Use Of Milk Products Research Articles

The use of soybeans in the structure of the ration of high-yielding cows

In the conditions of intensive milk production in order to ensure high productivity and at the same time preserve the general functional state of animal health it is impossible to do without the use of protein-rich grain components in the structure of compound feed. These include soybeans, which in the western region of Ukraine began to be widely used in the production of compound feed for cattle. The percentage of introduction of soybeans into the structure of compound feed is different and for high-yielding cows requires additional study, which explains the relevance of conducting research on its influence on milk productivity, quality indicators of milk against the background of assimilation of the main nutrients of feed. The study was conducted on four groups of Simmental cows, seven heads in each. The rations of experimental cows provided for three levels of provision of protein needs at the expense of soybeans and were balanced in terms of basic nutrients in compliance with the requirements of detailed requirements. The analysis of the feeding conditions of experimental cows showed that the use of heat-treated soybeans in the structure of the ration contributed to a significant increase in milk productivity, as well as quality indicators, the content of dry matter, fat, protein, calcium and phosphorus. A similar pattern was observed in terms of indicators of the intensity of metabolic processes of cicatricial digestion. Thus, a positive effect on the percentage of certain volatile fatty acids, in particular acetic as a precursor of milk fat was noted. An increase was noted in the digestibility indicators of the main nutrients (protein, fat, fiber digestibility coefficients). The positive effect of soybeans on the milk productivity of the experimental cows was also noted by the results of the balance experiment. The nitrogen balance was positive and its use for milk production in cows of the fourth group compared to the control group was 27.4 % higher. A similar trend was observed in the balance of calcium and phosphorus. So, the conducted studies on the study of the productive effect of different amounts of soybeans instead of cereal components in the structure of compound feed on milk productivity give reason to recommend that farms use prepared soybeans in the proportion of 10–15 % in compound feed for high-yielding cows.

Estimating milk production and energy-use efficiency of pasture-grazed Holstein and Jersey cows using mathematical models

The efficiency of feed use for milk production is critical for sustainable and profitable pasture-based dairy systems. The aim of this study was to estimate milk production and energy-use efficiencies of pasture-grazed Holstein and Jersey cows. Lactation records of 122 Holstein and 99 Jersey cows varying from parities 1 to 6 that were managed under similar feeding and environmental conditions were collected from 2005 to 2014. Feed intake and nutrient requirements of the cows were calculated using the National Research Council and the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System equations. Holsteins had a higher milk yield/kg dry matter intake (1.36±0.01 vs. 1.27±0.01 kg), whereas Jerseys had higher efficiencies in milk fat (52.4±0.3 vs. 58.4±0.4 g), milk protein (42.7±0.3 vs. 45.1±0.3 g), and energy-corrected milk (1.30±0.01 vs. 1.36±0.01 kg) per kg dry matter intake. Jersey cows also had a higher dry matter intake/kg body weight (3.13±0.02 vs. 3.51±0.02%). During transition and early lactation stages, Holstein and Jersey cows were in negative energy balance for 102.4±2.3 vs. 74.2±2.3 days, with the lowest energy reserves (-53.9 MJ vs. -39.7 MJ) reached at 22.3±0.9 vs. 24.6±0.9 days post-calving, respectively. Compared to Holsteins, Jersey cows used proportionally less net energy intake to produce 100 g milk fat (13.7±0.10 vs. 12.5±0.10), 100 g milk protein (16.7±0.14 vs.16.2±0.15) and a 1-kg energy-corrected milk (5.52±0.04 vs. 5.35±0.04), making them a better breed for pasture-based dairy systems as they possess more production and feed-use efficiency traits, which are desirable in pasture-based production systems.

