Our objective was to determine the separate effects of lactose, soluble mineral concentration, and added dipotassium phosphate (DKP) on the heat stability of milk protein beverages made from rehydrated milk protein concentrate (MPC) with 85% crude protein on a DM basis (MPC85). Seven batches of rehydrated (7.5% protein) liquid MPC were made from each of 2 lots of MPC85 powder. Treatment 1 was 7.5% MPC85 in deionized (DI) water. Treatment 2 was 7.5% MPC85 that was rehydrated with 4°C Jenness–Koops (JK) buffer, a mix of salts that simulate milk salts.

This qualitative study explored Ontario dairy farmers' perceptions of educational programs and the factors that influenced their participation. Five focus groups were conducted with 20 dairy producers in southern Ontario to discuss their experiences, motivations, and barriers related to educational program participation. Through applied thematic analysis, 3 main themes were identified: (1) strategies for effective outreach and engagement, (2) perceived value of education as a driver for progress, and (3) participation in educational programs: motivators, barriers, and preferences.

The objectives of this study were to assess differences in lactational performance (reproduction, milk production, and removal from the herd) associated with time to clinical cure of metritis. This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from 3 experiments conducted at 5 dairy herds in Florida. Cows with metritis were randomly assigned to receive either ampicillin or ceftiofur in 2 experiments (1 experiment only implemented ceftiofur). Vaginal discharge assessment using the Metricheck device within 12 DIM was used to diagnose metritis, characterized by presence of fetid, watery, reddish-brown vaginal discharge (VD; n = 1,410), and the day of diagnosis was defined as d 0.

This study aimed to assess the impact of a 15-d administration of a polyphenol-rich extract from hazelnut skin (HS) on the incidence of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) and bronchopneumonia (BP) in Holstein heifers. Additionally, the study investigated whether the extract influenced reactive oxygen–derived metabolites (d-ROM), serum antioxidant capacity, fecal microbiota, growth rates, and severity of BP and NCD-related clinical parameters. In this randomized clinical trial, 80 healthy female dairy calves were allocated into 2 groups: a control group (CTRL, n = 40) and an HS-supplemented group (HS, n = 40), which received a milk replacer enriched with HS extract (5 g/day) from d 3 to d 18 of life.

The transition period is one of the most challenging phases for dairy cows. High incidences of metabolic and inflammatory disorders occur during this period due to negative energy balance and reduced immune functions. Acute phase proteins (APP), such as haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), and C-reactive protein (CRP), are important components of the innate immune response and serve as sensitive biomarkers of systemic inflammation. The current study aims to estimate heritability and identify candidate genes associated with serum levels of APP.

The periparturient period in dairy cows is marked by major metabolic and physiological changes that increase disease susceptibility and challenge immune function. However, the function of T helper (CD4+) cells across the periparturient period remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the in vitro metabolic function, proliferation capacity and phenotype of T helper cells across the periparturient period. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 22) having mean ± SD lactation of 4.16 ± 1.34 were sampled at −28, +3, and +28 d relative to calving.

During the transition period, dairy cows often experience negative energy balance (NEB), leading to excessive mobilization of adipose tissue and elevated circulating nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). These excess NEFA can be taken up by the mammary gland, triggering redox imbalances and pro-inflammatory cascades that compromise its function. In nonruminants, sinomenine hydrochloride (SINH) has been shown to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation across a range of pathological conditions. However, its effects on NEFA-induced injury in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) remain largely unexplored.

High-yielding dairy cows around parturition are challenged by varying degrees of low calcium status (hypocalcemia), which is associated with increased risk of several metabolic disorders and diseases in early lactation. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3; calcidiol) supplementation during the transition period. Forty-two multiparous Holstein cows were fed 1 of 2 treatments: either cholecalciferol (D3) or 25-OH-D3 (HyD) as dietary vitamin D supplements.

Enterovirus eibovi (EV-E) is a bovine RNA virus with debated pathogenic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLF), an antimicrobial and immunomodulatory glycoprotein, on EV-E–infected bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The PBMC viability, phagocytic function, and lymphocyte proliferation were examined using spectrophotometric assays. Flow cytometry was used for immunophenotyping of lymphocytes, and real-time quantitative PCR for evaluation of immune-related gene expression.

Our objectives were, in grazing dairy ewes, (1) to describe SCC, California Mastitis Test (CMT) score, and ewe-level milk aerobic plate count (APC), (2) to explore the relationship between CMT and SCC, (3) to identify risk factors for elevated APC, and (4) to find the optimal SCC threshold for diagnosis of IMI. Gland-level milk samples were collected from ∼15 randomly selected ewes on each of 20 New Zealand dairy sheep farms at early, mid, and late lactation in a repeated cross-sectional study. Aerobic bacterial culture and CMT (measured on a scale of 0, trace, 1, 2, or 3) were performed at the gland level, and SCC and APC at the ewe level using composite milk samples.

