Staphylococcus aureus, a prominent global foodborne pathogen, frequently triggers epidemics with severe public health impacts. Timely and reliable detection of S. aureus is crucial for mitigating the disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. However, conventional laboratory-based detection methods remain impractical in resource-limited settings, highlighting the urgent need for accessible point-of-care solutions. Here, we present an inner-outer-tube (IOT) assay that synergistically integrates the polymerase spiral amplification (PSR) technology for enhanced sensitivity with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 12a (Cas12a) system for sequence-specific identification.

Mastitis represents one of the most formidable challenges in modern dairy farming, posing significant threats to individual cow health and causing substantial economic losses throughout the dairy production chain. Traditional disease diagnosis methods are often reactive and costly, creating an urgent need for advanced predictive technologies. To address these issues, we proposed a novel machine learning–based mastitis prediction system that breaks through conventional diagnostic paradigms by deeply integrating data science with veterinary medicine.

Excessive lipolysis and inflammatory response are critically involved in the pathogenesis of ketosis in periparturient dairy cows. Evidence has been growing for participation of the growth hormone (GH) in the metabolic regulation of adipose tissue. However, the potential role of GH in promoting lipolysis and proinflammatory signaling activation in bovine adipocytes remains to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the regulatory effects of GH on the lipolysis and inflammatory response of bovine adipocytes.

This study investigated the effects of varying fat levels and ratios of coconut-to-palm fat in milk replacer on solid feed intake and performance of male Holstein calves fed a high milk replacer allowance. Calves were individually housed and enrolled in a 91-d (study 1; n = 128) and 84-d (study 2; n = 128) experiment at the same research facility divided into 3 phases: preweaning (1–42 d), weaning (43–63 d), and postweaning (64-study end). In study 1, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 treatments, consisting of a milk replacer containing a spray-dried blend of 20% coconut-to-80% palm fat with: 1) low fat (17%; LF-17%; n = 42; BW = 47.64 ± 2.62 kg), 2) moderate fat (23%; MF-23%; n = 43; BW = 47.69 ± 3.42 kg), and 3) high fat (29%; HF-29%; n = 41; BW = 47.04 ± 3.74 kg) in relation to 26% CP level.

The extent of genetic variability in fatty acids in bovine milk has, to date, generally focused on its concentration in either milk or milk fat. Selection for ratio traits, such as fatty acid concentration, is statistically and biologically problematic because it can distort relationships between component traits and lead to unintended genetic responses. The objective of this study was to explore the degree of genetic variability in the total yield of individual fatty acids, including when adjusted to a common fat yield.

Replacing hexane with 2-methyloxolane (MeOx) for defatting soybean meal (SBM) requires adaptations of the SBM production process. These modifications may increase the concentration of Maillard reaction products and reduce the residual oil content in MeOx-defatted SBM compared with hexane-defatted SBM. In addition, despite desolventization, solvent residues may still be present in the SBM when fed to livestock. This study aims to ensure that the replacement of hexane with MeOx for defatting SBM does not affect the ruminal and milk fatty acid profiles nor the liver activity, liver functionality, and inflammatory status in dairy cows.

Three studies evaluated the effects of a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on ex vivo fermentation traits, as well as on performance of lactating dairy cows. In experiment 1, rumen-fistulated lactating Holstein-Friesian cows (6.6 ± 2.3 parity; 630 ± 37.2 kg BW; 18.9 ± 3.35 kg milk/d) were fed an unsupplemented ration (CON; n = 5) or supplemented with 3 g/cow per d of a Bacillus-based DFM (BAC; n = 5) for 14 d before rumen sampling and subsequent ex vivo evaluation of fermentation characteristics of 2 different substrates (vetch hay [Vicia sativa] and perennial ryegrass herbage [Lolium perenne L.]).

Accurate local ancestry (LA) inference is important for genomic evaluations in admixed dairy cattle. This study had 2 main objectives: to compare the performance of 3 LA inference software: AllOr, BreedOrigin, and ChromoPainter, and to evaluate the impact of LA inference errors on genomic prediction accuracy. Two simulated admixed populations were used: a structured DairyCross population created through three-way rotational crossbreeding and a Red Dairy cattle (RDC) population representing historical admixture among multiple breeds.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and performance in ruminants, with the rumen functioning as fermentation chamber for plant biomass. Intestinal epithelial cells are exposed to billions of microorganisms that significantly affect the epithelial barrier by activating complex metabolic and immune pathways. The interaction between microbiota and host is mediated by signaling compounds such as metabolites and peptides, and also extracellular vesicles (EV).

The purpose of this study was to use a secondary analysis to investigate the use of feeding high and low-energy diets to alter BCS at dry-off, and to assess the subsequent changes in BCS on feed intake, calcemia, and assessment of immune function, including inflammation, during the periparturient period. Multiparous Holstein lactating dairy cows at 150 d of gestation were blocked by expected calving date and randomly assigned to receive one of 2 dietary treatments during late lactation until dry-off, aiming to maintain or decrease BCS.

