Search Results (5,701)

Heat stress severely impairs immune function and threatens dairy cow health and productivity. Although heat stress suppresses bovine neutrophil (PMN) phagocytosis, its effects governing PMN survival remain unclear. L-arginine (L-Arg) exerts immunomodulatory and cytoprotective effects, yet its role in repairing heat-damaged PMN has not been defined. In this study, an in vitro heat stress model (42 °C for 2.5 h) was established. Heat stress significantly reduced cell viability, induced abnormal nuclear morphology, and triggered apoptotic signaling, accompanied by severe oxidative stress (elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS)/Malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased SOD/glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)). The ROS scavenger N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) mitigated both oxidative stress and apoptosis, confirming oxidative stress as a core mediator of PMN apoptosis induced by heat stress. Pretreatment with 4 mmol/L L-Arg significantly alleviated heat-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis. Mechanistically, in bovine PMN, we first demonstrated that heat stress blocks nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2) nuclear translocation; inhibition of NFE2L2 (ML385) abolished L-Arg’s protection, verifying the NFE2L2-dependent ROS scavenging pathway. In conclusion, this study reveals that heat stress induces bovine PMN oxidative injury and apoptosis by suppressing NFE2L2-mediated ROS scavenging, and L-Arg restores PMN viability and immune resilience by reactivating the NFE2L2 antioxidant pathway. These findings provide a targeted L-Arg supplement strategy to improve PMN survival and disease resistance in heat-stressed dairy cows. Full article

This review examines the relationship between climate-driven heat stress (HS) and bovine mastitis in the Po Valley, a key European dairy region characterized by intensive production systems and increasing climatic vulnerability. It aims to contextualize how rising temperature–humidity index (THI) levels influence animal health and productivity. This study synthesizes the current literature on biometeorological conditions, epidemiological trends, and physiological mechanisms linking HS to mastitis. Evidence indicates that prolonged exposure to elevated THI impairs thermoregulation, disrupts endocrine and metabolic balance, and weakens immune function, thereby increasing susceptibility to intramammary infections. Epidemiological data reveal a clear seasonal pattern, with mastitis incidence peaking during summer months and a growing predominance of environmental pathogens. Additionally, HS negatively affects milk yield and quality, amplifying economic losses in dairy systems. The findings highlight that mastitis in this context is not merely an infectious disease but a multifactorial condition shaped by environmental, physiological, and management factors. Overall, this review underscores the need for integrated mitigation strategies, including improved housing, nutrition, genetic selection, and precision monitoring, to enhance resilience. In the face of ongoing climate change, adapting dairy production systems will be essential to safeguard animal welfare, maintain productivity, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Po Valley dairy sector. Full article

Insect farming has rapidly expanded in Europe following regulatory approval of insect-derived proteins in aquaculture feed and increasing interest in the valorization of insect by-products. Insect frass, consisting of excreta and exuviae, is a nutrient-rich material with beneficial microorganisms and potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers, although its composition varies with insect species and feedstock. EU legislation requires thermal sanitization prior to market release, yet the effects of the thermal treatment on frass nutrient composition and biofertilizer performance remain poorly understood. Insect frass from black soldier flies (BSFFs) fed on a diet based on dairy industry byproducts was sanitized and mixed with sandy soil and used in two lettuce pot trials under greenhouse conditions. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of thermal sanitization on (1) macro- and micronutrient contents and dynamics (plant N and P uptake); and (2) biofertilizer potential, including plant physiology (chlorophyll, anthocyanins, flavonols, Fv/Fm), plant growth (biomass), and soil microbial activity (dehydrogenase and β-glucosaminidase). BSFF showed a clear potential to induce growth of lettuce plants by increasing chlorophyll content, biomass and microbial activity. Furthermore, the sanitization process did not significantly alter the measured agronomic performance of frass under the tested conditions or reduce its benefits on biomass growth, chlorophyll content, microbial enzyme activity and on nutrient uptake by the lettuce plants. These findings suggest that the mandatory sanitization does not compromise its agronomic functionality, supporting its strong potential within circular agricultural systems under the tested conditions. However, the results are valid under greenhouse conditions and for the specific frass, soil and crop combinations; field validation is needed to confirm these results under large-scale high-value crop production conditions. Full article

