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.

The objectives of the study were to investigate changes in the number of selected groups of microorganisms and the level of antioxidant activity during storage of model unripened cheeses with the addition of dried nettle leaves, to compare their sensory characteristics, as well as to determine the antioxidant properties of the obtained whey. Three groups of model unripened rennet-curd cheeses were produced: I—a control sample without a plant additive, II and III—samples with the addition of dried nettle leaves in the amount of 0.165% and 0.330% (g/100 g of milk), respectively.

This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of tannin-based feed additives on enteric methane (CH4) emissions, nutrient digestibility, and animal performance in beef and dairy cattle. A total of 23 peer-reviewed studies comprising 75 treatment means were included in the analysis. Random effects and mixed effects models were used to estimate relative mean differences and identify moderators of response. Robust variance estimation accounted for within-study dependence. Overall, tannin supplementation significantly reduced enteric CH4 emissions (−10.2%) and CH4 yield (−9.3%) across studies in beef and dairy cattle.

Red deer milk is known for its high nutritional quality, containing elevated levels of protein, fat, and essential minerals compared with other ruminant milks. This study investigates the protein profile of red deer milk across various lactation stages, using advanced liquid chromatography-MS/MS techniques to enhance understanding of its nutritional composition. In this study, milk samples were collected from 120 lactating does at 8 distinct points during the lactation period, ensuring consistent dietary conditions.

Early weaning disrupts gut microbiota homeostasis and increases oxidative stress and inflammation in calves, thus negatively affecting their growth performance and health. Resveratrol is a polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that modulates gut microbiota and metabolites. In the present study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, gut microbiota, and metabolic pathways in early-weaning calves. Thirty-six newborn Simmental × Holstein F1 generation female calves were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatment groups: conventional weaning at 63 d of age (CON), early weaning at 49 d of age (EW), or early weaning at 49 d of age with 2 g/d resveratrol supplementation from d 7 to d 49 (EWR).

The focus of study was to investigate physicochemical, microbiological, and quality characteristics of raw standardized milk collected from different northern parts of India. Results showed that physicochemical test values for pH, acidity, moisture, fat, SNF, total soluble solids, protein were varied from 6.62 to 6.66, 0.133% to 0.121%, 84.17% to 86.01%, 5.09% to 6.59%, 8.47% to 9.23%, 13.56% to 15.82%, 36.45% to 36.78%, and 0.61% to 0.73%, respectively. These results were in accordance with Codex International Standard and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Research has shown that selective dry cow therapy (DCT) can be implemented in well-managed dairy farms without negatively affecting postpartum udder health and performance. This raises the question of whether DCT is necessary in well-managed farms. Our primary objective was to assess the impact of withholding DCT from cows at the end of their first lactation on postpartum quarter-level intramammary infection (IMI) prevalence. Our secondary objectives were to evaluate the impact of DCT omission on postpartum quarter-level IMI prevalence in subgroups of quarters, stratified by quarter-level somatic cell count (SCC) and California mastitis test (CMT) results at dry-off, and to use those findings to predict the effect of SCC- and CMT-guided selective DCT programs on antibiotic use and udder health.

Enteric methane emissions can be measured on male and female cattle, unlike traditional dairy production phenotypes where a sire's breeding value is estimated from the performance of his female relatives. It is, however, important to validate that young dairy sires are a good model for female dairy animals, by confirming that phenotypic differences in CH4 emissions in bulls are observed in their daughters. Methane emissions and DMI were measured in a population of young dairy bulls (n = 486) in an indoor feeding trial for 5 wk.

Conjugated linoleic acid, a long-chain fatty acid, reduces milk fat content in dairy cows, which may alleviate the negative energy balance during the early lactation period by reducing lactation energy output and thereby decreasing the occurrence of ketosis and fatty liver due to a negative energy balance. Although research has revealed the milk fat inhibition mechanism, the mechanisms underlying the metabolic interactions among the liver, subcutaneous fat, and mammary gland tissues during this period remain unclear.

Digital technologies and the internet determine our professional and private everyday life. This also applies to the dairy industry and veterinary practice. The objective of the presented study was to learn more about the perception of digital technologies by students of veterinary medicine (VetMed) and agricultural sciences (AgriSci) in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This next generation of farmers and veterinarians will have to deal with digital technologies in their later professional lives and they will have to face societal demands such as animal welfare and the reduced use of pharmaceuticals.

The objective of this study was to assess the potential benefit of a single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) genomic prediction approach to subclinical mastitis (SCM) and SCS traits in the early first lactation of heifers. Subclinical mastitis is highly prevalent during early lactation and poses significant challenges to both animal welfare and farm profitability. Given the low h2 of SCM, ssGBLUP has emerged as an effective approach for the genomic prediction of such low-h2 traits. This approach combines phenotypic data and genomic and pedigree information simultaneously through a hybrid relationship matrix to predict GEBV.

Gestation induces strong anatomical, histological and transcriptomic changes in the pregnant female brain. Our study aimed to characterize the RNA transcripts expressed in the goat brain and their main structural, transcriptional, and functional features, while also exploring whether 2-mo (57 d) pregnancy affects transcript usage in the brain. Twelve brain tissue samples from three 2-mo pregnant and 4 nonpregnant Murciano-Granadina goats were sequenced. A total of 62,185 transcripts from 29,044 genes (averaging ∼2.14 transcripts per gene) were detected, and ∼60% of them were novel transcripts or novel loci.