Dairy cows are highly motivated to use grooming brushes, and their use promotes expression of natural behavior. Although brushes are increasingly common on commercial dairy farms, little is known about how their mechanical properties, specifically swingability and rotation, influence cattle preferences for brush use. This study investigated adult dairy cow preferences for 3 brushes identical in physical and visual features but differing mechanically: (1) swinging and rotating, (2) swinging-only, and (3) stationary (neither swinging nor rotating).

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a widely studied lactic acid bacterium with important roles in gut health and fermented food production. Accurate quantification of viable populations is crucial for evaluating the efficacy of probiotics and ensuring product quality. In this study, RNA sequencing was applied for the first time to systematically screen stable reference genes (RG) in L. plantarum for reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) under 4 distinct fermentation conditions. Among 3,092 genes analyzed, 22 candidates exhibiting CV values below 0.1 were identified.

Goat milk is valued for its rich nutritional composition; however, its distinct “goaty” flavor and limited oxidative stability restrict broader consumer acceptance. This study systematically compared thermal (65°C/30 min; 75°C/15 s) and ultrasonic (400–600 W/10 min) treatments on goat milk's lipidome and volatilome via integrated lipidomics and flavoromics. Headspace GC on mobility spectrometry revealed that ultrasound at 500 W boosted the abundance of aldehydes and esters, mitigating thermal degradation.

In dairy systems, β-LG, the predominant whey protein, is valued for its nutritional and techno-functional properties, yet it remains a major milk allergen. Modulating protein-ligand interactions presents a potential strategy to alter its characteristics. Although interactions between β-LG and polyphenols have been extensively studied, the binding mechanisms with other common food-grade molecules possessing diverse structural features remain less understood. Therefore, this study selected 3 such additives representing distinct chemical categories: galactooligosaccharides, sucrose fatty acid esters, and casein phosphopeptides, to explore how their unique functional group profiles (hydroxyl, amphiphilic, and phosphopeptide moieties, respectively) drive their interaction with β-LG.

The objective of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate associations between predictor variables and reproductive performance outcomes in seasonal-calving, pasture-based dairy cows. Individual cow data were available from 5,845 lactations across 21 herds in 2022 and 2023. Cow data records included genomic proofs, milk production, calving and reproduction events, as well as health and estrus alerts from automated activity monitoring systems. The breeding start date (BSD) was defined for each herd, and reproductive outcomes included the proportion of cows submitted for artificial insemination (AI) within 21 d of BSD (SR21), first service pregnancy per AI (P/AI1), BSD to conception interval (BSD-CI), and the proportion of cows pregnant in 42 d (P42) and 84 d (P84).

Due to its superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, milk thistle has been widely used in various applications. In the present study, the effects of milk thistle seeds (MTS) powder and its ethanolic bioactive compounds extract on fermented goat milk were investigated. Fresh goat milk was enriched with 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of MTS powder and its extract, and the obtained product was analyzed after 1 and 14 d of cold storage. The MTS bioactive compound-ethanolic extract displayed higher antioxidant activities (DPPH•, ABTS•+, and ferric reducing antioxidant power) and total phenolic compounds compared with those extracted by using homogenization, ultrasonication, or microwave.

We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of an adapted antibody ELISA (ELISA-Ab) test, originally designed for bulk milk samples but applied on individual DHI-collected milk samples, to identify the bovine leukosis virus infection status of individual cows. Blood real-time PCR (qPCR) and blood lymphocyte count (LC) tests were used for comparison. For the milk ELISA-Ab, secondary objectives included identifying a fit-for-purpose threshold for result interpretation and evaluating whether the test's specificity could be influenced by the sampling technique (i.e., DHI-collected milk samples).

Age at first calving (AFC) is a key determinant of lifetime productivity and profitability in dairy herds, yet its long-term effects in dairy buffaloes remain poorly documented. This study evaluated the influence of AFC on milk yield and composition, reproductive performance, and economic outcomes in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes reared under commercial conditions. Data included 576,028 test-day records from 27,744 buffaloes across 110 herds, collected over a 10-year period (2013–2023). Animals were grouped into 8 AFC classes and stratified by parity order: primiparous, mid-parity (second–third parities), and greater parity (≥4).

As animal welfare concerns and pain management awareness in cattle increase, long-term analgesics can become a solution for the treatment of painful husbandry procedures. Cannabidiol (CBD) has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Nevertheless, poor gastrointestinal absorption and first-pass liver metabolism results in low oral bioavailability in humans. The use of injected liposomal-CBD facilitates slow-drug-release, providing prolonged CBD plasma concentrations, with increased bioavailability.

This study aimed to determine the effect of supplementing milk replacer (MR) with increasing doses of a mixture of ethyl esters of polyunsaturated fatty acid of linseed oil (EEPUFALO; α-linolenic acid 55.5%, linoleic acid 13.3%, and oleic acid 18.0%) on growth performance, health, immune status, and oxidative stress parameters of preweaning dairy calves. A total of 54 Holstein–Friesian calves (5 d of age, 39.8 ± 0.69 kg, both males and females) were divided into 3 groups, each consisting of 18 animals: a control group and 2 treatment groups (D1 and D2), receiving 0, 15, and 30 mL/d of EEPUFALO incorporated into the MR, respectively.