Analysis of the state and prospects of milk production and dairy products in Ukraine in the post-war period

The indicators of recent years demonstrate stability and high results in milk production at agricultural enterprises. The relevance is confirmed by the fact that milk production and its optimization are key aspects of the economic development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine in the post-war period, because dairy farming is a system-forming branch of agriculture that opens up new opportunities for the formation of promising business development vectors. The purpose of the article is to analyse the problems and prospects of economic aspects of the efficiency of resource use and optimization of milk production in agricultural enterprises of Ukraine in the post-war period. The research used the following methods: induction and deduction, synthesis, theoretical generalization, statistical analysis, comparative analysis, modelling. The links of inconsistency between resources, production of dairy products and the capabilities of enterprises, state policy, the level, and norms of consumption of milk and dairy products by the population in the post-war period are studied. Accordingly, the dynamics of production, export, sales, stages of production, peculiarities of cooperation and import of basic dairy products were considered. A direct connection between the production and consumption of milk, the dependence of the demand and consumption of milk and dairy products on the level of total income of households has been established. Based on this, the work presents a full description of the dairy industry in Ukraine, the volume of milk production in the pre-war period and prospects for development in the post-war period. A systematic study of the market properties of various types of dairy products of Ukraine using SWOT and PEST analysis is given in general. In order to improve the state of the market of milk and dairy products of Ukraine, appropriate proposals have been formulated. The practical value of the work lies in the fact that its results can be used as a basis for the development of technologies for the use of milk production resources in the post-war period, as well as in the work of specialists in the agro-industrial and economic sectors

Effect of replacing soybean meal by a blend of ground corn and urea-ammonium sulphate on milk production and composition, digestibility and N balance of dairy Murrah buffaloes.

This study evaluated the effect of replacing soybean meal by a blend of ground corn and urea-ammonium sulphate (GCU-S) in the diet of lactating buffaloes on milk production and composition, digestibility, N balance and blood metabolites. Twelve multiparous dairy Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), at 100 ± 4 d in milk and yielding 10 ± 2.5 kg/d, were randomly distributed in a triple 4 × 4 Latin square, with four different inclusions of GCU-S at U-S levels: 0 (control), 8.0, 16.4 and 24.1 g/kg dry matter (DM) total. Replacing soybean meal with GC-US had a significant depressing effect on absolute DM intake, which was still numerically evident but no longer significant when expressed on a body weight-related basis. Intakes of crude protein (CP) and N as well as N-urinary excretion were also significantly depressed. Digestibility of dry matter was improved and, as a proportion of DMI, intake of total digestible nutrients increased significantly. Perhaps as a result, feed efficiency (kg DMI required per kg 6% fat-corrected milk) was significantly improved. Efficiency of protein use for milk production was significantly improved, but not when expressed as milk protein output. N transfer into milk, as a proportion of total N intake, also increased significantly. However, GC-US inclusion had no significant effect on milk production or milk composition, nor did it affect serum metabolites, digestibilities (apart from dry matter) or N measures of balance apart from those mentioned above. Inclusion of this blend of ground corn with urea and ammonium suplate can be recommended for dairy buffalo because, although it decreases DMI and N-excretion, it improves DM digestibility and feeding efficiency whilst maintaining milk production and composition.

Economic Analysis of Offering Different Herbage Allowances to Dairy Cows Fed a Partial Mixed Ration.

