Highly selective and visual detection of vanillin based on fluorescence Cd-MOF sensor in milk powders.

Vanillin is a commonly used synthetic flavoring agent in daily life. However, excessive intake of vanillin may pose risks to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need for rapid and sensitive detection methods for vanillin. In this study, we developed a fluorescent sensor based on Cd-MOF for the sensitive and selective recognition of vanillin. The presence of vanillin leads to significant fluorescence quenching of Cd-MOF due to competitive absorption and photoinduced electron transfer (PET). The limit of detection was determined to be 39.6 nM, which is the lowest-among the reported fluorescent probes. The sensor was successfully applied for the detection of vanillin in real samples such as powdered milk and milk, with a recovery rate ranging from 96.88 % to 104.83 %. Furthermore, by immobilizing the Cd-MOF probe into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film, we achieved a portable and visual detection composite materials for vanillin.

Identification and quantification of goat milk adulteration using mid-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

The fraudulent adulteration of goat milk with cheaper and more available milk of other species such as cow milk is occurrence. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effect of goat milk adulteration with cow milk on the mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum and further evaluate the potential of MIR spectroscopy to identify and quantify the goat milk adulterated. Goat milk was adulterated with cow milk at 5 different levels including 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Statistical analysis showed that the adulteration had significant effect on the majority of the spectral wavenumbers. Then, the spectrum was preprocessed with standard normal variate (SNV), multiplicative scattering correction (MSC), Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG), SG plus SNV, and SG plus MSC, and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used to establish classification and regression models, respectively. PLS-DA models obtained good results with all the sensitivity and specificity over 0.96 in the cross-validation set. Regression models using raw spectrum obtained the best result, with coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) of cross-validation set were 0.98, 2.01, and 8.49, respectively. The results preliminarily indicate that the MIR spectroscopy is an effective technique to detect the goat milk adulteration with cow milk. In future, milk samples from different origins and different breeds of goats and cows should be collected, and more sophisticated adulteration at low levels should be further studied to explore the potential and effectiveness of milk mid-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Direct or DNA Extraction-Free Amplification and Quantification of Foodborne Pathogens.

The use of direct nucleic acid amplification of pathogens from food matrices has the potential to reduce time to results over DNA extraction-based approaches as well as traditional culture-based approaches. Here we describe protocols for assay design and experiments for direct amplification of foodborne pathogens in food sample matrices using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The examples provided include the detection of Escherichia coli in milk samples and Salmonella in pork meat samples. This protocol includes relevant reagents and methods including obtaining target sequences, assay design, sample processing, and amplification. These methods, though used for specific example matrices, could be applied to many other foodborne pathogens and sample types.

Facial synthesis of fluorine-engineered magnetic covalent organic framework for selective and ultrasensitive determination of fipronil, its metabolites and analogs in food samples.

To improve the adsorption affinity and selectivity of fipronils (FPNs), including fipronil, its metabolites and analogs, a magnetic covalent organic framework (Fe3O4@COF-F) with copious fluorine affinity sites was innovatively designed as an adsorbent of magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). The enhanced surface area, pore size, crystallinity of Fe3O4@COF-F and its exponential adsorption capacities (187.3-231.5 mg g-1) towards fipronils were investigated. Combining MSPE with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), an analytical method was established for the selective determination of fipronils in milk and milk powder samples. This method achieved high sensitivity (LODs: 0.004-0.075 ng g-1), satisfactory repeatability and accuracy with spiked recoveries ranging from 89.9% to 100.3% (RSDs≤5.1%). Overall, the constructed Fe3O4@COF-F displayed great potential for the selective enrichment of fipronils, which could be ascribed to fluorine­fluorine interaction. This method proposed a feasible and promising strategy for the development of functionalized COF and broadened its application in fluorine containing hazards detection.

Risk factors and population attributable fractions for displaced abomasum in Iranian dairy cattle: a retrospective analysis of field data.