Attempting to detect and improve the management of Ketosis, the objective of this study was to determine and confirm the relationship between hours of activity, rumination time, conductivity, and milk production with the presence of ketosis in cows during the transition period in dairy cows in the Comarca Lagunera region, the heart of the dairy cattle production in Mexico. Data were collected in a large scale dairy cattle study. High-precision electronic collar sensors, high-precision electronic scales, and online electronic weighing sensors were employed to determine activity and ruminating time, milk electrical conductivity, and milk yield, respectively. All data were collected and integrated using an electronic peripheral management and control software. Using urinary ketone bodies measured by qualitative strips as the biomarker for ketosis, 10.50% of the cows were found to be positive for ketosis, while the remaining 89.50% were negative. The mean and standard error for activity time (AT), ruminating time (RT), milk electrical conductivity (CE) and milk yield (MY) in normal (N) vs ketotic (P) cows were: AT N 61.38, ± 0.39, AT P 39.08 ± 0.49; RT N 530.85 ± 2.94, RT P 295.24 ± 10.69; CE N 5.68 ± 0.03, CE P 9.13 ± 0.11; and MY N 38.87 ± 0.29, MY P 20.34 ± 0.54. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted for the purpose of uncovering the underlying structure of the data by identifying latent constructs that influence the observed variables. The EFA estimated two factors which explained 62% of the variation observed. The Factor 1 (MR1) comprising the variables MY and EC, and Factor 2 (MR2), which consists the variables AT and RT. High-precision measurement sensors along multivariable analyses could facilitate the establishment of a correlation between ketosis and variables associated with the physiology, well-being, and productivity of bovines in the transition period. It further open the possibility of early detection of metabolic diseases such as ketosis. Full article

Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast products are used to stabilize dairy cattle rumen environments. In this study, multiparous lactating Holstein–Jersey cross cows in late lactation (n = 12; ±150 DIM) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design over four 21 d periods to evaluate yeast supplementation on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, milk components, rumen pH, and redox potential (E_h). A subset of four ruminally cannulated cows were selected for rumen measurements. Treatments included no additive (CON), 14 g yeast culture additive (YCA), 5 g active dry yeast (ADY), and 5 g ADY + 5 g yeast extract additive (YEA) top-dressed once daily. Data were analyzed using GLIMMIX in SAS 9.4, with significance at p ≤ 0.05 and tendencies at p ≤ 0.15. Dry matter intake did not differ among treatments (p > 0.15) but decreased over time (p < 0.05). Milk production, efficiency, lactose, and total solids were not affected (p > 0.15). YCA tended to increase milk fat and fatty acid fractions compared with CON (p < 0.15). Protein in milk was greater in CON (p < 0.05; p < 0.05) than YCA and YEA. Active dry yeast treatments increased the frequency of a buffered rumen (p < 0.05) and promoted a more reducing ruminal environment, characterized by lower redox potential and conditions favorable for anaerobic fermentation (p < 0.05). Overall, supplementing active dry yeasts to dairy cows in late lactation did not affect DMI, production efficiency, or milk quality, but may maintain rumen pH stability. Full article

The rapid expansion of high-protein dairy-based powders (HPDPs), including milk protein concentrates and isolates (MPC/MPI), whey protein concentrates and isolates (WPC/WPI), and micellar casein concentrates and isolates (MCC/MCI), has intensified the need to understand instability phenomena that emerge during processing and storage. These products are governed by protein-rich amorphous matrices, in which molecular mobility, interfacial composition, and mineral interactions dictate both physical stability and functional performance. Importantly, these physical instabilities are directly coupled with functional deterioration, particularly in terms of impaired wetting, dispersion, and dissolution during rehydration. This review presents an integrated mechanistic framework linking these instability phenomena across processing, storage, and reconstitution, thereby consolidating concepts that remain fragmented across the current literature on high-protein dairy matrices. Key controlling factors include glass transition temperature (Tg), water activity-induced plasticization, protein–protein and protein–mineral interactions, and surface compositional heterogeneity established during spray drying. These factors govern the progression from surface stickiness through uncontrolled agglomeration to caking, forming a consolidation continuum. In contrast to lactose-driven matrices, caking and agglomeration in HPDPs arise primarily from protein-mediated restructuring and inter-particle bonding, with lactose crystallization acting only as a secondary mechanism in mixed-composition grades. The review further distinguishes engineered agglomeration from storage-induced consolidation and evaluates advances in molecular mobility characterization and Tg-based stability mapping. Significant gaps remain in linking localized surface evolution, mineral redistribution, and inter-particle bridge chemistry under realistic environmental conditions. The review concludes by proposing a mobility-centered “stability-by-design” framework that integrates composition, processing, particle architecture, and storage conditions to guide the development of future HPDPs with improved physical stability and functional recovery. Full article

