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Invited review: Improved control of Johne's disease in dairy cattle through advancements in diagnostics, testing, and management of young stock. By Martins et al., page 1162. Young cattle can shed and transmit Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis to other young stock. Therefore, Johne's disease (paratuberculosis)–control programs on dairy farms should be enhanced by the inclusion of young stock in management and testing strategies. Furthermore, it is also important to improve diagnostic tests and optimize their use in young stock.
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Lactational performance effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol supplementation to dairy cows: A meta-regression
The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes.
Letter to the Editor: Response to “Need for postweaning data for dairy calves”
The main objective of our review (Welk et al., 2024) was to evaluate the effects of weaning methods (e.g., weaning age, duration, criteria) on dairy calf behavior, feed intake, growth, and health. A significant gap we identified was the lack of long-term data on weaning outcomes. Of the 44 studies reviewed, 34% reported 1 wk of postweaning data, 20.5% reported 2 wk, and only 11.5% reported 3 to 4 wk. The remaining 34% provided less than 1 wk or no postweaning data. Contrary to Kertz (2025), who stated that only 2 studies included postweaning data, 29 studies (66%) reported some level of postweaning information.
Letter to the Editor: Need for postweaning data for dairy calves
The review by Welk et al. (2024) is commendable for its attempt to elucidate factors affecting weaning. But of the 44 studies included in the review, only 2 included postweaning data. Without such data, it is not possible to know whether there was any carryover effect or whether it was positive or negative. The weaning transition period, 2 wk before full weaning and 2 wk after full weaning, is the third critical period for calves (Kertz, 2019). Measuring postweaning performance should be a part of all calf trials; it should be a minimum of 2 wk, preferably 4 wk, postweaning, such as in Stamey et al.
Milk-derived antimicrobial peptide GMp7: Disrupting protein networks for multi-target antibacterial inhibition and enhanced dairy preservation
Identification and characterization of a novel milk-derived antimicrobial peptide, GMp7 (KVLPVPQ), with potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and a demonstrated safety profile. Therefore, this study revealed the multi-target antibacterial mechanism of GMp7 on S. aureus DC.RB-015 by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and label-free proteomics analysis. The results showed that GMp7 has a secondary structure consisting of 17.45% α-helix, 20.10% β-corner and 37.13% β-fold, which is conducive to membrane disruption and bacterial cell death.
Effect of different types of milk consumption on Gout and the mediating effect of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs): a Mendelian randomization study
Numerous studies have shown that dietary factors can reduce the risk of developing gout, while changes in serum amino acids also impact gout risk. However, current research lacks insights into how dairy products with varying fat content influence serum amino acids and gout risk, as well as the mediating effects of amino acids. This study employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze the association between 3 milk consumption phenotypes with different fat contents and gout. We found that only whole milk was associated with a reduced risk of gout, whereas no association was observed with the other 2 milk types.
Pre-weaning heat stress alters liver transcriptome and DNA methylation in dairy calves
Prenatal hyperthermia has long-lasting impacts on dairy calf metabolism, immunity, and productivity. Yet, the effects of postnatal heat stress on neonatal calves remain unclear. As such, this study aimed to investigate the impact of heat stress on the pre-weaned dairy calf liver gene expression and DNA methylation profiles. Holstein dairy calves were exposed to summer heat stress (daily average THI >78) for 42 d postnatally (i.e., birth to weaning) with access to active fan heat abatement (postnatal cooling, post-CL; calf-height air speed 2.05 m/s, n = 12) or not (postnatal heat stress, post-HS; calf-height air speed 0.15 m/s, n = 12).
Adjuvant-driven antibody response to use cows as biofactories of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in colostrum
Cows produce a substantial amount of immunoglobulin in the colostrum, and nutraceutical products derived from these antibodies are gaining attention for their potential role in human viral disease prevention. The objective of our study was to develop an immunization schedule for pregnant cows to produce hyperimmune colostrum with antibodies presenting high avidity and neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. The recombinant spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) from SARS-CoV-2, expressed using the Expi293F system and purified via Ni-affinity chromatography, was solubilized in (1) saponin (QuilA) or (2) a suspension of potassium and aluminum hydroxide (Alum).
Bovine Faecal Extracellular Vesicles: A novel non-invasive tool for understanding gut physiology and pathophysiology in calves
Dairy calf gut health is linked with the development and future production. Fecal extracellular vesicles (fEVs) have emerged as a non-invasive tool in elucidating gut physiology and pathophysiology. Being a complex matrix, enrichment of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from ruminant/pre-ruminant feces is difficult. Nevertheless, if enriched, they have great potential as a gut health diagnostic and monitoring tool in dairy calves. Therefore, this study aimed to devise a protocol to enrich and characterize fEVs from pre-weaned calves.
Effects of a functional milk powder supplemented with rhizoma drynariae extracts on bone health in growing and ovariectomized rats: More effective for lumbar vertebrae?
