Search Results (459)

Artisanal raw-milk cheese represents a complex biochemical ecosystem where the indigenous microbiota acts as the primary driver of the volatile profile. This study utilizes an innovative synchronized biological relay model to decipher the mechanistic interplay between the successional dynamics of indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and the temporal evolution of the volatile metabolome over a 10-week maturation period of an artisanal cow-milk cheese. Utilizing a culture-dependent approach focused on the quantitative enumeration of broad morpho-physiological groups—without species-level identification—integrated with HS-SPME/GC-MS, we characterized the precise shifts from early-stage lactic cocci to dominant rod-shaped lactobacilli. Initial populations at Week 0 consisted of 8.2 log CFU/g of cocci and 4.1 log CFU/g of rod-shaped LAB. Lactic cocci peaked at Week 2 (8.5 log CFU/g) before undergoing mass autolysis down to 7.1 log CFU/g by Week 4, releasing intracellular enzymes that catalyzed a 900% surge in total esters and a 215% increase in volatile alcohols. Concurrently, rod-shaped LAB proliferated to a maximum of 8.6 log CFU/g at Week 6, directly correlating with a 125% increase in total carboxylic acids, prominently driven by a 750% accumulation of hexanoic acid. The late-phase maturation (Weeks 8–10) established a technological equilibrium: volatile sulfur compounds collapsed by over 90% within the first two weeks, initial transient lactones were replaced by a 1200% late-stage increase in dodecalactone, and matrix-sequestered dietary terpenes were liberated via an 8-fold (700%) increase at Week 8. This study introduces an innovative, statistically validated volatilomic framework that equips the dairy sector with an advanced metabolomic tool for rigorous product authentication and targeted flavor optimization, thereby establishing a scientific baseline for the reproducible production of premium, organoleptically superior artisanal cheeses. Full article

Background: Oral food challenge (OFC) remains the gold standard for diagnosing food allergy; however, it is time-consuming and associated with the risk of allergic reactions. The identification of reliable biomarkers capable of predicting OFC outcomes could improve patient selection and reduce the number of OFCs required in clinical practice. Among the most widely used biomarkers are skin prick tests (SPTs) and serum-specific IgE (sIgE) measurements, including component-resolved diagnostics. However, their diagnostic utility, as well as the comparability of different diagnostic platforms, remains incompletely defined in cow’s milk (CM) and hen’s egg (HE) allergy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed results of diagnostic tests obtained in children undergoing OFCs to baked milk, raw milk, baked egg, and boiled egg. Diagnostic performance of SPTs to either allergen extracts or native food allergens, as well as sIgE measured using ImmunoCAP and ALEX2 platforms, was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and logistic regression models. Results: Diagnostic performance varied across allergy phenotypes. SPTs to native food allergens demonstrated good discriminative capacity for raw milk and boiled egg allergy, whereas SPTs to standardized extracts showed limited diagnostic utility overall. In baked milk allergy, casein-sIgE measured by ImmunoCAP demonstrated the best diagnostic performance. In raw milk allergy, α-lactalbumin-sIgE measured using ALEX2 platform and β-lactoglobulin-sIgE measured by ImmunoCAP showed greater diagnostic relevance than casein-sIgE. In boiled egg allergy, SPT to raw egg yolk demonstrated the highest diagnostic value. In baked egg allergy, ovalbumin-sIgE measured using the ALEX2 platform showed the best performance, while ovomucoid-sIgE did not demonstrate clear superiority. ALEX2 showed good concordance with ImmunoCAP despite systematic differences in absolute sIgE values. Combined multivariable models provided only modest improvements over single predictors and did not achieve sufficient accuracy to replace OFCs. Conclusions: SPTs to either allergen extracts or native food allergens, as well as sIgE measurements, demonstrate moderate and heterogeneous utility in predicting OFC outcomes for CM and HE allergy. Although ALEX2 and ImmunoCAP showed comparable overall performance, platform-specific interpretation may be required. OFC remains indispensable for definitive diagnosis. Full article

