Search Results (421)

Under grazing conditions, it is difficult for lactating Yili mares to meet their nutritional requirements and those of their suckling foals solely through the consumption of natural pasture. Furthermore, seasonal variations and rainfall significantly influence the quality and nutrient content of forage, which severely constrains the healthy breeding of Yili horses and the industrial development of mare milk resources. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of concentrate supplementation on lactation performance and milk concentrations of amino acids, fatty acids, and mineral elements in Yili horses under grazing conditions. Twenty-two healthy Yili mares in early lactation, with similar ages (3–4 years), foaling dates, and body weights (391.5 ± 13.74 kg), were randomly assigned to either a grazing group (G, n = 11) or a grazing + supplementation group (GS, n = 11). Mares in group G grazed naturally on pasture, while those in group GS received 1 kg of concentrate supplement twice daily (totaling 2 kg/day) in addition to grazing. The experimental period lasted for 100 days, including a 10-day adaptation period and a 90-day formal experimental period. The results showed that: (1) In terms of lactation performance, the GS group exhibited highly significant increases in milk yield and lactose yield (p < 0.01), as well as significant increases in milk protein and milk fat yields (p < 0.05), with an extended duration of the peak lactation period. (2) Regarding the amino acid profile, the concentrations of threonine (Thr), serine (Ser), glycine (Gly), and alanine (Ala) in the milk of the GS group were significantly higher than those in the G group (p < 0.05), whereas the proline (Pro) content was significantly lower (p < 0.01); supplementation improved the uptake of certain functional amino acids by the mammary gland. (3) Concerning the fatty acid profile, the concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and alpha-linolenic acid in the milk of the G group were significantly or highly significantly higher than those in the GS group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). (4) For mineral elements, concentrate supplementation highly significantly decreased the potassium (K) content and the K/Na ratio in horse milk (p < 0.01), highly significantly increased the levels of iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) (p < 0.01), and significantly enhanced the chromium (Cr) content (p < 0.05). In conclusion, concentrate supplementation during grazing improved lactation performance in Yili mares, primarily by increasing milk yield and extending the peak lactation period. However, grazing alone was more favorable for maintaining higher PUFA and α-linolenic acid proportions in milk. Therefore, concentrate supplementation should be regarded as a nutritional strategy that increases milk output and modifies amino acid and mineral element composition, but may involve a trade-off with some beneficial fatty acids. Full article

Milk adulteration is a common form of food fraud, particularly in high-value dairy products from small ruminants. A frequent practice involves dilution with water, often combined with the addition of sugars to mask physicochemical changes and avoid detection during routine quality control. This study aimed to develop an analytical approach for detecting combined adulteration in goat and sheep milk involving both water dilution and sucrose addition. Controlled experiments were conducted by diluting milk samples with water (1–15%) followed by the addition of sucrose solutions. Changes in physicochemical parameters, including fat, protein, total solids, lactose, density, freezing point depression, mineral content, and pH, were evaluated using an automated milk analyzer. In parallel, a suspected adulterant powder was characterized using conventional chemical analysis, ICP-AES, and HPLC-RI, revealing a composition predominantly of sucrose (91.4% w/w) with elevated sodium levels. Sucrose in milk samples was subsequently quantified using an enzymatic spectrophotometric method. Water dilution reduced protein, total solids, and density, while sucrose addition partially restored these parameters, masking adulteration effects. However, sucrose was reliably detected at concentrations above 0.1%. The proposed workflow may provide a practical and cost-effective complementary tool for routine dairy authenticity surveillance and fraud prevention. Full article