Displaced abomasum (DA) usually occurs in the early postpartum period and can negatively affect production and welfare of dairy cows. The objective of this research was to identify predictors for the occurrence of DA in Iranian Holsteins. Therefore, we analyzed data collected from six commercial dairy farms in Iran (calving between January 2011 and October 2020). We used generalized linear mixed-effects model to identify predictors based on estimates of odds ratios (ORs). Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were then calculated, as these are expected to more accurately prioritize risk factors on population level by considering the association between the risk factor and the its prevalence in the population. Over the 6 herds, the average percentage of DA was 2.5% (range 1.1-3.4% across herds). The results showed that calving during winter increased the odds of DA 1.4 times. Cows with high milk fat-to-protein ratio before the occurrence of disease, abnormal calving (including dystocia, stillbirth, and twinning) and long pregnancy length (≥ 280 d) showed increased odds of DA with ORs of 1.52, 1.31 and 1.30, respectively. Milk yield was also positively associated with DA in next lactation. Among the modifiable predictors of DA, the highest PAF was for the ratio of milk fat-to-protein (11.0%); other PAFs were retained placenta (4.1%), metritis (3.1%), abnormal calving (2.7%), and ketosis (2.7%). The results of the present study can provide managers with the a helpful strategy to reduce the occurrence of DA.

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles enable gut-to-tumor oral delivery of tumor-activated doxorubicin prodrugs.

Rationale: Oral chemotherapy has been emerging as a hopeful therapeutic regimen for the treatment of various cancers because of its high safety and convenience, lower costs, and high patient compliance. Despite the current advancements in nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery, numerous anticancer drugs susceptible to the hostile gastrointestinal (GI) environment exhibit poor permeability across the intestinal epithelium, rendering them ineffective in providing therapeutic benefits. In this paper, we focus on harnessing milk-derived extracellular vesicles (mEVs) for gut-to-tumor oral drug delivery by leveraging their high bioavailability. Methods: The tumor-activated prodrug (a cathepsin B-specific cleavable FRRG peptide and doxorubicin, FDX) is used as a model drug and is complexed with mEVs, resulting in FDX@mEVs. To verify stability in the GI tract, prolonged intestinal retention, and enhanced trans-epithelial transport via neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-mediated transcytosis, intestinal transport evaluation is conducted using in vitro intestinal barrier model and mouse model. Results: FDX@mEVs form a stable nanostructure with an average diameter of 131.1 ± 70.5 nm and complexation processes do not affect the inherent properties of FDX. Orally administered FDX@mEVs show significantly improved bioavailability compared to uncomplexed FDX via FcRn-mediated transcytosis of mEVs resulting in increased tumor accumulation of FDX in tumor-bearing mouse model. Conclusions: After oral administration of FDX@mEVs, it is observed that remarkable antitumor efficacy in colon tumor-bearing mice without adverse effects, such as body weight loss, liver/kidney dysfunction, and cardiotoxicity.

The investigation of SNP in SOCS2 gene and its effect on milk yield, fat, protein, and somatic cell count in Awassi ewes.

BACKGROUND: Livestock farmers face financial losses every year because milk yield and components are severely affected by udder diseases. These udder infections attract the immune response from the host and lead to the influx of neutrophils into milk to fight infection and thus the number of somatic cell count (SCC) is increased. The SCC value of milk could be used as an important indicator in detecting clinical mastitis in dairy animals. Also, the milk yield and milk quality (e.g. fat) are negatively affected by the increased SCC. The SCC is used to estimate the somatic cell score (SCS)of the milk, which is used as an indirect measure to detect subclinical mastitis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of a significant SNP rs868996547, on the suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 gene (SOCS2) which is related to milk yield and milk quality in Awassi sheep. METHODS: In this study, milk production data was obtained from 210 healthy Awassi ewes with different parties and ages. The general linear model (GLM) process analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine fixed effects on milk traits. The DNA extraction was done using a blood DNA extraction kit from Qiagen. To validate the presence of SNP a customized SNP detection developed by Thermofisher Scientific was used. The presence of the SNP in the SOCS2 gene was detected with genotypes (C/T, T/T, and C/C) and T being the mutated allele and it had a significant (p < 0.015) effect on the milk yield (p < 0,015;0.091), fat (p < 0,001;0,003), fat/protein ratio (p < 0.001;0,037) and log10SCC value (p < 0,006;0,015) of Awassi ewes. However, the protein, total solid, and lactose percentages in the wild type and the mutated ewes found having no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our result showed the increase in SCC or SCS of the milk significantly affected the milk yield and composition. Parity and age had significant effects on ewes' milk yield (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we investigated the presence of SOCS2 gene of Awassi ewes in the study flock and its effect on milk yield, fat, and somatic cell count, and the change in milk composition and milk yield because of SCC.