Mastitis remains the most economically damaging disease of dairy production, and recent molecular work has converged on the NLRP3 inflammasome as a key integrative node of its pathogenesis. This narrative review integrates evidence published largely between 2015 and 2026 to show how diverse triggers—Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), heat stress, environmental xenobiotics including nanoplastics, and microbiota-derived signals—may funnel into a common NLRP3–ASC–caspase-1–GSDMD axis that drives pyroptosis, blood–milk barrier disruption, and clinical disease. The review examines the potential obligatory role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and selenoprotein-mediated redox control in licensing inflammasome assembly. It further evaluates the emerging gut–mammary and rumen–mammary axes that operate upstream of local epithelial activation. We survey a structurally diverse therapeutic landscape encompassing dietary selenium, probiotics, microbial metabolites, plant-derived nanovesicles, polyphenols, ginsenosides, and small-molecule NLRP3 antagonists, identifying recurring mechanistic motifs that suggest combinatorial regimens may yield additive benefit. Importantly, much of the evidence derives from in vitro and murine models, and we highlight the translational gaps that must be bridged before clinical application in dairy cattle. Finally, we map outstanding research gaps and propose priorities for translational work aimed at sustainable, antibiotic-sparing management of bovine mastitis. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of replacing alfalfa hay with sulla [Sulla coronaria (L.) B.H. Choi & H. Ohashi] hay or sulla haylage in pasture-based diets for lactating Sarda ewes on milk production, milk composition, and nutrient utilization efficiency. Seventy-two mid-lactation ewes were assigned to three dietary treatments for 56 days—alfalfa hay (AH), sulla hay (SH), or sulla haylage (SHL)—all combined with 3 h/day grazing and a fixed amount of supplemental concentrate. The diets were formulated to be theoretically isoenergetic and isoproteic. Pasture nutritive value was generally comparable among the groups throughout the experimental period. Milk yield did not differ among treatments; however, fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) and milk fat and protein concentrations were higher in AH compared with the sulla-based diets. Actual nutrient intake differed among treatments, with nitrogen intake (NI) being greatest in AH, consistent with the higher milk urea concentration observed in this group. Estimated apparent energy utilization efficiency (FPCM/UFL intake) showed treatment-associated differences in exploratory analyses, with lower values observed in SH compared with AH and SHL. Similarly, exploratory estimates of apparent nitrogen utilization efficiency (Milk N/NI) were highest in SHL, intermediate in SH, and lowest in AH (p < 0.001). Condensed tannins were not detected in the conserved sulla forages under the analytical conditions adopted in this study. Therefore, the observed responses were unlikely to be directly associated with detectable condensed tannin activity. Overall, the results suggest that forage conservation method may influence milk composition and estimated apparent nutrient utilization indices, with sulla haylage showing higher exploratory estimates of apparent nitrogen utilization efficiency without negative effects on milk yield under the conditions of the present study. Full article

Farmers’ investment decisions can shape their capacity to implement practices consistent with sustainable development objectives. The article identifies the declarative structure of investment decisions on Polish dairy farms based on a survey and diverse theoretical frameworks (resource-based view, institutional approach, real options theory, behavioural theory, and the theory of planned behaviour). The purpose is to identify the determinants of the extent and structure of declared agricultural investments. The authors determined the relationships between declared investments and groups of variables and identified investment axes and interdependencies. Investment decision predictions are founded on logistic regression, an SEM model for relationship structuring, and residual correlation analysis for mapping relationships and evaluating the correlation demasking effect, according to which raw correlations between investment axes may hide underlying residual associations between them. We found that declared farmland investments were associated with milk production volume and appeared to be linked to long-term farm development objectives. The respondents became less keen on investing in livestock production as they aged, whereas older farmers showed a greater propensity to undertake energy-related investments. These results suggest that farmers’ declared investment intentions may be consistent with conditions conducive to achieving sustainable development objectives through their potential association with farm viability, resource-use efficiency, and rural economic development. Our findings may have potential policy relevance by informing the design of public measures aimed at strengthening farms’ adaptive capacity in the context of sustainability transitions. Full article