Kefiran is a bioactive exopolysaccharide produced by kefir grains, whose synthesis is strongly influenced by culture medium composition. In this study, cheese whey was evaluated as an alternative fermentation substrate for kefiran production, and the effect of supplementation with fermentable sugars (glucose, galactose, and lactose) and casein was assessed under controlled conditions. Kefir grains were cultivated in whey- and milk-based media, and kefiran production was quantified using an anthrone-based method, while grain growth and carbohydrate consumption were monitored. Supplementation with sugars and casein reduced kefiran production by up to 34.6% and did not improve yield, whereas unsupplemented whey supported the highest kefiran concentration (86.9 ± 3.7 mg/L), comparable to that obtained in semi-skimmed milk (84.0 ± 3.0 mg/L). The recovered polysaccharide was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), showing structural and physicochemical properties comparable to kefiran obtained from semi-skimmed milk. These results indicate that whey constitutes a feasible and simple fermentation medium for kefiran production, and that increased medium complexity does not necessarily improve process performance. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of increasing levels of soybean oil on milk yield, milk composition, and milk fatty acid profile in dairy cows. The experiment was designed as a 4 × 4 double Latin square with 21-day periods and used eight Holstein cows (body weight of 550 ± 19.5 kg and 200 ± 5 days in milk). The treatments evaluated were a basal diet without soybean oil and a basal diet added with 10, 20, or 30 g/kg DM of soybean oil. None of the treatments evaluated affected (p > 0.05) milk yield, dry matter intake, dry matter digestibility, or the concentration of fat, non-fat solids, protein, and lactose in milk. Furthermore, increasing levels of soybean oil included in the diets did not affect (p > 0.05) the milk concentration of butyric, caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, pentadecanoic, palmitoleic, heptadecanoic, and linoleic fatty acids. However, dietary inclusion of soybean oil decreased (linear effect; p ≤ 0.05) the milk concentration of myristic, palmitic and oleic fatty acids. In contrast, higher concentrations (linear effect; p ≤ 0.05) of stearic fatty acids were observed in the milk of dairy cows fed soybean oil in their diet. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of increasing levels of soybean oil (30 g/kg DM) modifies the fatty acid profile of milk without affecting milk yield or the protein, fat, or lactose content. Full article

This study evaluated the fermentation kinetics and properties of kefir beverages produced from whole milk using milk kefir grains (MKGs) or water kefir grains (WKGs) over 48 h. MKGs showed higher initial microbial loads and promoted rapid acidification, with pH decreasing from 6.70 to 4.99 and significant production of lactic acid (10.58 g/L) and ethanol (5.17 g/L), compared with WKGs (final pH 6.20, <0.5 g/L lactic acid, and <0.3 g/L ethanol). However, the final concentration of acetic acid in WKG fermentation (1.93 g/L) was comparable to that in MKG fermentation (2.02 g/L). Microbial populations increased in both systems, exceeding 10⁶ CFU/mL—one of the requirements for conferring probiotic relevance to a beverage—with MKGs reaching higher counts. Lactose and protein consumption were greater in MKGs, suggesting more intense metabolic activity. Fermentation enhanced nutritional value by increasing vitamins B2, B3, B5, and pyridoxine, while vitamin D3 decreased. Mineral composition remained largely unchanged. Volatile analysis identified 31 compounds: MKGs favored fatty acids and lactones associated with creamy notes, whereas WKGs promoted ester formation and fruity aromas. Overall, both grain types produced microbiologically safe beverages with distinct biochemical and sensory profiles, demonstrating the feasibility of using WKGs for milk fermentation. Full article

Milk production in tropical smallholder systems is constrained by limited high-quality roughage during the hot–dry season. Sweet sorghum silage is drought-tolerant and may replace corn stover silage. Twelve Holstein–Friesian crossbred cows were assigned to the same commercial concentrate plus either corn stover silage or sweet sorghum silage as the primary roughage source (n = 6 per diet). Intake, apparent digestibility, milk yield and composition, and feed-use efficiency were evaluated on day 15 and 30 and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with cow as a random effect. Compared with corn stover silage, sweet sorghum silage increased dry matter intake (p < 0.05) and improved the digestibility of fibre fractions, including crude fibre, NDF and ADF (p ≤ 0.003), while crude protein- and nitrogen-free extract digestibility were not different (p > 0.05). Milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, and feed-use efficiency indices were unaffected by silage source (p > 0.05). Milk protein concentration was higher with sweet sorghum silage (treatment effect p < 0.05), whereas milk fat and lactose were unchanged. Sweet sorghum silage can therefore replace corn stover silage in tropical dairy diets, improving intake and fibre utilization without compromising milk output. Full article

