This study evaluated consumer perception of clean label, complete, and sustainable as they pertained to protein products. Two online surveys (n = 485; n = 505) and 5 focus groups (n = 32 consumers) were conducted to quantitively and qualitatively investigate consumer behaviors and beliefs regarding protein-fortified products. The surveys involved agree or disagree questions, multiple choice questions, check-all-that-apply questions, maximum difference scaling exercises, open-ended questions, and sliding-scale questions to investigate clean label, natural or artificial ingredients, good source of protein, and complete protein.

Modern dairy cattle populations have been intensively selected for high milk production; therefore, cows experience significant metabolic stress after calving and during the transition period. Breeding strategies aimed at making cows more robust and resistant to diseases without compromising milk productivity exist and have been implemented in some countries. Whereas genomic investigations have been conducted on both clinical and subclinical forms of ketosis, few studies have focused on measurable features reflecting metabolic processes, such as the blood concentrations of BHB and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and urea, an indicator of nitrogen metabolism.

Sixty Alpine dairy goats were classified as healthy (HEAL, n = 30) or infected (INFE, n = 30) based on bacteriological culture of udder-half samples collected 7 d before dry-off. At −61 d from kidding (DFK), goats were dried off and randomly allocated to 2 homogeneous groups either receiving no treatment (15 HEAL, 15 INFE) or being treated intramammarily with 250 mg of cefazolin per half-udder (15 HEAL, 15 INFE). Milk yield, composition, and SCC were monitored at −82, 17, 45, and 80 DFK, and blood samples were collected at −66, −56, −7, and 8 DFK to assess plasma analytes.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus emerged in lactating dairy cattle in March 2024, causing mastitis-related disease and infections in other farm animals and workers. Recent work identified α2,6 and α2,3-linked sialic acids (SIA), which serve as influenza virus receptors, in the lactating bovine mammary gland; however, their distribution across stages of mammary growth and development remains unknown. We compared the distribution of sialylation in mammary glands of prepubertal dairy calves, primigravid dairy heifers, and lactating cows.

Pseudomonas fluorescens is one of the common psychrophilic bacteria in liquid milk. The thermostable enzymes produced by P. fluorescens are an important cause of changes in quality and flavor of liquid milk during storage. In this study, 3 thermostable proteases derived from P. fluorescens, neutral metalloproteinase (Nm), extracellular alkaline metalloprotease AprA (AprA), and metalloprotease AprX (AprX), were added separately to liquid milk. The upper layer protein content of the 3 groups of samples continued to decline and the lower layer protein content first increased and then decreased.

Whey protein is commonly used to prevent sarcopenia in older adults due to its high digestibility and amino acid content. Its bioactive components may also influence the gut microbiota, which plays a growing role in healthy aging as microbial composition shifts with age. This study investigated whether daily supplementation with whey protein isolate (WPI) improves gut microbiota diversity and composition in older adults. Sixteen participants consumed 59 g of WPI (35 g of protein) daily for 3 wk.

In September 2023, bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) emerged in the Netherlands for the first time. To be prepared for a potential resurgence in 2024, a study was performed during early spring 2024, considered as a low-risk period, to estimate the prevalence of BTV-3 and identify associated risk factors in Dutch dairy cattle. Between December 2023 and April 2024, bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 12,756 dairy herds were tested to estimate the herd-level and within-herd antibody prevalence. Additionally, an online survey was distributed to participating farmers to collect farm management information from 2023.

This study aimed to estimate the association of udder health and herd management practices with bulk tank SCC (BTSCC) and the partial costs of subclinical mastitis (milk yield losses and penalties) on dairy farms in Uruguay. As part of a cross-sectional study, a survey on udder health and herd management practices was conducted on 190 randomly selected dairy farms stratified by region and milk shipment volume (MSV). Herd data comprising 13 mo of BTSCC and MSV were obtained from the dairy processing company, and BTSCC values exceeding 250 × 103 cells/mL (BTSCC >250) were identified.

The spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in dairy cattle, particularly affecting the mammary glands, highlights the adaptability of influenza A viruses (IAV) to infect nontraditional species. Mammals like pigs, sheep, goats, and camelids contribute >$30 billion annually to the US economy and are a source of meat and milk for millions, highlighting the importance of understanding viral susceptibility in these species. The zoonotic transmission of HPAI H5N1 to several dairy and poultry farm workers involved with farm operations during outbreaks is also a cause for public health concerns.

This paper explores stakeholder responses to policy changes under Ireland's Fifth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP), focusing on the effectiveness of a top-down, compliance-driven approach. Despite the Water Framework and the Nitrates Directives, overall biological status in Irish waterbodies has shown little improvement. Using semi-structured interviews with 16 key informants and responses to open-ended questions from surveys with 42 dairy farmers, responses to qualitative questions, the study analyzes perceptions of new measures and the broader social and ecological challenges influencing water quality outcomes.