This study evaluated the immunomodulatory activity of live Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Yb in vitro and compared response patterns associated with practical L. paracasei Yb formulation formats in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation mouse model. In vitro, live L. paracasei Yb increased TNF-α production in RAW 264.7 macrophages at 2 × 10⁶ to 5 × 10⁷ CFU/mL, increased IL-1β only at 5 × 10⁷ CFU/mL, and increased IL-10 at 1 × 10⁷ and 5 × 10⁷ CFU/mL. In splenocytes, L. paracasei Yb increased TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 compared with untreated controls, although these responses did not show a simple concentration-dependent pattern. In vivo, BALB/c mice received fresh L. paracasei Yb yogurt (YG), freeze-dried yogurt (YG-FD), or bacterial powder (BP) for 53 days. Compared with the OVA-sensitized Negative control group, YG and BP did not significantly reduce serum total IgE or OVA-specific IgE, and airway responsiveness and BALF eosinophils showed limited or non-significant changes. In contrast, YG and BP significantly reduced lung inflammation scores (Negative control, 6.86 ± 1.57; YG, 5.13 ± 0.83; BP, 4.50 ± 0.55) and ConA-stimulated splenocyte IL-4 secretion (Negative control, 1168.43 ± 553.34 pg/mL; YG, 589.84 ± 233.54 pg/mL; BP, 472.28 ± 186.44 pg/mL). These findings suggest that practical formulation conditions may shape selected preclinical immunological and histopathological responses to L. paracasei Yb. Further studies incorporating CFU-matched dosing, probiotic-free yogurt controls, and mechanistic validation are required before clinical relevance in asthma can be inferred. Full article

The intensification and continuous evolution of dairy sheep and goat farming have played an essential role in the development and implementation of milking equipment. The increasing demand for time-efficient milking procedures, reduced labour costs, sustained milk production, and optimal mammary health have driven the widespread adoption and optimisation of machine milking technologies. The objectives of this article are (i) the review of milking systems and relevant technological developments in milking equipment and (ii) the evaluation and description of their impact on udder health, as applied on dairy small ruminant farms. Milking systems used on farms depend on the available space and number of animals on the farms. Appropriate settings in milking systems are important for ensuring good milk quality; among them, vacuum level, pulsation rate and ratio are important characteristics that must be monitored regularly. Further, use of appropriate teatcups specific to the animal species to be milked is significant. An important aspect of proper maintenance of the milking system is the cleaning procedure after completion of milking. Points for consideration are quality and temperature of the water used for cleaning, use of detergents and disinfectants, and maintenance schedule and teatcup replacement. Some technological features that are part of milking systems include automatic vacuum shut off, electronic milk recording, electronic identification of animals, automatic flushing of milking clusters and automatic pre-stimulators. Farms will benefit from applying precision technologies, which will use data from tools related to animal genetic background, animal behavioural indicators, environmental conditions and disease-related functions for more holistic and cost-effective farm management. In this context, integration of sensor-based technologies in milking systems will be able to provide real-time information regarding quality of milk produced at individual and farm levels. Moreover, the introduction of automatic system flushing in-between animals during the milking procedure can contribute to breaking chains of potential bacterial transfer and reducing animal infections during milking. Overall, although machine milking has certainly contributed to improved efficiency, milk quality and labour conditions, flaws in system function may adversely affect mammary health. Full article

A chickpea-based milk beverage containing both plant and animal proteins represents an excellent substrate for the production of biologically active peptides through fermentation. Fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) increases its nutritional value compared to the unfermented beverage while improving the digestibility and bioavailability of essential nutrients via proteolytic enzyme activity. This study investigated the production of bioactive peptides in fermented chickpea water extract using ten bacterial strains isolated from plant and animal sources. The proteolytic activity of each strain was quantified using the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) method, and the presence of proteolytic genes was confirmed via agarose gel electrophoresis. Peptides released during fermentation were identified through two-dimensional electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and tandem mass spectrometry. To predict the potential biological activities of the studied peptide sequences, a series of in silico analyses were performed using specialized bioinformatics tools. The identified peptides were predicted to exhibit antioxidant, antihypertensive, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antituberculosis, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities. Based on the results, L. fermentum SB-2 and L. sakei SD-8, were selected as promising candidates for bioactive peptide production in a chickpea water extract-based milk beverage and were subsequently applied in the beverage prototype. Full article