Colostrum is the primary source of nutrients for newborn piglets, significantly influencing their growth, health and survival. This study examines the relationship between sow litter weight gain and the fatty acid composition of colostrum, including crude protein, lactose, calculated gross energy and total solids. The n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio was higher in low-performing sows (p < 0.05), suggesting that a lower ratio, associated with higher n-3 fatty acid content, may positively impact litter weight gain. Specific fatty acids such as myristic acid (C14:0), pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), margaric acid (C17:0), elaidic acid (C18:1n9t), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), α-linolenic acid (C18:3n3), behenic acid (C22:0), docosadienoic acid (C22:2) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3) were also found in lower concentrations in the colostrum of low-performing sows (p < 0.05). The study suggests that the content of n-3 fatty acids and perhaps the n-6:n-3 ratio of the colostrum and the content of some special fatty acids could serve as a selection criterion for improving litter performance in the future. Full article

This study was aimed at producing galactooligosaccharides (GOS) from Porungo cheese whey in immobilized enzyme bioreactors. The β-galactosidase was produced, concentrated, and immobilized on chitosan–genipin supports. Initially, GOS production was conducted in conical flasks, investigating three different variables: enzyme concentration (50–150 U/mL), Porungo cheese whey concentration (200–400 g/L), and temperature (37–43 °C). The highest GOS yields (15.24%) occurred under intermediate process conditions (100 U/mL, 300 g/L, 40 °C), reaching a GOS concentration of 27.04 g/L. These conditions were then used in a packed-bed column bioreactor operated in batch mode, achieving yields of 19.72%. Repeated batches were carried out, and the system was stable until the fifth cycle, with enzyme activity remaining at 83.56% of the initial level. Continuous bioreactors were conducted, varying feed flow rates (1–3 mL/h), with the highest yields and lactose conversion occurring for the longest residence time (24.63% and 68.38%), respectively, with high GOS concentration (44.14 g/L). Microorganisms isolated from Porungo cheese showed the ability to metabolize the GOS produced, demonstrating its prebiotic potential. This work can contribute to optimizing the production of GOS, an important product for pharmaceuticals and food industries. Full article

The objectives of this study were (i) to analyze the ClassyFarm welfare scores in loose housing system (LHS) and tied housing system (THS) Rendena herds, and (ii) to investigate the influence of the housing on individual milk yield and quality traits in Rendena cows. The dataset consisted of 3761 individual milk samples from 750 Rendena cows, collected between August 2022 and November 2023 from 17 single-breed herds of the Veneto region. Available data included days in milk (DIM), parity, and milk yield, as well as fat, protein, casein, and lactose contents, somatic cell count, differential somatic cell count, and urea concentration. For milk traits, a linear mixed model included housing system, DIM, and parity as fixed effects, while cow, herd-test-date, and residual variability were random effects. In both housing systems, a good level of welfare was observed, although shortcomings in biosecurity measures were identified in both LHS and THS. Milk quality (in terms of protein % and casein %) and yield were higher in LHS compared to THS. The observed differences cannot be explained by the housing system alone, as other management and nutritional factors may have played a role, highlighting the need for further studies to clarify these contributions. Full article