Bone health is vital through all life stages and has become a growing public health concern. The role of rhizoma drynariae (RD) as a traditional Chinese medicine for bone injury recovery has been widely investigated. Still, there is little research related to RD as a functional component in food to improve calcium bioavailability and bone health. Milk powder is a daily vital food source of dietary calcium. The present study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of a functional milk powder reinforced with RD extracts (RDE) or vitamin D, vitamin K2, and calcium, or both, using Sprague-Dawley rats, with both low calcium growing rat model and low calcium ovariectomized (OVX) rat model.
The Influence of the Ionic Environment on Rheological Properties of Acidified Micellar Casein Gels
Membrane filtration allows for the physical separation of milk components and can be used as a single process or in multiple steps to recombine different component streams to create cultured milk products with unique functional properties. In this study, micellar casein (MC) powder, was dispersed at 4 and 8% (wt/wt) protein in water, NaCl (10 – 100 mmol kg−1) or ultrafiltered milk permeate (5.6%, wt/wt). MC is a dairy powder obtained by microfiltration that is mostly depleted of whey proteins and soluble salts.
Exploring the Link Between Cheese Consumption and Heart Failure Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Approach with Biomarker Analysis
The study investigates the association between cheese consumption and heart failure risk, employing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Heart failure, influenced by various factors including diet, remains a major global health concern. Cheese, a nutrient-rich dairy product, has shown potential in reducing heart failure risk, though the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study clarifies the association by examining 45 biomarkers that could mediate this effect. This analysis revealed a significant reduction in heart failure risk with cheese consumption (OR = 0.771, P = 0.00588).
Liquid chromatography-MS–based identification of casein variants in Dutch goat milk and their effect on casein composition, protein content, and micelle size
Casein polymorphism can be related to compositional differences in milk. The objective of this study was to identify CN variants in the Dutch goat population and to investigate their relation to CN composition, protein content, and CN micelle size. In this study, the CN variants were identified for 234 goats based on the intact protein mass determined by liquid chromatography (LC)-MS. The highest number of protein variants was detected for κ-CN and αS1-CN. The effect of CN variants was studied using a mixed linear model accounting for family relations among goats.
Organic Dairy Cattle Longevity and Economic Implications: Contemporary Perspectives
Although studied extensively in conventional production systems, limited research exists on the longevity of organically raised dairy cows. The objective was to discuss the factors affecting dairy cattle longevity, and to conduct an economic assessment for prolonged longevity of organic dairy cattle. A dynamic programming tool was adopted for a typical organic and conventional dairy farm in Texas, using the model developed by Groenendaal et al. (2004) to determine optimal replacement decisions for organic dairy cattle based on the retention payoff (RPO) value.
Mineral profile of cow's milk and plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA)
Some consumers are replacing cow's milk by plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA), however the current knowledge regarding the mineral profile of PBMA is limited. This study aimed to characterize the mineral profile of commercial milk (n = 80) and PBMA types (n = 60; soya, rice, oat, almond, coconut, and hazelnut) by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy, along with a modification of the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction (iodine determination). A single fixed effect statistical model considering the type of beverage as an independent variable was applied.
Optimization of a milk pregnancy-associated glycoproteins ELISA test for pregnancy in Holstein cows using time-dependent cut-points between 23 and 90 days after insemination
Our hypothesis was that the accuracy of a commercial milk pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) ELISA test using the same thresholds at all stages of gestation would be improved by adjusting the cut-points according to the number of days since last breeding (DSLB) between 23 and 90 d after insemination in Holstein dairy cows. Our objectives were to develop a DSLB-specific set of thresholds that would provide better test performance under field conditions and provide more information for the inconclusive test results, by dichotomizing these into “probably open” and “probably pregnant” categories.
A Comparative Study of Ultrasound and Thermal Processing: Effects on Stability and Protein Structure in Goat Milk
Ultrasonic treatment has been shown to improve the functional properties and quality of proteins; however, the effect of ultrasound on the improvement of goat milk proteins and its impact on the quality of goat milk is not clear. In this study, we mainly want to analyze the effect of thermal stability of whole raw goat milk from the protein structural aspect and to analyze whole raw goat milk stability from the protein point of view. Goat milk was subjected to ultrasound treatments (400W/10 min, 500W/10 min, and 600W/10 min), while untreated and heat-treated samples served as controls.
In laboratory inactivation of H5N1 in raw whole milk through milk acidification: results from a pilot study
Avian Influenza virus H5N1 2.3.4.4.b has recently been detected in cattle, with milk from infected animals reported to contain a high viral load, serving as a potential source for shedding and dissemination of this virus. Currently, pasteurization is the only widely recognized method for on-farm inactivation of H5N1 in milk. A current concern is that according to USDA data, less than 50% of large dairy farms pasteurize non-saleable milk, with a much lower percentage occurring in medium and small dairy farms.
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