Simple SummaryIn south-eastern Australia, most dairy cows consume grazed pasture, cereal grain fed in the dairy and hay in the paddock. Previous research has shown that feeding supplements to grazing cows as a well-formulated mixed ration can increase feed intake, milk production and profit. This previous work was conducted under a limited herbage allowance to represent the conditions of drought or a high stocking rate. Two subsequent animal experiments were performed, one in early lactation and the other in late lactation, where the herbage allowance was varied from low to high and used to investigate the economics of partial mixed ration (PMR) feeding. We found that offering a medium allowance (25 and 20 kg DM/cow per day in early and late lactation, respectively) resulted in higher profit (total milk income minus feed costs) than a low herbage allowance (15 and 12 kg DM/cow per day in early and late lactation). No additional profit was obtained by further increasing the herbage allowance from medium to high (40 and 32 kg DM/cow per day in early and late lactation). These findings will assist farmers to manage their PMR systems in a profitable way.The economics of grazing dairy cows offered a range of herbage allowances and fed supplements as a partial mixed ration (PMR) were examined where profit was defined as the margin between total milk income and the cost of pasture plus PMR supplement. The analysis made use of milk production and feed intake data from two dairy cow nutrition experiments, one in early lactation and the other in late lactation. In early lactation and at a PMR intake of 6 kg DM/cow per day, the profit from the cows with access to a medium herbage allowance (25 kg DM/cow per day) was AUD 1.40/cow per day higher than that for cows on a low allowance (15 kg DM/cow per day). At a higher PMR intake of 14 kg DM/cow per day, the profit from the cows on a medium herbage allowance was AUD 0.45/cow per day higher than the cows on a low allowance; there was no additional profit from increasing the herbage allowance from medium to high (40 kg DM/cow per day). In late lactation, the profit from the cows fed a PMR with a medium herbage allowance (20 kg DM/cow per day) was only higher than the cows on a low allowance (12 kg DM/cow per day) when the PMR intake was between 6 and 12 kg DM/cow per day. There was also a difference of AUD +0.50/cow per day between the PMR with medium and high herbage allowance (32 kg DM/cow per day). It was concluded that farmers who feed a PMR to dairy cows should offer at least a medium herbage allowance to optimize profit. While feeding additional PMR increases milk production and profit, further gains would be available by offering a higher herbage allowance. These findings provide an estimate of the net benefits of different herbage allowances when feeding a PMR and will enable farmers to manage their feeding systems more profitably.

Meta-analysis and sustainability of feeding slow-release urea in dairy production.

Slow-release urea (SRU) is a coated non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source for providing rumen degradable protein in ruminant nutrition. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing vegetable protein sources with SRU (Optigen®, Alltech Inc., USA) on the production performance of dairy cows. Additionally, the impact of SRU supplementation on dairy sustainability was examined by quantifying the carbon footprint (CFP) of feed use for milk production and manure nitrogen (N) excretion of dairy cows. Data on diet composition and performance variables were extracted from 17 experiments with 44 dietary comparisons (control vs. SRU). A linear mixed model and linear regression were applied to statistically analyse the effect of SRU on feed intake and production performance. Feeding SRU decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake (DMI, -500 g/d) and N intake (NI, -20 g/d). There was no significant effect (P > 0.05) on milk yield, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, and milk fat and protein composition. However, SRU supplementation improved (P < 0.05) feed efficiency (+3%) and N use efficiency (NUE, +4%). Regression analyses revealed that increasing SRU inclusion level decreased DMI and NI whereas increasing dietary crude protein (CP) increased both parameters. However, milk yield and feed efficiency increased in response to increasing levels of SRU inclusion and dietary CP. The NUE had a positive relationship with SRU level whereas NUE decreased with increasing dietary CP. The inclusion of SRU in dairy diets reduced the CFP of feed use for milk production (-14.5%; 373.13 vs. 319.15 g CO2 equivalent/kg milk). Moreover, feeding SRU decreased manure N excretion by 2.7% to 3.1% (-12 to -13 g/cow/d) and N excretion intensity by 3.6% to 4.0% (-0.50 to -0.53 g N/kg milk). In conclusion, feeding SRU can contribute to sustainable dairy production through improvement in production efficiency and reduction in environmental impacts.