Our objectives were to describe subclinical mastitis and identify its risk factors among grazing dairy ewes in New Zealand. Gland-level milk samples were collected from ∼15 randomly selected ewes on each of 20 dairy sheep farms at early, mid, and late lactation in a repeated cross-sectional study. California Mastitis Tests (CMT; measured on a scale of 0, trace, 1, 2, or 3) and aerobic bacterial culture were performed at the gland level, and SCC at the ewe level using composite milk samples. Subclinical mastitis was defined at the ewe level as having 1 or 2 bacteriologically positive glands and SCC >500 × 103 cells/mL or a CMT score ≥1 (or both).

Methane (CH4) emissions from enteric fermentation in ruminants represent the largest source of anthropogenic agricultural emissions, contributing significantly to global CH4 levels. Enteric CH4 mitigation strategies have been intensively investigated to address the detrimental effects on climate change and ruminant production characteristics. This systematic review investigated whether microbial silage inoculants could reduce CH4 formation in the rumen microbiome, both ex vivo and in vivo, based on available literature.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of abomasal infusions of increasing doses of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n-3) on plasma and milk fatty acids (FA) and milk production of mid-lactation dairy cows. Eight multiparous ruminally cannulated Holstein cows (97 ± 37 DIM, 49.2 ± 3.3 kg/d milk) were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of abomasal infusions of 0, 2, 4, and 6 g/d of DHA with 11-d treatment periods and 10-d washout periods. The DHA was provided via an enriched algal oil (65% DHA) and suspended in ethanol (∼200 g/d).

We evaluated the effects of whole cottonseed (WCS) and fatty acid (FA) supplementation on the production responses of early-lactation cows. Fifty-two multiparous cows were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The following treatment diets were fed from 1 to 21 d postpartum (fresh period; FR): (1) a diet containing no WCS or supplemental FA (CON); (2) a diet containing WCS at 10% diet DM (CT); (3) a diet supplemented with a calcium salt containing 60% C16:0 and 30% C18:1 cis-9 (FAT); and (4) a diet containing WCS at 10% diet DM and a C16:0 C18:1 cis-9 calcium salt (CT+FAT).

The objective of this study was to compare the economic performances of 3 pasture-based systems: a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) receiving 250 kg N/ha (PRG-250N); a PRG-white clover (Trifolium repens L.; WC) receiving 125 kg N/ha (PRGWC-125N); and a multispecies (MSS) sward composed of grasses, legumes, and herbs receiving 125 kg N/ha (MSS-125N). Sward and animal performances were measured over 3 years in a system-scale study involving 3 farmlets at Teagasc Moorepark, Ireland. Subsequently, based on the physical data collected, an economic performance of each sward system was evaluated using current output prices and input costs in the Moorepark Dairy Systems Model.

The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the You Look Only Once (YOLOv7) algorithm for group-level behavior monitoring in freestall cows, (2) propose a multitask contrastive network (MTCN) for individual cow identification from limited reference data and compare its performance to a traditional convolutional neural network, and (3) develop and validate a scalable 2-step computer vision framework integrating behavior detection and individual identification. Twenty-one Holstein cows housed in a single pen were monitored using ceiling-mounted red-green-blue cameras capturing images at 10-s intervals over 30 d.

Automated milk feeders (AMF) generate large-scale longitudinal milk feeding data in calves, providing a great opportunity for deriving the novel traits that may be included in cattle breeding programs. For group-housed dairy calves, genetic selection for social dominance could have important implications on improving animal welfare and health, optimizing management practices, and possibly improving cow performance through indirect genetic selection. In this study, we derived and estimated genetic parameters for 6 calf social dominance indicators using a dataset consisting of 4,164,960 AMF visit records from 8,632 American Holstein female calves, including 5,910 calves with genomic data for 64,767 autosomal SNPs.

Water quality plays a crucial role in calf health and performance, mainly when it is used to dilute milk replacers, which can affect the incidence of diarrhea. This study assessed the effects of municipal tap water (TW) compared with purified water (PW) on calf performance and health. Thirty Holstein calves were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups in a randomized block design. Calves received 6 L/d of milk replacer (14% solids) diluted with the respective water treatment until gradual weaning (49–53 d).

Invited review: Contribution of milk harvesting research to optimal interaction between biology and milking technology. By Upton et al., page 11713. This review explores how cow physiology and milking machine design interact to influence the efficiency and precision of mechanical milk harvesting. It covers recent advances in our understanding of milk ejection, milk flow profiles, and key machine settings such as vacuum, pulsation, and teatcup removal. The shift toward automated, quarter-level milking is highlighted, along with the integration of real-time sensor data and adaptive control systems.