This study investigated the effects of starter feed supplementation on growth performance, immune-related parameters, intestinal microbiota, and metabolite profiles in preweaning yak calves. Twenty healthy 30-day-old male yak calves with similar body weight were randomly assigned to either a control group (A), receiving milk replacer and alfalfa hay, or a starter-supplemented group (AS), receiving milk replacer, alfalfa hay, and a concentrate-based starter feed. Growth traits, nutrient digestibility, serum immune indices, intestinal microbial communities, and metabolomic characteristics were evaluated. Compared with the A group, calves in the AS group exhibited greater total dry matter intake, final body weight, heart girth, cannon circumference, and apparent digestibility of calcium and phosphorus (p < 0.05). Average daily gain tended to increase but did not differ significantly between treatments (p > 0.05). Starter supplementation also increased serum concentrations of IgA, IL-6, TNF-α, M-CSF, and IFN-γ (p < 0.05). In contrast, jejunal TNF-α concentration was lower in the AS group than in the A group (p < 0.05). Microbial analysis demonstrated that starter supplementation modified intestinal bacterial community composition. In the jejunum, the relative abundances of Family_XIII_AD3011_group and Acetitomaculum were increased, whereas Bacteroidota and Bacteroides were enriched in the colon. Untargeted metabolomic analysis further revealed distinct metabolic profiles between groups, with differential metabolites mainly associated with amino acid metabolism, vitamin metabolism, and energy-related pathways. Overall, starter feed supplementation was associated with changes in nutrient utilization, immune-related indicators, intestinal microbial composition, and metabolic characteristics. These findings suggest that starter supplementation may facilitate dietary adaptation and support gastrointestinal function in preweaning yak calves. Full article

This study evaluates the feasibility of using coffee silverskin flour (CSF) as a milk cream replacer in full-fat ice cream to enhance its nutritional and functional profile. Two formulations were developed by replacing milk cream with CSF at levels of 15.78% (SSIC25) and 31.56% (SSIC50). Results showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in fat content, decreasing from 10.14 g/100 g in the control sample to 5.91 g/100 g in SSIC50. Concurrently, total dietary fiber increased significantly from 3.22 to 7.34 g/100 g. The incorporation of CSF also enriched the mineral profile, with calcium and potassium levels increasing by 27.77% and 38.56% in SSIC50, respectively. Bioactive compounds were notably enhanced; caffeine content reached 335.25 mg/100 g, and caffeic acid derivatives reached 69.51 mg/100 g in the highest substitution level. Physicochemical analysis revealed that overrun increased significantly from 29.2% to 52.17%, while the melting rate remained unaffected. Sensory evaluation indicated that although CSF increased bitterness and grittiness, the SSIC25 formulation maintained favorable consumer acceptance scores (>6.0). In conclusion, coffee silverskin flour serves as a sustainable, health-promoting ingredient for frozen desserts, with a 15.78% replacement level identified as the optimal threshold for balancing nutritional improvement and sensory acceptance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Direct-fed microbials (DFMs) are widely used in dairy calves to improve gut health and mitigate neonatal disorders, yet their systemic metabolic effects remain poorly defined. This study evaluated the impact of DFM supplementation on the plasma metabolome of pre-weaned dairy calves using untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Methods: Eighty-six Holstein bull calves (2 to 5 days old) were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial randomized complete block design: Lactobacillus plantarum in starter (CLP), a culture mix of Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus animalis in milk replacer (BBCM), and a combination of both (CMLP), or no supplementation (CON). Blood samples collected on days 0 and 56 were subjected to metabolomic profiling, and metabolites were annotated using Human Metabolome Database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases. Results: A total of 231 plasma metabolites were detected. Compared with CON, 24 metabolites were differentially abundant in DFM-treated calves (fold change ≥ 1.2 or ≤ 0.83; p ≤ 0.05). Supplemented calves exhibited increased abundances of ketone functional groups, aldehydes and amino acid-related metabolites. Metabolite set enrichment analysis identified 11 significantly enriched pathways. Branched-chain amino acid degradation pathways (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) were enriched in CLP and CMLP calves, whereas carbohydrate metabolism pathways, including pentose and glucuronate interconversions, were enriched in the CLP and BBCM groups. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that DFM supplementation modulates systemic metabolism in dairy calves, particularly pathways involved in amino acid and carbohydrate utilization, suggesting enhanced metabolic efficiency during early life. 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