Fats are considered effective in reducing enteric methane (CH4) emissions in ruminants, but limited research exists on the use of flaxseed fatty acids for this purpose in Holstein dairy cows. We evaluated the effects of an extruded flaxseed-based supplement that included a mix of flaxseed, peas, and alfalfa hay (LinPRO-R) on enteric CH4 emissions and milk quality. Holstein cows (n = 24, 113 ± 31 DIM) were arranged in a 3 × 3 Latin square design and assigned to one of the 3 treatments: control (CON), ration containing 4.5% LinPRO (4.5% LinPRO-R), or ration containing 9% LinPRO (9% LinPRO-R) on a DM basis.

This study evaluated how the form and fatty acid (FA) profile of dietary fat supplements influence nutrient digestibility and milk yield in mid-lactation dairy cows. Twenty multiparous Holstein cows (mean ± SD; 44.3 ± 3.00 kg/d of milk; 99 ± 23 DIM) were randomly assigned to treatment sequences in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments were a non-FA-supplemented control diet (CON) and 3 diets incorporating FA supplements at 2.0% DM of total FA of 1) blend of FA supplements to achieve a ratio of 70% palmitic (C16:0) + 20% oleic (cis-9 C18:1) using an FA prill and a Ca-salt of palm FA (PFAD) distillate (70FB), 2) a Ca-salt of fractionated FA containing 70% C16:0 + 20% cis-9 C18:1 (70CS), and 3) a Ca-salt of PFAD distillate containing 45% C16:0 + 35% cis-9 C18:1 (45CS).

We compared the effects of silage from a tall-stature corn (TSC) hybrid with silage from a new short-stature corn (SSC) hybrid (due to a brachytic mutation) on DMI, feeding behavior, nutrient digestibility, and performance of lactating Holstein dairy cows. A total of 24 cows (12 per group) received identical diets for 2 wk and were then stratified according to BW, parity, DIM, and average milk production and randomly assigned to the TSC group or the SSC group. Data were collected for 70 d. Data from cows were analyzed as a completely randomized design using a mixed model procedure, and week of treatment was the repeated measure.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association of estrus detection within the voluntary waiting period (VWP) using automated activity monitoring (AAM) systems with reproductive performance in lactating Holstein cows. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar using specific search terms. Inclusion criteria focused on studies that assessed estrus detection within the VWP using AAM systems. Six manuscripts involving 8,621 cows were included.

High charge contamination of dairy residual streams presents a challenge that needs to be addressed for their valorization. This work offers an alternative to the production of biosurfactants through controlled fermentation using lactic acid bacteria and costly nutritional supplements, promoting sustainability and a circular economy. Biosurfactants were extracted from microbial biomass contained in dairy waste by solid-liquid extraction with PBS, without the addition of external nutritional supplements, and then purified by dialysis.

The interpretation of milk pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) ELISA tests can potentially be improved by understanding the variations in PAG levels throughout gestation. We hypothesized that milk yield (MY) on test day has a meaningful effect on these variations, but that other factors may influence this relationship. The objective of our study was to investigate and quantify the interactions between test-day MY and parity and breed, considering the known fluctuations in PAG levels as a function of the number of days in pregnancy (DIP).

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a blend of postbiotics and essential oil compounds on lactation performance in dairy cows supplemented during the transition period until 60 DIM. Sixty-one Holstein dairy cows were enrolled in a randomized complete block design from −35 to 60 DIM and blocked according to expected calving day, parity, and previous lactation ECM. At −35 d before expected calving date (32 ± 3.8 d relative to actual calving), cows were assigned to either a basal diet plus 100 g/d of ground corn and 25 g/d of placebo (CTL; n = 30) or a basal diet plus 100 g/d of ground corn and 25 g/d of a blend of postbiotic and essential oil compounds, including but not limited to cinnamaldehyde and garlic oil (PE; n = 31).

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of 4 dietary treatments on dairy cow performance: (1) Bacillus subtilis (2 strains provided together at 2.0 × 109 cfu/d), (2) Clostridium beijerinckii (6 environmental strains provided together at 4 × 106 cfu/d), (3) the combination of the same B. subtilis and C. beijerinckii strains at these same doses, and (4) a control diet without C. beijerinckii and B. subtilis. Treatments were administered from 21 d relative to expected calving until 70 DIM.

Reproductive efficiency is critical to the profitability and productivity of dairy farms. However, reproductive traits have often been overlooked in favor of enhancing milk production, resulting in unintended genetic antagonism. This study focused on estimating genetic parameters and genetic trends for economically important reproductive traits which include conception rate (CR), days open (DO), age at first calving (AFC), number of services per conception (NS), and calving interval (CInt), using 33,203 records of Holstein cattle that were under intensive management in Shandong Province, China.

Methane intensity (MeI), defined as the grams of enteric methane emitted (MeP) per kilogram of milk yield (MY), is a widely used metric to assess the GHG efficiency of dairy production. Although dairy sheep produce less milk globally than cattle, they emit more methane per unit of milk, making MeI a critical metric for these systems. However, most studies on enteric MeI focus on the lactation period only, overlooking nonproductive phases like growth, gestation, and dry periods. Such short-term measures can be misleading when evaluating sustainability and efficiency and raise the need for a more comprehensive metric.