This study developed and validated a robust liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of 12 major mycotoxins in camel milk samples from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Among the evaluated extraction procedures, the modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method demonstrated the best performance, achieving recoveries of 76%–120%, as well as excellent linearity (R2 > 0.9994) and precision within relative SD of <20%, confirming its suitability for routine analysis.

Supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from microalgae is considered a promising strategy to enhance the n-3 content of bovine milk. However, DHA transfer efficiency into milk is typically low and highly variable. This study evaluated the effects of 2 Schizochytrium-derived DHA powder products on milk performance, DHA enrichment, milk fatty acid (FA) profile, and rumen microbiota composition in lactating Holstein dairy cows. Forty-five Holstein cows were randomly assigned into 3 treatments (n = 15 each), a control without any supplementation (CON), and 2 treatments receiving different Schizochytrium sp.

As highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spreads in US dairy herds, substantial uncertainty remains regarding modes of transmission and net impacts on cattle health and productivity. The objectives of our study were to identify factors associated with risk of clinical HPAI diagnosis (cHPAI) among lactating cows and quantify subsequent productivity and health outcomes of cHPAI versus nonclinical (NC) cows. We used herd management data from a dairy farm in Michigan (44.8 ± 10.4 kg/d ECM, 1.58 ± 0.04 SCS before outbreak; mean ± SD) that experienced an HPAI outbreak in May 2024.

Canola meal (CM) contains glucosinolates, which are metabolites known to inhibit the transfer of I from feed to milk. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of diets containing soybean meal (SBM) or CM, each supplemented with ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDDI) and the I-rich brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum (ASCO), on I metabolism, production performance, and nutrient utilization in dairy cows. Sixteen multiparous Jersey cows averaging (mean ± SD) 138 ± 58 DIM and 456 ± 62.1 kg of BW at the beginning of the study were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments.

The current study investigated the interacting mechanism within lactoferrin (LF)-low methoxyl pectin (LMP) and LF-high methoxyl pectin (HMP) complexes, alongside heat-induced alterations in their physicochemical, structural, and functional properties. At pH 7, LF can form soluble complexes with pectin at mass ratios of 3:1 and 1:1. Molecular docking and Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that LMP primarily bound LF via electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds, whereas HMP predominantly engaged in hydrophobic interactions.

Limited knowledge exists on the role of variation in individual colostrum components on metabolic and endocrine adaptation in calves. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of individual colostral macronutrients and non-nutrient factors on metabolic and endocrine blood parameters of neonatal calves. Forty-six Holstein calves were fed with colostrum from their own dams at 4 and 12 h postpartum (p.p.). Blood samples were taken before feeding at 4, 12, and 24 h of age. Individual colostrum samples were analyzed for fat, protein, and lactose.

This study aimed to assess how Bacitracin (BAC) affects rumen fermentation, methane production, and the microbial community during a 24-h in vitro incubation with diets in different forage:concentrate ratios. In experiment 1, we determined the optimal BAC dosage by adding 0 to 400 mg/kg of BAC to 3 diets: high-concentrate (0.1 forage:0.9 concentrate), medium-concentrate (0.5 forage:0.5 concentrate), and low-concentrate (0.9 forage:0.1 concentrate). Experiment 2 evaluated the interaction between BAC (0 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) and different forage:concentrate ratio diets.

This study investigates the optimization of a Doogh formula enhanced by a CP/peptide extract of the neutralized cell-free supernatant (bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance [BLIS], hereafter referred to as “crude BLIS”) derived from Limosilactobacillus fermentum, along with assessing its physicochemical, sensory, and shelf life properties. Among 8 evaluated probiotic strains, L. fermentum was selected for its BLIS yield and effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Microbes growing in the rumen represent over half of the protein digested by cattle. Despite this importance, efficiency of microbial growth can vary widely, and the reasons are not fully understood. Here, we investigated if the carbohydrate source (cellulose or glucose) affects growth efficiency. We inoculated a system of 8 fermentors with rumen fluid, fed them glucose or cellulose (30 mmol hexose L−1·d−1), and maintained them at a range of dilution rates (2% to 12%·h−1). We then measured the digestion of carbohydrates and output of microbes and fermentation products.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of daily thermal amplitude during the first 28 d of age and its residual impact until 90 d of age on respiration rate (RR), heart rate, rectal temperature (RT), intake, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, immune markers, health status, and performance of Holstein dairy calves. Thirty-four dairy calves were individually housed in a climate-controlled chamber and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: control (exposed to constant temperature and humidity index (THI) of 66), or thermal amplitude (TA) exposed daily to THI of 66 (0330 to 0630 h), 84 (0630 to 1530 h), 66 (1530 to 1830 h), and 54 (1830 to 0330 h) from birth to 28 d age (exposure period [EP]).

Reproductive performance affects the profitability of a dairy herd. The ability to understand the reproductive capabilities of individual cows and the use of targeted reproductive management could optimize reproductive performance of dairy herds. To address this need, the early reproductive success prediction was developed using a light gradient-boosting machine algorithm, which included herd-level reproduction data, weather data, genomic-enhanced predicted transmitting ability, individual cow information, milk production, health events, and previous lactation performance data.

Interest in milk lactose content (LC) has grown due to its potential as an indicator of udder health and metabolic disorders in dairy cattle. However, the variability of LC dynamics during lactation remains poorly described, and a better characterization of these dynamics could clarify our understanding of LC variations among cows, and potentially those due to udder health and metabolism-related variations. The aim of this study was to identify distinct patterns of LC dynamics and assess their environmental and genetic determinants, as well as their phenotypic and genetic associations with milk yield, Na, K, SCC, and their phenotypic associations with fat-to-protein ratio (FPR) and BHB.

Lameness in dairy cows, primarily caused by claw lesions, generates significant welfare and economic challenges. Hoof trimming is a key preventive measure, with scientific support for 2 to 3 trimmings per lactation. However, the optimal timing of these trimmings has not yet been fully explored. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between timing of 2 hoof trimmings during first lactation and subsequent hoof health and culling in second lactation. Data from 10,349 primiparous cows across 185 Swedish dairy herds (2015–2018) were analyzed.

The study explored the effects of levomethadone and ketamine on postoperative pain and activity in calves following hot-iron disbudding. Twenty-eight dairy calves, aged 21 ± 5 d (mean ± SD) and weighing 61.2 ± 9.4 kg, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 intramuscular sedation protocols administered 30 min before disbudding: group XL (levomethadone 0.05 mg/kg and xylazine 0.1 mg/kg), group XK (ketamine 1 mg/kg and xylazine 0.1 mg/kg), and group X (xylazine 0.2 mg/kg). All calves received subcutaneous meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg) and a local anesthetic (procaine hydrochloride, 4.5 mg/kg) 15 min before heat cauterization of the horn buds.