Water kefir is a non-dairy fermented water drink which includes lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria and yeasts which provide probiotic as well as antioxidant properties. Prunus armeniaca (apricot) is a promising raw material to develop a functional beverage because it is rich in carotenoids, vitamins, and phenolics. Coconut water is a natural hydrating substance and plant-based substrate. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize apricot-coconut water kefir beverage, (ACWB) a fermented beverage having 20 g (w/v) dried apricot, 8 g (w/v) brown sugar, and 8 g (w/v) water kefir grains fermented together in 100 mL coconut water and compare its physicochemical, microbial, and antioxidant properties with a control sample excluded with dried apricot but having same concentration of rest of the ingredients. After fermentation, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), water activity (aw), total bacterial count (TBC), DPPH radical-scavenging activity, and total phenolic contents (TPC) were measured. ACWB exhibited significantly higher values (p < 0.05) in terms of TSS (10.07 ± 0.01 °Brix), TA (0.298 ± 0.01%), and TBC (1.92 × 10⁷ CFU/mL), with lower pH (3.98 ± 0.07) and aw (0.94 ± 0.02) compared to the control. Enhanced antioxidant activity (DPPH = 62.7 ± 0.86%) and TPC (19.92 ± 0.32 mg CE/100 mL) confirmed its superior bioactive potential. Sensory evaluation of ACWB also found it to be more preferred, with statistically significant difference in majority of the tested attributes. The apricot supplement enhanced the fermentation activity, microbial growth, as well as the antioxidant capacity of the end product, creating a stable, tangy, and nutritionally enriched non-dairy functional beverage that could be consumed by healthy and lactose intolerant consumers. Full article

Photoperiod and seasonality influence reproduction and lactation in sheep, but their effects on milk hormones, milk composition, and lamb growth are not fully understood. This study assessed the effect of season on milk prolactin, leptin, and insulin concentrations, milk chemical composition, lactation performance, and lamb growth in Polish Mountain ewes. Forty ewes were divided into the following two groups: short-day (lambing in December, n = 20) and long-day (lambing in May, n = 20). Milk samples were collected on days 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 of lactation. Ewes in the long-day photoperiod had higher milk yield (p < 0.01) and higher prolactin and insulin concentrations (p < 0.01), whereas leptin concentrations did not differ seasonally. Milk from short-day ewes was characterized by higher dry matter and fat content (p < 0.01) and higher protein and lactose content (p < 0.05). Lambs from the long-day group achieved higher mean daily gain (p < 0.01). These results indicate that photoperiod influences lactation performance, milk composition, and offspring growth through seasonal hormonal and metabolic mechanisms, suggesting that appropriate lambing timing and day length manipulation can improve milk production efficiency and lamb growth in practical sheep production systems. Full article

This study investigated gluten- and lactose-free cookies enriched with pomegranate seed flour (PSF, 5 and 10% w/w), a sustainable by-product of juice processing. LC-ESI/HRMS/MS analysis of PSF identified 36 bioactive compounds, mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids, hydrolysable tannins, and polar lipids. PSF incorporation significantly affected colour and texture, increasing friability, as evidenced by a reduction in breaking force from 35.37 N in the control cookie to 21.72 N in cookies enriched with 10% PSF, while maintaining good sensory acceptability. Total phenol (≈1.60–1.82 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid contents were only slightly affected by PSF addition; however, antioxidant activity markedly increased, with FRAP values rising from 55.8 to 67.82 μM Fe (II)/g and DPPH IC₅₀ values decreasing from 31.38 to 12.72 μg/mL in the 10% PSF-enriched cookies. The enriched cookies inhibited pancreatic lipase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase in a clear concentration-dependent manner and showed a reduced predicted glycaemic index (pGI 46.80 vs. 50.08 in the control). Multivariate analysis confirmed a clear dose-dependent effect of PSF on functional, textural, and sensory properties. Overall, pomegranate seed flour proved to be an effective upcycled ingredient for enhancing the functional profile of gluten- and lactose-free bakery products. Further studies using digestion models and in vivo or clinical approaches are needed to clarify the nutritional relevance and health effects of PSF-enriched foods. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the linoleic–α-linolenic acid ratio (LA:ALA) on cyclicity, oocyte quality, early pregnancy parameters, milk yield, and composition. Holstein cows were randomized to a 6:1-LA:ALA diet (Low-OMG3: n = 3 pens; 11 primiparous, 14 multiparous) or a 2:1-LA:ALA diet (High-OMG3: n = 3 pens; 10 primiparous, 14 multiparous). Diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and fed between 15 and 140 days in milk (DIM). Data were compared using linear mixed models. As expected, omega-3 concentrations in milk and blood increased in the High- compared to Low-OMG3 cows. No effect of diet was observed on cyclicity by 45DIM or oocyte quality at 50DIM. High-OMG3 cows had larger corpus luteum size (11–32 d post-timed artificial insemination [TAI]) and greater blood flow (32–60 d post-TAI) than Low-OMG3 cows. However, there was no effect of diet on progesterone, pregnancy-associated glycoproteins, or conceptus size. High-OMG3 cows produced more milk throughout the study, had greater lactose, and tended to have greater protein yield at 50DIM. In conclusion, decreasing the LA:ALA dietary ratio in lactating dairy cows did not provide evidence of effects on cyclicity, oocyte quality, or other early pregnancy-related parameters, but affected corpus luteum size and blood flow, enhanced milk production, and partially increased protein and lactose yields. Full article