Supplementation strategies for ewes during gestation and lactation.

Concentrated supplementation of ewes is a strategy to increase productivity. The objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementation in the diet of ewes before, during and in the final third of pregnancy and lactation on, the performance and production and composition of colostrum and milk. Forty animals were distributed in a completely randomized design, into the following treatments: CONT = control treatment with mineral salt supplementation only, SSREPRO = supplementation started 20 days before the estrus synchronization (ES) protocol, SSPREG = suplementação a partir da confirmação da gestação (60 days after ES), and SEPREG = supplementation in the third end of pregnancy (90 days after ES). Supplementation adoption changed (P < 0.05) the intake of organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, the percentage of total digestible nutrients, and digestibility of dry matter, acid detergent fiber, non-fiber carbohydrates, and ether extract with their respective intake, in addition to colostrum and milk production and composition and animal performance. No difference (P > 0.05) was observed for organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility and total digestible nutrient intake. Thus, supplementation in the final third of pregnancy may result in heavier lambs at weaning, reduction in slaughter time.

Hepatic Transcriptome Reveals Potential Key Genes Contributing to Differential Milk Production.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread adoption of TMR or PMR and the formulas designed to sufficiently cover the cows' requirements, individual dairy cows' milk production varies significantly. The liver is one of the most important organs in cow lactation metabolism and plays an essential role in the initiation of lactation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the potential key genes in the liver contributing to the different milk production. METHODS: We enrolled 64 cows and assigned them to high or low milk yield (MY) groups according to their first 3 weeks of milk production. We performed RNAseq for 35 liver samples with 18 from prepartum and 17 from postpartum cows. RESULTS: The continuous milk yield observation showed a persistently higher milk yield in high MY cows than low MY cows in the first 3 weeks. High MY cows showed better feed conversion efficiency. We identified 795 differentially expressed genes (DGEs) in the liver of high MY cows compared with low MY cows, with up-regulated genes linked to morphogenesis and development pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed four gene modules positively correlating with milk yield, and protein and lactose yield (p < 0.05). Using the intersected genes between the four gene modules and DEGs, we constructed the linear mixed-effects models and identified six hub genes positively associated and two hub genes negatively associated with milk yield (Coefficients > 0.25, p < 0.05). Random forest machine learning model training based on these eight hub genes could efficiently predict the milk yield (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.946). Interestingly, the expression patterns of these eight hub genes remained remarkably similar before and after parturition. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated the critical role of liver in milk production. Activated processes involved in morphogenesis and development in liver may contribute to the higher milk production. Eight hub genes identified in this study may provide genetic research materials for dairy cow breeding.

An agroecological approach to preparation and use of a milk protein production baseline.

Commercial dairy production occurs in a complex management environment, but increasingly, the dairy manager is expected to provide detailed reporting of productivity and environmental outcomes, for which conventional research methods double-blind crossover or case:control trials are inappropriate. This paper demonstrates the development of a milk protein production monitoring tool using a temporal (baseline) control in longitudinal, census-type investigations of modulation of system performance in response to factor change. It utilises farm-derived current and historical data, and contrasts seasonal responses with those achieved on neighbouring farms in a 2 × 2 contingency table. The approach is then shown to be useful in assessing the effect of two approaches to moderating milk urea concentration. Firstly, milk urea content can be monitored as it falls due to reduced feed protein content, and this fall can be arrested when milk protein content starts to decline relative to the value expected for the herd at any lactation stage. Secondly, by providing a dietary intervention aimed at increasing the availability of metabolic energy in the last month before calving, udder development can be augmented, leading to greater protein secretion capacity, meaning greater utilisation of circulating amino acids, and thus more limited substrate for urea synthesis. Thus, the changing impact of differing nutrition practices on dairy herd nitrogen excretion to environment can be followed with daily precision. In principle this approach can provide useful insights into a wide range of practical management interventions.

Comparison of Extraction Methods for the Detection of Avian Influenza Virus RNA in Cattle Milk.

