the proposed pipeline, outclassing numerous state-of-the-art approaches with a validation accuracy of 100%. In conclusion, this study established a multiclass model capable of detecting milk adulterant behavior, showing significant practical application for milk quality assessment.

Relationship of season with milk characteristics, yield, and shelf life of cheese in a hot climate

E Objective: the objective of the study was to identify whether there is a relationship between the environmental conditions of high temperature and humidity with the parameters of cheese yield and shelf life of Oaxaca-type cheese, made throughout two different times of the year, delimited by environmental temperature, in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: from January to November, ambient temperature and relative humidity, characteristics of the milk used at the time of reception (temperature, acidity, density, somatic cell count and microorganism count), yield, and shelf life of the cheese were recorded. These variables were related to season (summer and winter) and to different Temperature and Humidity Index– THI intervals. An analysis of variance was performed, also, the relationship among sets of variables by Pearson correlation, and the multiple mean difference with the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). Results: significant differences were observed in the density, acidity, temperature, somatic cell count and cheese yield of milk due to the effect of the time of year. In addition, an 11% decrease in cheese yield was found as the maximum THI exceeded 77 units. The shelf life showed positive significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) when milk was pasteurized, but it was not affected by the THI. Limitations/ Implications of the study: this study was limited to a single period of analysis; so, it is necessary to monitor, and include additional milk quality variables. Conclusions: heat environmental conditions negatively impact the characteristics of the milk, therefore reducing the yield of Oaxaca-type cheese. The microbiological characteristics are unfavorable during the hot season; the pasteurization of milk is the main factor that increases the shelf life of the cheese.

Somatic cell count in dairy goats I: association with infectious and non-infectious factors

BackgroundIntramammary infections negatively affect milk quality, animal welfare and productivity in the dairy industry. Somatic cell count (SCC) is the most used screening tool to detect subclinical mastitis caused by intramammary infections. In dairy goats, SCC is greatly influenced by non-infectious factors, which complicates the interpretation. The aim of this research paper was to determine the association between SCC, intramammary infections and non-infectious factors including parity, season, lactation stage, and milk yield in dairy goats. In this longitudinal study, 451 goats from four Norwegian dairy goat herds were sampled for bacteriology and SCC up to nine times during two lactations. Factors like parity, milk yield, and stage of lactation were retrieved from the Norwegian goat recording system.ResultsThe most prevalent udder pathogen findings were Staphylococcus caprae (6.8%), Staphylococcus warneri (6.3%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (3.8%), all of which had a mild but significant impact on SCC. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 3.6% of the udder halves and had a major effect on SCC. Parity, stage of lactation, season, and milk yield significantly influenced SCC.ConclusionsThis study highlights that intramammary infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, along with factors such as increasing parity and the seasonal effects of pasturing, significantly influence the SCC. Understanding these key contributors is essential for improving udder health management and improving milk quality in goat milk production.

Influence of Nutrition on Growth and Development of Metabolic Syndrome in Children

Obesity is currently an increasing public health burden due to its related metabolic and cardiovascular complications. In Western countries, a significant number of people are overweight or obese, and this trend is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly common even among the pediatric population. In this narrative review, we analyzed the role of nutrition during growth and its impact on the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular complications later in life. An impactful role in determining the phenotypic characteristics of the offspring is the parental diet carried out before conception. During intrauterine growth, the main risk factors are represented by an unbalanced maternal diet, excessive gestational weight gain, and impaired glycemic status. Breastfeeding, on the other hand, has many beneficial effects, but at the same time the quality of breast milk may be modified if maternal overweight or obesity subsists. Complementary feeding is likewise pivotal because an early introduction before 4 months of age and a high protein intake contribute to weight gain later. Knowledge of these mechanisms may allow early modification of risk factors by implementing targeted preventive strategies.