Water footprint and economic water productivity assessment of eight dairy cattle farms based on field measurement

Water scarcity prevailing in the drylands is threatening the sustainability of livestock production systems. The water footprint (WF) indicator was proposed as a metric of water use. This study aimed to determine the WF and the economic water productivity (EWP) of 1 kg of fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) in eight dairy farms (n = 8; animals = 117 ± 62; area = 198 ± 127; 95% confidence level) in northern Tunisia. Then, to assess the effects of three simulation scenarios targeting the reduction of the WF of milk production (scenario A: using triticale silage to replace, on DM basis, the silage of maize, sorghum or ray-grass; scenario B: reducing by 56% the wastage of water devoted to milking, cooling, cleaning and servicing; scenario C: using concentrate feeds imported from Brazil and Argentina instead of that imported from France). A year-round monitoring of on-farm practices was performed using water-meters and recording equipment installed in key locations in the target dairy farms: (i) water used for feed production, (ii) cow watering, (iii) servicing water, (v) crop and forage production and (iv) economic and production performance were controlled by water source (green and blue). Over the eight farms evaluated, milk production consumed on average 1.36 ± 0.41 m3/kg FPCM, of which 0.93 ± 0.40 m3/kg FPCM was green water and 0.42 ± 0.30 m3/kg FPCM was blue water. However, virtual water of 1 kg FPCM averaged 43% ± 14.3%. Water used for feed production for lactating cows represents approximately 87% ± 6% of the total WF of milk production. However, drinking and servicing water contributed by 3.75% ± 2% and 9% ± 5% to the total WF of milk, respectively. The EWP assessment revealed that the selected dairy farms had a relatively small gross margin per m3 of water averaging US$ 0.05 ± 0.04. The variation in WF of milk was mainly associated with diets’ ingredients, which affected milk productivity and water consumption. Scenario analysis indicated that using feed with less water requirements or importing feeds from countries where its water consumption is low could reduce consumptive water use for milk production by up to 16%. The efficient use of servicing water could reduce blue WF of milk by up to 4%. The implementation of these measures would lead to potential total water savings in the Tunisian dairy sector of 646 million m3 per year (30%).

Surface plasmon resonance based sensor for the detection of glycopeptide antibiotics in milk using rationally designed nanoMIPs

Glycopeptide antibiotics are known as the last resort for the treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. The use of milk products contaminated with these antibiotic residues leads to allergic reactions and sensitivity in human. Also, long-term consumption of milk products containing low levels of these antibiotics may cause the relevant bacteria to build up resistance to these last resort antibiotics. Sensitive, rapid and effective quantification and monitoring systems play a key role for their determination in milk products. Hence, molecularly imprinted nanostructures were rationally designed in this work to produce high affinity synthetic receptors to be coupled with a surface plasmon resonance sensor for the analysis of glycopeptide antibiotics in milk samples. The nanoMIP-SPR sensor enabled vancomycin quantification with the LODs of 4.1 ng mL−1 and 17.7 ng mL−1 using direct and competitive assays, respectively. The recoveries rates for two sensor methods ranged in 85–110% with RSDs below 7%. The affinity between the nanoMIP receptors and the target molecule (dissociation constant: 1.8 × 10−9 M) is mostly superior to natural receptors and other synthetic receptors. Unlike other methods commonly employed for the detection of milk contaminants this approach is extremely simple, fast and robust, and do not require pre-sample treatment.

Components of feed affecting water footprint of feedlot dairy farm systems in Northern China

Abstract Freshwater consumption in animal agriculture is a significant factor affecting water resources and water environmental sustainability. Water footprint (WF), as a comprehensive assessment indicator, can be used to assess the consumptive water use in the dairy sector. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of feed components on the water consumption and WF of milk production for collective feedlot systems in China. Fourteen dairy farms, with a range of dairy cow numbers, were used as examples for the analysis. The results indicated that the average WF of milk was 882 L kg−1 FPCM (fat-and-protein-corrected milk), ranging from 639 to 1307 L kg−1 FPCM. The WF from Chinese wildrye hay, maize grain, alfalfa hay and soybean meal production accounted for 30.4%, 16.4%, 14.5% and 10.9% of the total WF, respectively, whereas the WF from embedded in animal products, respiratory vapour losses and other service water was 11.4%, implying that water consumption due to evapotranspiration from feed production was the major driver of the milk WF for the collective feedlot system in China. The variation in WF among the different dairy farms was mainly associated with the different components in the feed, which affected not only the milk productivity and feed conversion efficiency, but also the water consumption for milk production. Increase in the proportion of Chinese wildrye hay in roughages reduced the milk productivity of the cow and also increased the WF of milk. Scenario analysis indicated that using feed that consumes less water to produce or importing feed from a country where its water consumption is lower could reduce the consumptive water use for milk production by up to 22%. The results show how changing feed components and origin can reduce the freshwater consumption in livestock sectors in China.