Since early 2024, a multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been affecting dairy cattle in the USA. The influenza viral RNA concentrations in milk make it an ideal matrix for surveillance purposes. However, viral RNA detection in multi-component fluids such as milk can be complex, and optimization of influenza detection methods is thus required. Raw bulk tank milk and mastitis milk samples were artificially contaminated with an avian influenza strain and subjected to five extraction methods. HCoV-229E and synthetic RNA were included as exogenous internal process controls. Given the high viral load usually observed in individual raw milk samples, four out of five tested methods would enable influenza detection in milk with normal texture, over a time window of at least 2 weeks post-onset of clinical signs. Nevertheless, sample dilution 1:3 in molecular transport medium prior to RNA extraction provided the best results for dilution of inhibitory substances and a good recovery rate of influenza RNA, that reached 12.5 ± 1.2% and 10.4 ± 3.8% in two independent experiments in bulk milk and 11.2 ± 3.6% and 10.0 ± 2.9% on two cohorts of mastitis milk samples. We have also shown compatibility of an influenza RT-qPCR system with synthetic RNA detection for simultaneous validation of the RNA extraction and RT-qPCR processes.

Bovine Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Stability and Inactivation in the Milk Byproduct Lactose.

The recent incursion of highly pathogenic influenza viruses into dairy cattle opens new insights for influenza virus ecology and its interspecies transmission and may have a significant impact on public health and agriculture. The aim of this study was to determine the stability of a bovine highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus isolate in the milk byproduct lactose and to evaluate two inactivation methods using industrial procedures. The bovine isolate of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus was stable for 14 days in a concentrated lactose solution under refrigerated conditions. Heat or citric acid treatments successfully inactivated the virus in lactose. This study highlights the persistence of HPAIV in lactose and its efficient inactivation under industrial standards.

Impact of oil type and savory plant on nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation, milk yield, and milk fatty acid profile in dairy cows.

Fat supplements are well known for their multiple beneficial effects on ruminant health, reproduction and productivity, and as a source for certain bioactive compounds in ruminant products. On the other hand, numerous phytochemicals have demonstrated the potential to improve rumen fermentation through modifying the volatile fatty acid (VFA) pattern to favour those with greater energy efficiency, boosting microbial protein synthesis, and decreasing methane emission and ruminal ammonia concentration. Savory is an aromatic plant rich in various phytochemicals (mainly carvacrol and flavonoids) that can alter ruminal metabolism of dietary fatty acids, potentially increasing the production of some bioactive compounds such as conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). This study aimed to investigate combined effects of oil type (fish oil (FO) versus soybean oil (SO)) and the inclusion of savory (Satureja khuzistanica) plant (SP) in the diet on total tract digestibility of nutrients, rumen fermentation, milk yield and milk fatty acid profile in dairy cattle. Eight multiparous lactating Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with four diets and four 21-d periods. During each experimental period consisted of 14 days of adaptation and a 7-day sampling period, cows were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments: the diet supplemented with 2% (DM basis) fish oil (FOD) or soybean oil (SOD), the FOD or SOD plus 370 g DM/d/head SP (FODs, SODs, respectively). The experimental diets were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design, with the fat sources as the first and SP as the second factor. The FO-supplemented diets had lower dry matter intake (DMI) and higher total tract digestibility than SO-supplemented diets (P < 0.05), and including SP in the diet improved total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) (P < 0.05) without negatively affecting DMI. Rumen pH was lower with SO than with FO diets (P < 0.01) and increased with SP inclusion in the diet (P < 0.05). Total protozoa count and ruminal ammonia concentration decreased, and the branched-chain VFA (BCVFA) proportion increased with SP inclusion in the diet (P < 0.05). Milk production, as well as the concentration and yield of milk components (except lactose concentration) were higher with SO than with FO diets (P < 0.05), but these variables remained unaffected by SP. The milk concentrations of both non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were lower with SO compared to FO diets, and these variables were reduced by SP (P < 0.01). The proportions of both mono- and polyunsaturated FA (MUFA and PUFA, respectively) in milk were higher with FO than with SO diets (P < 0.01), and their proportions increased by SP at the expense of saturated FA (SFA) (P < 0.01). Including SP in the diet increased the proportions of all the milk n-3 FA (C18:3c, C20:5, and C22:6) by 21%, 40%, and 97%, respectively, and those of conjugated linoleic acids (C18:2 (c9,t11-CLA) and C18:2 (t10,c12-CLA)) by 23% and 62%, respectively. There was no interaction between oil type and SP for the assessed variables. Fish oil, despite reducing milk production and milk components, was more effective than soybean oil in enriching milk with healthy FA. These findings also show promise for SP as a feed additive with the potential to improve total tract digestibility, rumen fermentation and milk FA composition.