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

The escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has intensified efforts to identify safe, effective, and sustainable alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in livestock production. The bovine gastrointestinal microbiome plays a central role in host immunity, nutrient utilization, and disease resilience, positioning microbiome-modulating interventions as promising candidates for antimicrobial stewardship. Despite growing experimental interest, a systematic synthesis of the available evidence in cattle is lacking. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of microbiome-modulating interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, phytogenic feed additives, essential oils, organic acids, and native rumen microbial supplements, as strategies to reduce antimicrobial use in cattle, and to characterize their effects on gut microbial diversity, fermentation characteristics, and host health and performance outcomes. A systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost (including Academic Search Ultimate, MEDLINE with full text, and CAB Abstracts with Full text) was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies were eligible if they used cattle (dairy cattle, beef cattle, calves, or mixed production systems), employed a microbiome-modulating intervention, and reported at least one microbiological or host outcome. Seventeen peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 were included after full-text screening. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted SYRCLE tool, which identified moderate overall study quality; the majority of included studies were randomized controlled trials or controlled experiments, though reporting of allocation concealment and blinding was inconsistent across studies. Across the 17 included studies, five broad categories of interventions were evaluated: probiotics (n = 5 studies), prebiotics (n = 2), postbiotics and organic acids (n = 4), phytogenic additives and essential oils (n = 4), and native rumen microbial supplements (n = 2). Animals spanned neonatal dairy calves, weaned Holstein calves, dairy heifers, lactating dairy cows, and Bos indicus feedlot beef cattle. Probiotics and organic acids most consistently improved growth performance: benzoic acid supplementation increased average daily gain by 8.4% (p < 0.05) and fructo-oligosaccharide prebiotics elevated body weight at weaning by 6.7% (p < 0.01). Native rumen microbial supplements improved energy-corrected milk yield by up to 3.1% without increasing dry matter intake. Polyphenols and bile acids demonstrated the strongest immunological and disease-preventive effects, reducing calf mortality by approximately 40% and disease severity by approximately 35%, respectively. Microbiome analyses revealed intervention-dependent increases in microbial diversity and shifts toward taxa associated with improved fermentation efficiency, including enrichment of propionate-producing Prevotellaceae, butyrate-associated Ruminococcus, and hindgut Bifidobacterium. Rumen fermentation outcomes included reductions in the acetate:propionate ratio and ammonia-N concentrations and improvements in fiber digestibility of 3.6–4.4 percentage units in dairy cows. Phytogenic additives preserved microbial diversity without inducing broad-spectrum suppression, functioning primarily as microbiome stabilizers rather than direct antimicrobial replacements. This systematic review provides evidence that gut microbiome modulation may enhance growth performance, improve fermentation efficiency, and reduce disease susceptibility in cattle, thereby supporting antimicrobial use reduction across dairy, beef, and mixed production systems. Effect magnitudes varied substantially across intervention categories and production contexts, and study quality was moderate, underscoring the need for larger, pre-registered trials with standardized outcome reporting and direct antibiotic comparator arms. Probiotics, prebiotics, and bile acid metabolites showed the greatest potential as components of integrated antimicrobial stewardship strategies in cattle production. Full article

Early-life nutrition is critical for the development and health of dairy calves, necessitating alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. This study investigated whether dietary glycerol monolaurate (GML) enhances growth performance, reduces diarrhea incidence, improves systemic antioxidant and immune status, and modulates hepatic immunometabolic function in calves. Twenty-four Holstein bull calves (7 ± 0.5 d of age) were randomly assigned by body weight and age to a control group or a GML-supplemented group, both fed milk replacer with starter feed provided throughout the 45-day trial. Calves in the GML group received GML at a dosage of 100 mg/kg of body weight, mixed into the milk replacer prior to feeding. Calves in the GML group had significantly greater final body weight, average daily gain, and starter intake during the latter period (d 23–45) compared with the control group. GML supplementation also significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea and fever, alongside lower fecal scores and fewer antibiotic treatments. Plasma analysis revealed enhanced antioxidant capacity, as indicated by increased total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase, along with an improved immune profile characterized by elevated immunoglobulin G and reduced interleukin-2. Transcriptomic analysis of the liver showed that GML upregulated genes and pathways related to innate antiviral immunity, such as radical S-adenosyl methionine domain containing 2, interferon-stimulated gene 15, and MX dynamin like GTPase 1. Lipidomics further indicated that GML induced a targeted remodeling of hepatic lipids, including increased diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols and decreased specific phospholipids and sphingolipids, suggesting a metabolic shift supportive of immune activation and inflammatory control. In conclusion, dietary GML enhances growth and health in suckling calves, which is mediated through a coordinated immunometabolic reprogramming in the liver. GML represents a promising functional fat additive for sustainable calf rearing. Full article

