Effect of Feeding Adaptation of Italian Simmental Cows before Summer Grazing on Animal Behavior and Milk Characteristics

According to the alpine transhumance system, dairy cows are moved from indoor feeding with conserved forage to fresh herbage feeding on pasture. The aim of this study was to assess, as a feeding adaptation technique, the effect of a gradual inclusion of fresh herbage in the diet of Italian Simmental dairy cows before their transfer to alpine pasture on performance, behavior, and milk characteristics. Eighteen cows were assigned to three groups: animals transferred to alpine pasture with a 10-d feeding adaptation period consisting in gradual access to a pasture close to the valley farm (GT), animals transferred to alpine pasture without a feeding adaptation period (AT), and animals kept in the valley farm (IND). During the first two weeks of summer grazing, GT and AT showed higher rumination time and different concentrations of ketones, hydrocarbons, organic acids, toluene, alcohols, phenols, and dimethyl sulfone in milk as compared to IND, whereas no differences were found in milk yield, composition, or coagulation properties. No differences between GT and AT were evident for the studied variables. The feeding adaptation technique used in this study did not influence the performance and milk characteristics of Italian Simmental dairy cows grazing on alpine pasture.

Effects of terpenes administration on fatty acid profile and coagulation properties of ewes’ milk

The presence of lipids in animal products have attracted scientific and consumers’ attention due to the health beneficial effects of mono- (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Various factors may affect their concentration, while plant components, such as terpenes, can possibly modify their concentration in milk, as well as other milk characteristics. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of a mixture of three terpenes, α-pinene, limonene and β-caryophyllene that was orally administered to ewes, on milk fatty acids profile and coagulation properties. Eight ewes were divided in two groups, control (C) and treatment (T), where the T-group received orally a mixture of the three aforementioned terpenes. Rate of firming (K20) was longer for the T-group, while other coagulation parameters were not affected. The concentration of C14:1 and C16:0 decreased significantly, while C18:0, C18:1, C18:3 increased significantly in T-group. The concentration of MUFA and PUFA increased significantly, while SFA decreased in the T-group of ewes. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that terpene intake could affect the proportion of FA and coagulation properties of ewes’ milk.

Effect of Season and Factory on Cheese-Making Efficiency in Parmigiano Reggiano Manufacture

The assessment of the efficiency of the cheese-making process (ECMP) is crucial for the profitability of cheese-factories. A simple way to estimate the ECMP is the measure of the estimated cheese-making losses (ECL), expressed by the ratio between the concentration of each constituent in the residual whey and in the processed milk. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of the season and cheese factory on the efficiency of the cheese-making process in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese manufacture. The study followed the production of 288 Parmigiano Reggiano cheese on 12 batches in three commercial cheese factories. For each batch, samples of the processed milk and whey were collected. Protein, casein, and fat ECL resulted in an average of 27.01%, 0.72%, and 16.93%, respectively. Both milk crude protein and casein contents were negatively correlated with protein ECL, r = −0.141 (p ≤ 0.05), and r = −0.223 (p ≤ 0.001), respectively. The same parameters resulted in a negative correlation with casein ECL (p ≤ 0.001) (r = −0.227 and −0.212, respectively). Moreover, fat ECL was correlated with worse milk coagulation properties and negatively correlated with casein content (r = −0.120; p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, ECLs depend on both milk characteristics and season.

Influence of Udder Hygiene Management on Milk Characteristics in Jersey Cross-Bred Cows at Lower Gangetic Region

To find out suitable udder hygiene management during milking two rounds study wereconducted at adapted village of institute. In first round of study data were collected from50 farmers having total of 103 milking animal on one page questionnaire regardingmanagement practices, cleaning and hygiene status and then by personally recordingmanagement conditions practiced under each household. Based on first round of study, thesecond round experiment was carried out on 18 lactating Jersey crossbred animals whichwere divided into three comparable groups (each group content 6 animals) and havingthree different management practices viz., Udder washing with soap water (T-1), Udderwashing with 1 % solution of Potassium Permanganate (T-2), Udder washing with wateronly (T-3) as farmer’s practice. The compilation and analysis of data of first round studyrevealed that farmer having >6 milking cows, most of them maintaining poor (53.87 %)hygiene status, cleanliness in their milking cows, housing of animal and milkers who weredoing milking operation everyday at farmer’s door. The Chi-square test value found to besignificant (P<0.05). The analysis of data of second round experiment revealed that after60 days of treatment, significant (P<0.05) differences were recorded among groups. Thesignificantly (P<0.05) reduction milk SCC was observed in T-2 group followed by T-1 andT-3 group. The milk yield (kg /day / animal) was higher in T-2 followed by T-1 and T-3group. The pH of milk sample was varied from 6.63 to 6.68 for three groups. Thesignificant (P<0.05) variation was observed for MCMT grade value. The higher MCMTwas recorded in T-3 as compared to T-1 then T-2 group. The MBRT, fat, SNF, proteinwere varied non-significantly. The study can be concluded that there is a significantassociation between animal keeping number and hygiene status, cleanliness at farmer’sdoor. The udder hygiene management like regular udder washing with 1 % PotassiumPermanganate solution before and after each milking is considered as suitable managementpractice to reduce somatic cell count and to improve milk production performance ofJersey crossbred cows at lower Gangetic region.

Milk composition of Holstein cows: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT: Worldwide, milk analysis is an satisfactory measurement of milk quality on dairy farms. Milk composition is the base for payment systems, so knowledge of its characteristics at different periods is essential for modern dairy producer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of year, season, stage of lactation, and lactation number on variations in milk yield and composition of Holstein cows (n=148,604). Milk yield estimated by multiple regression was 25,50L/cow/day. Winter was the season with the highest milk yield and the highest protein and lactose content. Milk fat was highest in the fall, in cows in late lactation and also in primiparous cows. Lactating cows from 6 to 60 days in lactation and those in 2nd or 3rd lactation showed the highest milk yield. Lactose concentration was positively correlated with milk yield. Somatic cell score was negatively correlated with milk yield and with lactose concentration. Most important variations in milk characteristics occur among seasons, lactation stages and parities. Mammary gland health is yet the greatest challenge to be overcome.