Environmental impacts and resource use of milk production on the North China Plain, based on life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment methodology was used to quantify the environmental impacts and resource use of milk production on the North China Plain, the largest milk production area in China. Variation in environmental burden caused by cow productivity was evaluated, as well as scenario analysis of the effects of improvement practices. The results indicated that the average environmental impact potential and resource use for producing 1kg of fat and protein corrected milk was 1.34kgCO2eq., 9.27gPO43−eq., 19.5gSO2eq., 4.91MJ, 1.83m2 and 266L for global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), non-renewable energy use (NREU), land use (LU) and blue water use (BWU; i.e. water withdrawal), respectively. Feed production was a significant determinant of GWP, NREU, LU and BWU, while AP and EP were mainly affected by manure management. Scenario analysis showed that reducing use of concentrates and substituting with alfalfa hay decreased GWP, EP, AP, NREU and LU (by 1.0%–5.5%), but caused a significant increase of BWU (by 17.2%). Using imported soybean instead of locally-grown soybean decreased LU by 2.6%, but significantly increased GWP and NREU by 20% and 6.9%, respectively. There was no single perfect manure management system, with variable effects from different management practices. The environmental burden shifting observed in this study illustrates the importance of assessing a wide range of impact categories instead of single or limited indicators for formulating environmental policies, and the necessity of combining multiple measures to decrease the environmental burden. For the North China Plain, improving milking cow productivity and herd structure (i.e. increased proportion of milking cows), combining various manure management systems, and encouraging dairy farmers to return manure to nearby crop lands are promising measures to decrease multiple environmental impacts.

Milk products in the dietary management of childhood undernutrition - a historical review.

The present narrative review outlines the use of milk products in infant and young child feeding from early history until today and illustrates how research findings and technical innovations contributed to the evolution of milk-based strategies to combat undernutrition in children below the age of 5 years. From the onset of social welfare initiatives, dairy products were provided by maternal and child health services to improve nutrition. During the last century, a number of aetiological theories on oedematous forms of undernutrition were developed and until the 1970s the dogma of protein deficiency was dominant. Thereafter, a multifactorial concept gained acceptance and protein quality was emphasised. During the last decades, research findings demonstrated that the inclusion of dairy products in the management of severe acute malnutrition is most effective. For children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition the evidence for the superiority of milk-based diets is less clear. There is an unmet need for evaluating locally produced milk-free alternatives at lower cost, especially in countries that rely on imported dairy products. New strategies for the dietary management of childhood undernutrition need to be developed on the basis of research findings, current child feeding practices, socio-cultural conditions and local resources. Exclusive and continued breast-feeding supported by community-based nutrition programmes using optimal combinations of locally available complementary foods should be compared with milk product-based interventions.

