The dairy industry has relied on synthetic biology since the late 20th century, and its use is poised to expand as molecular biology techniques advance. As the utility of synthetic biology grows, it will play an increasingly central role in addressing the industry's evolving needs, such as protein expression, bioagent control, and meeting industry needs. This review explores various molecular approaches and strategies, focusing on recombinant technology and bacteriophage applications. Additionally, this manuscript examines the policy implications of adopting synthetic biology in dairy production, focusing on regulation, safety standards, consumer transparency, and industry acceptance.

Cornerstone is a semihard farmstead cheese with a natural rind that was developed as an “American original.” The production of Cornerstone cheese relies on the use of unpasteurized (raw) milk, natural milk starters, and the colonization and activity of adventitious microbes native to each farmstead operation. This study describes and compares the microbial community dynamics as well as the metabolites, volatile compounds, and sensory attributes of Cornerstone cheese produced at 3 different facilities.

Consumer demand for animal welfare is rising, leading to the use of welfare labels that emphasize enhanced conditions for farm animals. However, on the farmers' side, complying with these standards often requires extensive and burdensome documentation. Precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies can simplify the collection of animal welfare data, such as health, behavior, and environmental conditions, thus reducing the documentation burden and enhancing transparency. To investigate current practices in animal welfare data collection on dairy farms and evaluate farmers' willingness to share this data with relevant institutions, a survey among 269 dairy farmers in Germany was conducted between June and September 2024.

Coffee shops in the United States typically offer several options of dairy milk and plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA) for espresso-based beverages. Although previous studies have explored consumer preferences for dairy or PBMA in general, none have examined what drives their milk or PBMA choices specifically in the context of coffee shops. This study aimed to identify key decision drivers for the choice of milks in coffee, assess the role of lactose-free preferences, and explore whether offering lactose-free cow milk would increase coffee shop visits.

This study evaluated the effects of rumen-protected Schizochytrium powder (SP) on dynamics of lactation performance, plasma and milk fatty acids (FA) profiles, and transfer rate of DHA to milk in dairy cows. A total of 30 Holstein cows (181 ± 32 DIM; 29.0 ± 3.1 kg milk yield) were divided into 2 blocks based on milk yield and were then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (n = 10 cows per group): a control group (CON), an uncoated SP group (USP), and a coated SP group (CSP). The experiment comprised a 14-d adaptation phase, 21-d treatment phase, and 7-d washout period.

The calving period is one of the busiest times of the year in block-calving pasture-based dairy farm systems, and practices such as milking once a day (OAD) or 3 times every 2 d (3-in-2) are attractive options to reduce labor requirements during this period. In early lactation, the composition of milk can impair processability, so in many jurisdictions, there are legislative requirements to withhold colostrum from the milk supply. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of milking frequency on the efficiency of colostrum removal from the udder after calving.

The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the preference for, and acceptability of, a novel, fat-microencapsulated anionic salt by nonlactating dairy cows and (2) whether these responses were influenced by cow personality. Twenty-four pregnant Holstein dairy cows (parity at dry-off: median = 2; range = 1– 5) were enrolled at dry-off (56 d to calving), in cohorts of 6, and housed in a tiestall facility. After adapting to a base dry cow diet for 14 d, cows were exposed to each of 2 treatment diets in a crossover design (with 7-d periods): (1) base dry cow diet with added fat-microencapsulated anionic salt (ANIC) at 0.30 kg/cow/d DM (providing −2,544 mEq/d at that dosage; formulated DCAD = −101.5 mEq/kg of expected DMI), or (2) base dry cow diet with fat placebo (PLCB) at 0.15 kg/cow per day DM (formulated DCAD = +64 mEq/kg of expected DMI).

The development and lactation of the mammary gland are critical for the survival and growth of offspring in mammals. In particular, mammary development during puberty plays a pivotal role in establishing the ductal system for lifelong lactation performance. To investigate the role of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) in regulating mammary gland development during puberty, 5-mo-old ewe lambs (n = 96) were randomly assigned to either control group (basal diet) or an NCG group (basal diet + 2 g/d NCG) for 59 d.

Bovine respiratory disease is a major multifactorial health issue in calves. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of galacto-oligosaccharide supplementation, microbiota transfer, and their interaction on lung health and performance of calves. A total of 180 male Holstein-Friesian calves at 18 ± 3.6 d of age received 1 of 4 treatments according to a 2 × 2 factorial design for 8.5 wk (period 1). Calves received galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) via the milk replacer or not (CON) and received a microbiota transfer (MT) or not (MOCK).