Automatic milking systems (AMSs) are increasingly adopted in dairy farms, and barn design, particularly regarding cow traffic design (CowTD), plays a key role in system performance. This study evaluated the association between different CowTDs and operational and production indicators of AMS Brazilian dairy farms. The data were obtained from 149 commercial dairy farms equipped with AMS (average of 1.6 AMS per farm) encompassing approximately 14,642 lactating cows recorded between June and December 2025. Cow traffic designs were classified as free or smart-gated systems, including milk-first (MF) and feed-first (FF) configurations. Mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of regions, housing system, and CowTD on the number of lactating cows per AMS (NCowsAMS), milking frequency (MFreq), milk yield per milking (MYMilking), daily milk yield per cow (MYcow), daily milkings per AMS (MilkingsAMS), and daily milk yield per AMS (MYAMS). On average, farms milked 58 cows per AMS with a mean MFreq of 2.69 milkings/cow per day and produced 2227 kg of milk per AMS per day. Smart-gated CowTD supported a greater number of cows per AMS than free CowTD systems (FF = 57 and MF = 58 vs. Free = 53 cows/AMS). Although free CowTD increased MFreq to approximately three milkings/cow/day, this advantage did not translate into greater or equivalent MYAMS, despite MF and free CowTD exhibiting similar MYcow (37.0 and 37.2 kg/day, respectively). Even though free CowTD achieved the highest MilkingsAMS (Free = 156 vs. MF = 151 and FF = 143 milkings/day), it milked fewer cows per robot, resulting in lower MYAMS. Consequently, FF and MF systems produced 86 and 180 kg/day more MYAMS, respectively, than free CowTD. These results suggest that AMS performance is primarily driven by the NCowsAMS rather than MFreq alone. Under Brazilian commercial conditions, smart-gated CowTD systems appear to be more efficient, as evidenced by higher MYAMS, while allowing higher stocking densities, potentially without increasing labor requirements. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of free and protected acid protease on productive performance, milk composition, metabolic profile, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal environment in lactating Jersey cows. Fifteen multiparous cows (67 ± 7.5 days in milk; 27.5 ± 3.5 kg/day) were assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square (5 squares) design with 21-day periods. Treatments consisted of: control (no enzyme), free protease (4.4 g/day), and protected protease (4.4 g/day). The protected form was developed using alginate-based encapsulation to enhance enzyme stability under ruminal conditions. Protease inclusion did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield, or feed efficiency (p > 0.05). However, free protease increased lactation persistency (p = 0.05) and improved fat-corrected and energy-corrected milk yields (p ≤ 0.02), with intermediate responses observed for protected protease. Milk fat and protein contents were higher in enzyme-fed cows (p ≤ 0.05), while other compositional parameters remained unchanged. Apparent crude protein digestibility was greater in cows receiving free protease (p = 0.037), with no effects on dry matter or fiber digestibility. Protease intake increased total volatile fatty acid concentrations and major fermentation products (acetate, propionate, and butyrate; p ≤ 0.01), indicating enhanced ruminal fermentation. Blood metabolites showed increased total protein and globulin levels in cows fed free protease (p ≤ 0.05), suggesting improved protein metabolism. Microbiota analysis revealed no differences in alpha or beta diversity; however, specific microbial taxa and predicted metabolic pathways were modulated by treatments, particularly in post-ruminal compartments. In conclusion, exogenous protease, especially in free form, improved protein utilization and corrected milk production without disrupting microbial stability. These findings highlight the potential of protease as a nutritional strategy to enhance efficiency in dairy systems through targeted modulation of ruminal function and nutrient metabolism. Full article

In many industrial dairy products, yeasts are generally regarded as contaminants. However, in traditional fermented milks, they may contribute to distinctive sensory, technological, and functional properties through associations with bacterial partners, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Despite this, a structured synthesis of yeast–bacterium associations across fermented milk typologies is currently lacking. To address this gap, a PRISMA-informed literature search identified 42 studies across 24 traditional fermented milks reporting paired bacterial and fungal communities. A genus-level co-occurrence analysis was used to identify which yeast–bacterium pairs were most frequently co-detected across independently documented products. The main co-occurrence patterns selected for detailed bibliographical discussion were Kluyveromyces with Acetobacter and LAB, including Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lentilactobacillus and Lacticaseibacillus; Pichia with LAB; Saccharomyces with LAB, especially Lactobacillus; Kazachstania with Acetobacter; Candida with Leuconostoc and Enterococcus; and Geotrichum with Pseudomonas and Enterococcus. For the selected associations, possible interaction mechanisms and implications for sensory identity, technological potential, and microbiological safety were discussed by integrating evidence from milk co-cultures, controlled model systems, and related fermented foods. Overall, this review provides a structured synthesis of yeast–bacterium associations in traditional fermented milks and identifies candidate consortia for future experimental validation. Full article