Technological Preconditions in Dairy Farms

Abstract The paper presents the impact of the applied technologies on milk yield of cows in dairy farms. The scope of the research covered technical equipment used in the dairy cattle breeding and milking in 50 farms on the area of Grajewo Province in Podlaskie Voivodeship. The studies were carried out in 2016 with the diagnostic survey method based on the interview questionnaire developed for this purpose. The studies proved that 68% of the respondents from Grajewo Province maintain cattle in a stanchion-tide stable system and the remaining 32% in a free stall system. The group (48%) of the surveyed farmers maintain animals on a deep litter and 34% of them use shallow litter. In case of 18% of the investigated farms, animals are maintained on a slatted floor. In case of 68% of the investigated farms their owners feed cattle in the TMR system while the remaining 32% do it traditionally. The analysed farms in milk production use mainly pipeline milking machines (38%) and bucket milking machines (36%). 22% of the investigated farms have a milking parlour and 4% own a milking robot. A statistical analysis proved a significant correlation between the maintenance system of animals, number of lairs in a cow shed, TMR feeding of cattle, manner of obtaining milk and milk yield of cows.

Effect of milking interval on milk partitioning between udder compartments, milk yield and milk composition in Maghrebi dairy camels

Ten multiparous Maghrebi she-camels (Camelus dromedarius L.) were used to study the effects of 6 milking intervals (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24h) at mid-late lactation (281±41 days in milk) on milk partitioning between udder compartments, milk yield and milk composition. Camels were kept in loose stalls, fed forage and concentrate, and hand milked twice-daily. Average milk yield during the experiment was 4.2±0.3l/day. Cisternal and alveolar milk were obtained by sequential milking, before and after inducing milk let-down with exogenous oxytocin, respectively. Udder cisterns volumes were measured by real-time ultrasonography before and after milk let-down. Backflow of milk from the cistern to the alveoli as consequence of udder elastic recoil was measured at 12-h milk interval by delaying milking for 90min after inducing milk let-down with oxytocin. On average, 44% of total milk volume was stored in the front udder quarters and 56% was stored in the rear udder quarters. Alveolar compartments accounted for 92% of milk volume and cisternal compartment for 8%. The volume of milk in the cistern (132±30ml) did not vary with increase in milking interval. Udder cisterns were visible by ultrasonography as small cavities that were dramatically engorged with milk after milk let-down. Milk secretion rate decreased linearly (ml/h=168.3−3.2 x; r2=0.90, P<0.05) upon increase of milking interval from 4 to 24h (from 168±28 to 105±10ml/h). Fat content in alveolar milk was 3.26±0.10% and protein content in alveolar milk was 3.39±0.08% .The content of fat and protein in the alveoli were greater across all milking intervals (P<0.05) than those measured in cisternal milk (2.22±0.10% for milk fat and 2.96±0.05% for milk protein). The concentration of fat and protein in milk decreased linearly with increase in milking interval (r2=0.98; P<0.05), except in the case of milk protein in cisternal milk, which did not change significantly with advancing milking intervals. Lactose concentration was steady across all milking intervals. A dramatic drop of milk secretion (62%) was observed when milking was delayed 90min after induced milk let-down, indicating the necessity of early milking after milk let-down. In conclusion, selection for large-cistern udders and twice-daily milking are recommended for improving the machine milking ability of this breed in order to increase its use for milk production.

Maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation and cow's milk allergy in offspring.

Diet during pregnancy and lactation may have a role in the development of allergic diseases. There are few human studies on the topic, especially focusing on food allergies. We sought to study the associations between maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation and cow's milk allergy (CMA) in offspring. A population-based birth cohort with human leukocyte antigen-conferred susceptibility to type 1 diabetes was recruited in Finland between 1997 and 2004 (n=6288). Maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation was assessed by a validated, 181-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Register-based information on diagnosed CMA was obtained from the Social Insurance Institution and completed with parental reports. The associations between maternal food consumption and CMA were assessed using logistic regression, comparing the highest and the lowest quarters to the middle half of consumption. Consumption of milk products in the highest quarter during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of CMA in offspring (odds ratio (OR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.86; P<0.01). When stratified by maternal allergic rhinitis and asthma, there was evidence of an inverse association between high use of milk products and CMA in offspring of non-allergic mothers (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.13-0.69, P<0.001). Cord blood IgA correlated positively with the consumption of milk products during pregnancy, indicating exposure to CMA and activation of antigen-specific immunity in the infant during pregnancy. High maternal consumption of milk products during pregnancy may protect children from developing CMA, especially in offspring of non-allergic mothers.