This work presents an intrinsic optical fiber sensor based on plasmonic phenomena in modified plastic optical fibers (POFs). The sensing area is achieved by replacing the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) core with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) containing gold nanorods (GNRs). Thus, in the sensing area, the MIP acts as both a selective recognition element and an optically sensitive guiding medium where plasmonic phenomena occur. This optical–chemical configuration has been developed as a proof-of-concept for the detection of furfural in aqueous solution. The proposed sensor achieves a limit of detection (LOD) of 27 pM, demonstrates high selectivity for the analyte of interest, and is applicable even in real-world scenarios, as demonstrated by experimental results (a commercially available infant milk). The proposed sensor presents a significant enhancement of the sensor response, of about six orders of magnitude, compared to a conventional configuration where the same (or a similar) mixture of MIP/GNRs is spun over the exposed PMMA of a D-shaped POF area for comparison. Notably, even if this study has been carried out via a proof-of-concept in furfural detection, this substantial improvement is achieved while preserving a simple, portable, and cost-effective optical setup, highlighting the potential of this sensing strategy for the development of highly selective sensors by changing the MIP template. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable and health-oriented dairy and alternative products has enhanced interest in reducing or modifying fat in cheese systems. However, such modifications often lead to undesirable changes in texture and flavor, highlighting the multifunctional roles of milk fat within the cheese matrix. Rather than serving solely as a compositional component, milk fat contributes fundamentally to structure organization and flavor development through its physicochemical properties, interactions with the protein network, and lipid-derived pathways. This review examines these roles from a mechanistic perspective and evaluates emerging lipid structuring approaches for texture modulation, while also discussing complementary approaches with potential to address flavor attributes. Collectively, it provides insights for rational formulation and guides future research toward the design of improved dairy and alternative cheese products. Full article

Benzophenones (BPs) and derivatives are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) widely used in personal care products, food packaging, and flavoring ingredients. This systematic review and bibliometric analysis aimed to identify and summarize analytical methods used to determine BPs in human milk and infant formulas. Furthermore, the bibliometric evaluation explored publication trends by journal, citation count, and geographical distribution, providing insight into the global research landscape on this topic. The most employed sample preparation techniques included liquid–liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, dispersive solid-phase extraction, low-temperature partitioning, QuEChERS, and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, frequently combined with enzymatic treatments with β-glucuronidase or arylsulfatase to improve recovery and sensitivity. Gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) were the predominant analytical platforms, with LC–MS being the most used for its ability to detect BPs without derivatization. Recent studies have shown a trend of replacing conventional organic solvents with greener, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approaches, such as miniaturized methods. This trend aligns with Green Analytical Chemistry principles and highlights the need for ongoing methodological and regulatory advancements to ensure food safety and protect public health. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of replacing soybean meal with cashew nut roasting residue (CNRR) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and economic efficiency in lactating crossbred Saanen goats. Fifteen does were assigned to a completely randomized design with three treatments: 0% CNRR (T1), 10% replacement of soybean meal protein (T2), and 20% replacement (T3). Goats were fed pangola hay ad libitum and concentrate according to milk yield (1:2). Total dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and fiber intake were not affected by dietary treatments (p > 0.05). However, crude protein digestibility decreased from 68.83% in the control group to 52.72% and 51.21% in the CNRR treatments (p < 0.05). Rumen pH and total volatile fatty acids remained within normal physiological ranges, suggesting stable rumen fermentation. Blood parameters, including packed cell volume, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen, were not influenced by CNRR supplementation (p > 0.05). Economic analysis showed reduced feed cost with increasing CNRR inclusion. In conclusion, CNRR can replace soybean meal protein at rates of up to 20% without affecting feed intake, ruminal pH, or measured blood metabolites; however, crude protein digestibility was reduced, indicating that dietary formulation may require adjustment. Full article

Milk color reflects the optical output of a complex colloidal system governed by protein micelles, fat globules, and serum phase interactions. In this study, we evaluated whether CIE Lab* color parameters can explain variation in milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC) using Lasso-based multiple linear regression and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). A total of 119 Holstein milk samples were analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, dry matter, electrical conductivity, freezing point, and SCC, and five color indices (L*, a*, b*, Hue, and Chroma) were used as predictors. Model robustness was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation and an independent 80/20 train–test split. In regression analyses, Lasso explained 32.7% of protein variation (R² = 0.327), 26.3% of dry matter (R² = 0.263), 22.8% of lactose (R² = 0.228), and 19.1% of fat (R² = 0.191). Spectral tone parameters (a*, Hue, and Chroma) were consistently retained as key predictors, whereas L* showed a limited contribution. SCC exhibited weak direct associations with color traits but was significantly related to electrical conductivity (p < 0.05), indicating inflammation-driven ionic changes rather than pigment effects. In classification analysis (SCC ≥ 200,000 cells/mL), the XGBoost model achieved 74% accuracy and an AUC of 0.69 in the independent test set, with Chroma and electrical conductivity identified as the most influential features. These findings suggest that, among the evaluated color variables, Chroma provided the most relevant information for discriminating SCC status, whereas the overall contribution of milk color traits to compositional prediction remained moderate. Therefore, color-derived measurements should be interpreted as instrument-based optical indicators that may complement, but not replace, conventional milk quality assessments. 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