Assessment of Lactococcus Cremoris preparations for the pre- and post-milking teat disinfection.

Good hygienic milking practices including the disinfection of the cow teat skin before and after milking aimed at preventing the occurrence of new intramammary infections (IMI) in dairy cows. This practice is generally performed using disinfectants, and in the current context of attention to the emergence of resistances, it is of greatest interest to evaluate alternative solutions that can expand treatment options. We assessed the efficacy of a pre-dipping and a post-dipping product based on the bacteriocin-containing culture of Lactococcus cremoris strain FT27, as compared to commercial disinfectants. FT27 was selected for the bactericidal activity in vitro against food pathogens. In the present study, it also revealed a high bactericidal activity against the main mastitis pathogens, most likely related to Nisin A production, according to genomic and proteomic analysis. The lactococcus-based preparations were applied in two commercial dairy farms in Northern Italy. Overall, 298 dairy cows were enrolled, 141 in the treated group (TR), and 157 in the control group (CTR). The cows were sampled at quarter level every two weeks for 3 months. During the trial, all cows showed a good health status. The hygiene level for udder, flanks and legs was generally good (on average < 3 score); the udder hygiene was significantly worse (P < 0.01) in the CTR group. The teat apex hyperkeratosis was overall low (on average < 2 score). We recorded no significant differences between the two experimental groups in the Somatic Cell Count (SCC) values and the bacteriological results. The overall frequency of new IMI was low, ranging 0.6 - 0.5% for S. aureus in the TR or CTR group respectively, to 2.6-4.4% for NASM. Regarding Str. spp., the new IMI accounted for 1.7% or 1.9% in the TR or CTR group, respectively. Notably, the incidence of S. aureus new IMI did not increase during the study, even though neither of the two herds segregated the positive cows. The non-inferiority test showed that the Lactococcus-based pre- and post-dipping products had an efficacy comparable to proven commercial disinfectants in maintaining udder health and preventing new IMI, thus representing a possible alternative to current teat dip products.

Effects of Replacing Cow's Milk with Plant-Based Beverages on Potential Nutrient Intake in Sustainable Healthy Dietary Patterns: A Case Study.

More consumers are replacing cow's milk (CM) with plant-based drinks (PBD), but data indicating the nutritional impact are limited. This theoretical study aims to assess the effect of substituting CM with PBD sold in Italy on nutrient intake within two dietary patterns: one aligned with the EAT-Lancet Commission reference diet adapted to Italian food habits (EAT-IT) and another one in line with the Italian Dietary Guidelines (IDG). Nutrition information from 368 PBD were collected and categorized according to their descriptive name and their fortification or not with calcium (Ca- and nCa-fortified). The substitution of CM with each PBD category in both dietary patterns was conducted, and an analysis of nutrient content and adequacy was performed. Substituting CM with all PBD resulted in reduced protein intake, except for nCa-fortified soy drinks, decreased saturated fat and vitamins B2 and B12, and increased fiber intake. Replacing CM with nCa-fortified PBD within both diets decreased Ca intake. Following the substitution of CM with Ca-fortified PBD, variations in vitamin D intake depended on the PBD category. The main risk of nutritional inadequacy was observed in Ca and vitamin D levels, which may even be amplified considering the different bioavailability based on the source of nutrients. This study highlighted the important role of CM in meeting calcium requirements and the potential unintended consequences of substituting CM with PBD without considering their nutritional differences.

Substitutive Effects of Milk vs. Vegetable Milk on the Human Gut Microbiota and Implications for Human Health.

Background: In the last two decades, the consumption of plant-based dairy substitutes in place of animal-based milk has increased in different geographic regions of the world. Dairy substitutes of vegetable origin have a quantitative composition of macronutrients such as animal milk, although the composition of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, as well as bioactive components, is completely different from that of animal milk. Many milk components have been shown to have relevant effects on the intestinal microbiota. Methods: Therefore, the aim of this review is to compare the effects obtained by previous works on the composition of the gut microbiota after the ingestion of animal milk and/or vegetable beverages. Results: In general, the results obtained in the included studies were very positive for animal milk intake. Thus, we found an increase in gut microbiota richness and diversity, increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids, and beneficial microbes such as Bifidobacterium, lactobacilli, Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae or Blautia. In other cases, we found a significant decrease in potential harmful bacteria such as Proteobacteria, Erysipelotrichaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae or Clostridium perfingens after animal-origin milk intake. Vegetable beverages have also generally produced positive results in the gut microbiota such as the increase in the relative presence of lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium or Blautia. However, we also found some potential negative results, such as increases in the presence of potential pathogens such as Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella and Fusobacterium. Conclusions: From the perspective of their effects on the intestinal microbiota, milks of animal origin appear to be more beneficial for human health than their vegetable substitutes. These different effects on the intestinal microbiota should be considered in those cases where the replacement of animal milks by vegetable substitutes is recommended.