Greenhouse gas emissions and land use from confinement dairy farms in the Guanzhong plain of China – using a life cycle assessment approach

The objective of this study were to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land use of milk production and evaluate the potential mitigation options at farm level in the Guanzhong plain, which is the main dairy farming region in China. The life cycle assessment methodology was used to analyse the GHG emissions of eight confinement dairy farms that covered different milk production levels, herd structures and diet compositions. The GHG emission per kg of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) ranged from 1.31 to 2.08 kg CO2 eq. after farm GHG emissions had been allocated to milk, meat and manure. Enteric methane and emissions related to feed production and manure management were the three major GHG emission sources from the eight farms and contributed 54%–60%, 21%–30% and 8%–10%, respectively, to total emissions. Land use per kg of FPCM was 1.81 m2 with the largest contribution from feed production. GHG emissions associated with the production of per kg of FPCM decreased with increasing herd milk productivity and herd feed efficiency. Sensitivity analyses showed that the GHG emissions were significantly affected by metric values of global warming potential (GWP), with increases of about 4% and 12% for the calculation based on the IPCC (2013) GWP values, compared to IPCC (2007) and IPCC (1996) values, respectively; and soybean meal from imported soybeans would increase GHG emissions per kg of FPCM significantly due to the emissions related to land use change. Lowering N-fertilizer use per ha for feed crop production, improving milk productivity and herd structure, and encouraging farmers to use manure for crop production are promising abatement strategies. Due to the low percentage of grass (average 14%) in the diet for dairy cows in the Guanzhong plain, replacing part of the concentrates with alfalfa hay would increase milk productivity and decrease GHG emissions per kg of FPCM.

Milk metabolites and neurodegeneration: Is there crosstalk?

Milk has been considered as a natural source of nutrition for decades. Milk is known to be nutrient-rich which aids the growth and development of the human body. Milk contains both macro- and micronutrients. Breast milk is widely regarded as the optimal source of neonatal nutrition due to its composition of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and antibodies. However, despite the wide use of milk products, investigations into the role of milk in degenerative diseases have been limited. This review will examine the relationship between the β-casein gene found in bovine milk and disease states by using age-related macular degeneration as an example.

Water Intensity of Milk Production: A Comparative Analysis from Waterscarce and Water Rich Regions of India

Livestock plays an important role in socio-economic development of the rural population and also contributes significantly to India's economy. Dairy farming is one of the water intensive livelihood activities in rural area because it consumes lot of embedded water in the form of feed and fodder. The overall objective of the present study was to estimate the irrigation water productivity of milk production in water rich and water scarce regions of India. The study shows that total irrigation water used to produce a litre of milk from buffalo, crossbred cow and indigenous cow is 3.27 m3, 2.18 m3 and 2.30 m3 respectively in Gujarat, whereas, 5.49 m3, 3.01 m3 and 4.86 m3 respectively in Punjab. In case of Kerala, total water used for producing a litre of milk from buffalo, crossbred cow, and indigenous cow is 3.90 m3, 2.51 m3 and 3.45 m3 respectively. India has a vast bovine population dominated by unproductive/low milk yielding animals and these animals are competing with the natural resources i.e. land and water. Further amplification of bovine population in the country would add additional burden on already over-exploited natural resources including water. The gradual replacing a part of water intensive milk producing animal with water efficient milk producing animal, would help not only reduce the population of the unproductive animals but also substantially ease the pressure on our precious irrigation water without compromising on milk production. It is imperative to use available natural grasses which are available in forest/grazing land as a fodder for dairy animals to cut down the irrigation water which is used for fodder production. Further more it is required to cultivate water efficient green fodder crops to cut down the blue water use for milk production.