Grazing yaks often face protein deficiency due to low-quality pasture, which limits milk production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of varying protein levels in concentrate supplementation on lactational performance, immune function, and rumen microbial and metabolites in grazing lactating yaks. Thirty-six lactating Qinghai Plateau yaks (172.78 ± 11.70 kg) were assigned to four treatments for 70 d (10 d adaptation + 60 d trial): grazing only (CON) or grazing plus 1.50 kg/d concentrate containing 15.09% (CP15), 17.00% (CP17), or 18.98% CP (CP19). Concentrate supplementation significantly increased average daily gain (ADG; 0.22 vs. 0.72–0.90 kg/d; p < 0.001) and milk yield (622.18 vs. 1094.25–1385.73 g/d; p < 0.001), and milk yield showed a linear increase with higher dietary protein levels (p < 0.001). Milk protein yield (29.99 vs. 56.00–68.60 g/d; p < 0.001) and milk lactose yield (40.71 vs. 79.85–93.53 g/d; p < 0.001) were also increased. Milk composition, including fat, protein, and lactose, also improved across supplementation groups, with the greatest enhancement observed at the CP17 group (p < 0.05). Rumen pH and volatile fatty acids did not differ between treatments, while microbial protein increased with supplementation (10.88 vs. 12.72–15.00 mg/dL; p = 0.041) and showed a linear response to dietary CP level (p = 0.033). Concentrate supplementation significantly altered the rumen microbial structure (ANOSIM, p = 0.036), enriching Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-002, Fibrobacter, Ruminobacter, and Succinimonas and reducing Saccharofermentans in CP17 yaks (p < 0.05). Untargeted metabolomics further indicated a marked shift in the ruminal metabolite profile. Compared with CON, CP17 yaks exhibited higher levels of calcium propionate, 2-nitrofuran, curvulalide, and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, but lower levels of 4-pyridoxic acid, L-carnitine, bitocholic acid, and taurodehydrocholic acid. Pathway enrichment analysis identified vitamin B6 metabolism as significantly enriched. Collectively, these findings suggest that moderate protein concentrate supplementation (CP17) may enhance lactation performance by modulating rumen microbiota and metabolism in lactating yaks. Full article

The dairy industry requires effective non-thermal processing strategies capable of ensuring microbial safety while preserving the nutritional and bioactive quality of milk. This study describes a novel milk decontamination approach based on selective ionic removal by dialysis, resulting in a controlled reduction in ionic strength. Milk deionization significantly reduced the microbial load in raw bovine milk to levels comparable to those achieved by conventional thermal pasteurization, while largely preserving its physicochemical composition. Ionic depletion enhanced the antimicrobial effectiveness of endogenous milk components; this effect was abolished when native salt concentrations were maintained, highlighting the key role of ionic modulation in microbial control. Major milk constituents, including proteins, fat, and solids-not-fat, were not substantially affected by deionization, whereas low-molecular-weight solutes such as lactose and urea were partially removed. Deionized milk also exhibited improved stability during refrigerated storage, as evidenced by delayed acidification compared with raw and pasteurized milk. Overall, these results demonstrate that milk deionization represents a feasible proof-of-concept non-thermal alternative to pasteurization based on ionic modulation, with potential applications in dairy processing and human milk preservation, where maintenance of bioactive components is particularly desirable. Full article