Differential effects of milk, yogurt, and cheese on energy homeostasis and brown adipose tissue phenotype in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Aim: We hypothesized that milk, yogurt, and cheese have differential impacts on energy expenditure (EE) and obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: C57BL/6 mice (n = 16 per group) were fed a HFD or a HFD supplemented with fat-free milk (MILK), fat-free plain yogurt (YOG), or reduced-fat cheddar cheese (CHE; 19 kcal% fat), each provided at 10% of the daily energy intake, for 8 weeks. EE was quantified using a metabolic chamber. Metabolic pathways related to BAT mitochondrial function and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) abundance were assessed. Serum lipidomic profiles were analyzed to identify potential mediators of the observed effects. Results: MILK supplementation lowered weight gain and fat accumulation and enhanced EE and BAT thermogenesis, perhaps via the SIRT1-AMPK-PGC1α axis in BAT. This led to elevated UCP1 abundance and enhanced the abundance of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). MILK also altered serum lipid species, indicating enhanced energy use, and promoted BAT thermogenesis and mitochondrial function pathways. YOG exhibited a similar pattern but a lower magnitude of effects than MILK on reducing weight gain and fat mass, increasing EE, and BAT thermogenic proteins, including AMPK-PGC1α-UCP1. Both MILK and YOG showed a relative increase in serum PC 15:0_15:0 and LPC 15:0. In contrast, CHE reduced weight gain and increased EE without impacting BAT thermogenesis proteins or serum lipid species. Conclusion: Our study showed that MILK, YOG, and CHE reduced weight gain in mice on a HFD by increasing EE. MILK and YOG also up-regulated BAT thermogenesis, while both additionally altered lipids involved in fat metabolism and inflammation. CHE did not affect BAT thermogenesis and lipid species compared to HFD.

Milk yield prediction in Friesian cows using linear and flexible discriminant analysis under assumptions violations.

BACKGROUND: The application of novel technologies is now widely used to assist in making optimal decisions. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and flexible discriminant analysis (FDA) in classifying and predicting Friesian cattle's milk production into low ([Formula: see text]4500 kg), medium (4500-7500 kg), and high ([Formula: see text]7500 kg) categories. A total of 3793 lactation records from cows calved between 2009 and 2020 were collected to examine some predictors such as age at first calving (AFC), lactation order (LO), days open (DO), days in milk (DIM), dry period (DP), calving season (CFS), 305-day milk yield (305-MY), calving interval (CI), and total breeding per conception (TBRD). RESULTS: The comparison between LDA and FDA models was based on the significance of coefficients, total accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and F1-score. The LDA results revealed that DIM and 305-MY were the significant (P < 0.001) contributors for data classification, while the FDA was a lactation order. Classification accuracy results showed that the FDA model performed better than the LDA model in expressing accuracies of correctly classified cases as well as overall classification accuracy of milk yield. The FDA model outperformed LDA in both accuracy and F1-score. It achieved an accuracy of 82% compared to LDA's 71%. Similarly, the F1-score improved from a range of 0.667 to 0.79 for LDA to a higher range of 0.81 to 0.83 for FDA. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrated that FDA was more resistant than LDA in case of assumption violations. Furthermore, the current study showed the feasibility and efficacy of LDA and FDA in interpreting and predicting livestock datasets.

Rumen-protected methionine supplementation during the transition period under artificially induced heat stress: Effects on cow-calf performance.