Pluri-energy analysis of livestock systems – A comparison of dairy systems in different territories

This paper introduces a generic assessment method called pluri-energy analysis. It aims to assess the types of energy used in agricultural systems and their conversion efficiencies. Four types of energy are considered: fossil energy, gross energy contained in the biomass, energy from human and animal labor and solar energy. The method was applied to compare smallholder low-input dairy-production systems, which are common in developing countries, to the high-input systems encountered in OECD countries. The pluri-energy method is useful for analyzing the functioning of agricultural systems by highlighting their modes of energy management. Since most dairy systems in South Mali (SM) are low-input systems, they are primarily based on solar and labor energy types and do not require substantial fossil-energy inputs to produce milk. Farms in Poitou-Charentes (PC) and Bretagne (BR) show intermediate values of fossil-energy use for milk production, similar to that found in the literature for typical European systems. However, fossil-energy use for milk production is higher on PC than BR farms because of a higher proportion of maize silage in the forage area; grazing pastures are more common on BR farms. Farms on Reunion Island (RI) require a relatively large amount of fossil energy to produce milk, mainly because the island context limits the amount of arable land. Consequently, milk production is based on large imports of concentrated feed with a high fossil-energy cost. The method also enables assessment of fossil-energy-use efficiency in order to increase the performance of biological processes in agricultural systems. Comparing the low-input systems represented by SM to the high-input systems represented by RI, PC and BR, an increase in solar-energy conversion, and thus land productivity, was observed due to intensification via increased fossil-energy use. Conversely, though fossil-energy use at the herd level increased milk productivity, its effect on gross-energy conversion by the herd was less evident. Partitioning the total on-farm gross energy produced among animal co-products (milk, meat and manure) highlights the major functions of SM herds, which are managed to produce organic crop fertilizers.

Life cycle assessment of milk production from commercial dairy farms: The influence of management tactics

Little consideration has been given to how farm management, specifically tactics used to implement the management strategy, may influence the carbon footprint (CF) and land use for milk produced on commercial farms. In this study, the CF and land use of milk production from 18 Irish commercial dairy farms were analyzed based on foreground data from a 12-mo survey capturing management tactics and background data from the literature. Large variation was found in farm attributes and management tactics; for example, up to a 1.5-fold difference in fertilizer nitrogen input was used to support the same stocking density, and up to a 3.5-fold difference in concentrate fed for similar milk output per cow. However, the coefficient of variation for milk CF between farms only varied by 13% and for land use by 18%. The overall CF and overall land use of the milk production from the 18 dairy farms was 1.23±0.04kg of CO2 Eq and 1.22±0.05 m2 per kilogram of energy-corrected milk. Milk output per cow, economic allocation between exports of milk and liveweight, and on-farm diesel use per ha were found to be influential factors on milk CF, whereas the fertilizer N rate, milk output per cow, and economic allocation between exports of milk and liveweight were influential on land use. Effective sward management of white clover within a few farms appeared to lower the CF but increased on-farm land use. It was concluded that a combination of multiple tactics determines CF and land use for milk production on commercial dairy farms and, although these 2 measures of environmental impact are correlated, a farm with a low CF did not always have low land use and vice versa.

Agricultural trade in example of milk from perspective of multi-criteria analysis

Traditional farming on agricultural land under the standard soil and natural-climatic conditions within the EU is based on the structure of the polygastric livestock (especially cattle), which ensures the complex carbon recycling and its return to arable soil. In the last 15 years, we have been witnessing to a sharp decline in the number of dairy cows in the Czech Republic. This fact has resulted in certain destabilising factors that have disrupted the stability of the biological system. Breeding dairy cows and its profitability is a function of the conditions for the realisation of milk production. This paper examines these aspects within a complex of factors from the use of milk production to the structure of the decision making process and it classifies and quantifies the individual problems from the perspective of the multi-criteria analysis. &amp;nbsp;