Dairy cows experiencing heat stress (HS) during the precalving portion of the transition period give birth to smaller calves and produce less milk and milk protein. Supplementation of rumen-protected methionine (RPM) has been shown to modulate protein, energy, and placenta metabolism, making it a potential candidate to ameliorate HS effects. We investigated the effects of supplementing RPM to transition cows under HS induced by electric heat blanket (EHB) on cow-calf performance. Six weeks before expected calving, 53 Holstein cows were housed in a tiestall barn and fed a control diet (CON, 2.2% Met of MP) or a CON diet supplemented with SmartamineM (MET, 2.6% Met of MP, Adisseo Inc., France). Four weeks precalving, all MET and half CON cows were fitted with an EHB. The other half of the CON cows were considered thermoneutral (TN), resulting in 3 treatments: CONTN (n = 19), CONHS (n = 17), and METHS (n = 17). Respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature (ST), and rectal temperature (RT) were measured thrice weekly and core body temperatures recorded biweekly. Postcalving BW and BCS were recorded weekly, and DMI was calculated and averaged weekly. Milk yield was recorded daily and milk components were analyzed every third DIM. Biweekly AA and weekly nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), BHB, insulin, and glucose were measured from plasma. Calf birth weight and 24 h growth, thermoregulation, and hematology profile were measured and apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) of immunoglobulins was calculated. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with 2 preplanned orthogonal contrasts: CONTN versus the average of CONHS and METHS (C1) and CONHS versus METHS (C2). Relative to TN, EHB cows had increased RT during the postcalving weeks and increased RR and ST during the entire transition period. Body weight, BCS, DMI, and milk yield were not affected by the EHB or RPM. However, protein percentage and SNF were lower in CONHS, relative to METHS cows. At calving, METHS dams had higher glucose concentrations, relative to CONHS, and during the postcalving weeks, the EHB cows had lower NEFA concentrations than TN cows. Calf birthweight and AEA were reduced by HS, whereas RR was increased by HS. Calf withers height tended to be shorter and RT were lower in CONHS, compared with METHS heifers. Overall, RPM supplementation to transition cows reverts the negative effect of HS on blood glucose concentration at calving and milk protein percentage in the dams and increases wither height while decreasing RT in the calf.

An assessment on the effects of buffers on the productive, behavioral and metabolic parameters of Holstein dairy cows.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of supplementing sodium bicarbonate or a commercial blend of buffering agents (BBA) comprising calcareous calcitic, magnesium oxide, calcareous algae, and sodium bicarbonate on the productive, behavioral and metabolic parameters of Holstein cows fed starchy diets. Over a 60-day trial period, thirty-six multiparous cows with an average milk yield of 38.84 ± 9.24 kg/day and 63.74 ± 18.63 days in milk (DIM), were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (n = 18) received a supplementation of 1.1% dry matter (DM) of sodium bicarbonate (Raudi®, Totalmix, Brazil), while the BBA group (n = 18) was administered with 0.5% DM of a blend of buffering agents (Equalizer®, Nutron/Cargill, Brazil). The mean values of ruminal pH (control 6.80 ± 0.06 and BBA 6.77 ± 0.06; P > 0.05) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production (control: acetate 62.63 ± 1.29%, propionate 22.99 ± 1.07%, butyrate 14.30 ± 0.52%; BBA: acetate 63.07 ± 1.32%, propionate 23.47 ± 1.10%, butyrate 13.70 ± 0.57%), were similar (P > 0,05) between the two groups. The value of faecal pH was higher (P < 0.05) in the BBA group (6.25 ± 0.02) than the control group (6.12 ± 0.02). Animals treated with BBA exhibited lower (P < 0,05) dry matter intake (DMI) (24.75 ± 0.64 kg/day), higher feed efficiency (FE) (1.64 ± 0.03), and reduced feeding frequency (52.89 ± 3.73 n°/day) than the control group (DMI, 26.75 ± 0.62 kg/day; FE, 1.50 ± 0.03; feeding frequency, 66.07 ± 3.64 n°/day). Milk production remained similar across both groups (control, 39.11 ± 0.92 kg/day and BBA, 39.87 ± 0.92 kg/day; P > 0.05). Notably, the control group displayed a higher (P < 0,05) concentration of milk protein (1.21 ± 0.05 kg/day) than the BBA (1.18 ± 0.05 kg/day) group. The study concluded that both treatments effectively buffered the rumen and mitigated the risk of ruminal acidosis. Moreover, the higher faecal pH in the BBA-treated group suggests potential intestinal action attributable to the synergistic effects of diverse additives with buffering properties. Despite a reduced DMI, BBA-treated animals exhibited improved FE.