Yield and sensory properties of cheese made with milk from Holstein or Montbeliarde cows milked twice or once daily.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the milk properties and the yield and sensory properties of Cantal cheese made with milk from Holstein or Montbéliarde cows milked once or twice daily. Sixty-four grazing cows [32 Holstein (H) and 32 Montbéliarde (M) cows] in the declining phase of lactation (157 d in milk) were allocated to 1 of 2 equivalent groups milked once daily (ODM) or twice daily (TDM) for 7 wk. The full-fat raw milk collected during 24 h from the 4 groups of cows (M-TDM, M-ODM, H-TDM, and H-ODM) was pooled and processed into Cantal cheese 4 times during the last 4 wk of the experimental period. In all, 16 cheeses were made (2 milking frequencies x 2 breeds x 4 replicates) and analyzed after a ripening period of 15 and 28 wk. The results showed that for both breeds, the pooled milk content of fat, whey protein, casein, total protein, and phosphorus as well as rennet clotting time and curd firming time were significantly higher with ODM cows, whereas the casein-to-total protein ratio was lower, and lactose, urea, calcium, and free fatty acids contents of milk remained unchanged. The acidification and draining kinetics of the cheese as well as cheese yields and the chemical and rheological properties of the ripened cheese were not significantly modified by milking frequency. For both breeds, the cheeses derived from ODM cows had a slightly yellower coloration but the other sensory attributes, except for pepper odor, were not significantly affected by milking frequency, thereby demonstrating that ODM does not have an adverse effect on the sensory properties of Cantal cheese. Compared with that of Holstein cows, milk from Montbéliarde cows resulted in a higher cheese yield (+1.250 kg/100 kg of milk) and ripened cheeses with lower pH, dry matter, calcium, sodium chloride, and water-soluble nitrogen concentrations. These cheeses had also a less firm and more elastic texture, a more acidic taste, and a yogurt/whey aroma.

Performance of dairy cows milked twice daily at contrasting intervals.

The time constraints of the classic twice-daily milking routine are less easily endured by individual dairy farmers, because of their impact on quality of life. Our aim was to evaluate milk production responses by dairy cows milked twice daily at contrasting intervals. In experiments 1 (20 cows) and 2 (28 cows), four milking regimes were compared during a 3-week period beginning after the peak of lactation. Three groups of five cows were milked twice daily (TDM) with milking intervals of 11 : 13, 7 : 17 and 3 : 21 h in experiment 1, and three groups of seven cows at 11 : 13, 5 : 19 and 2.5 : 21.5 h in experiment 2. One group (five and seven cows respectively) was milked once daily (ODM) in each experiment. In experiment 3 (three groups, 12 cows per group), one group was milked at 10 : 14 h and one at 5 : 19 h, and the third group once daily. Milking treatments began during the second week of lactation and continued for an average of 23 weeks. In experiments 1 and 2, daily milk yields were reduced by 4.1%, 11.5% and 28%, for the 5 : 19, 3 : 21 and ODM milking treatments compared with the 11 : 13 h interval. In experiment 3, the decrease in daily milk yields for 5 : 19 h and ODM was 10% and 40% compared with the 10 : 14 h time interval. In the average daily milk, fat and protein contents and somatic cell counts were not different between the TDM groups, and the ODM group had (or tended to have) a higher fat and protein content. For a given milking, milk fat content decreased from about 60 to 32 g/kg as the preceding milking interval increased from 2.5 to 3 h up to 12 h. It then levelled out and even increased, mainly after 18 to 20 h. Somatic cell count showed a similar trend, and protein content did not change steadily. Dry matter intake, body weight and body condition score were not affected by contrasting milking intervals. After resumption of TDM with conventional intervals, productions of milk, fat and protein no longer differed between the TDM groups. Milk yield of previously ODM cows remained lower by 2 kg/day (P = 0.15) in experiments 1 and 2, and by 7 kg/day (P < 0.05) in experiment 3. These results suggest that TDM at contrasting intervals up to 5 : 19 h is feasible as it decreases milk yield only moderately, especially if implemented from peak of lactation.

Once-a-day milking of Holstein and Montbéliarde cows for 7 weeks in mid-lactation.

This study aimed at comparing the effects of once-a-day (OAD) milking during the descending phase of lactation between cows from the two most common breeds in France (Holstein and Montbéliarde). This study was carried on during two successive summers on a total of 50 Holstein and 38 Montbéliarde cows. During 7 weeks, half of the cows from each breed was milked OAD while the other half was milked twice a day (TAD). The animals were also followed for the next 3 or 5 weeks when they were all milked TAD, to check for any residual effect of OAD milking. The behaviour of OAD cows was observed around milking time. The incidence of diseases, the main performance variables (milk production, milk flow rate, live weight and body condition score), the detailed composition of milk (fat, protein, lactose, somatic cells, minerals, pH, free fatty acid (FFA), nitrogen fractions and enzymes) and some technological variables (clotting time and curd firmness) were measured on all cows.Some signs of disturbance were observed in the OAD cows at the time when milking was omitted: some cows mooed, some went close to the exit of the paddock, some leaked milk prior to milking. However, these signs disappeared after 2 days. After the experimental period, the live weight and the body condition score of TAD and OAD cows did not differ significantly. OAD cows produced 4.5 kg/day less than TAD (P < 0.001), this being more marked in Holstein (5.7 kg/day, P < 0.001) than Montbéliarde (3.3 kg/day, P < 0.001) cows. The milk contents of fat, whey protein, casein, total protein and phosphorus, and its plasminogen activity, were higher with OAD cows while lactose and FFA contents, and lipoprotein lipase activity were lower, with no interaction observed with breed. During the subsequent 3 weeks, when all cows were again milked TAD, OAD cows still produced 1.7 kg/day less milk (P < 0.01) with slightly higher fat and protein content.OAD milking for 7 weeks during the descending phase of lactation decreased milk production but increased milk content of most components, with a low residual effect. Montbéliarde cows were less affected by OAD milking than Holstein cows.

[Methotrexate for the treatment of patients with chronic cutaneous sarcoidosis: 4 cases]. / Traitement de la sarcoïdose cutanée par le méthotrexate: 4 observations.

INTRODUCTION: Pathogenesis of sarcoidosis remains partially unknown. Cutaneous lesions are frequent (20 to 35% of cases). Their clinical features and follow-up data are highly variable. Numerous treatments have been proposed. The clinical features and follow up data of four patients with chronic cutaneous sarcoidosis treated with methotrexate are reported. CASE REPORT: Mean age of patients (3 female, 1 male) was 40 years old (34-49 years). One patient presented with a lupus pernio, two patients with papules and nodules, and the last with an annular lesion of the face. All patients had been previously treated with topical corticosteroids and/or hydroxychloroquine without any success. Patients were treated with methotrexate at doses ranging from 12.5 mg to 30 mg per week for at least 6 months. Complete remission of cutaneous lesions was observed in 3 of 4 patients after a mean treatment duration of 29 months (16 to 36). Methotrexate side effects were observed in one patient (elevated liver enzymes) leading to methotrexate discontinuation. DISCUSSION: Methotrexate seems to be an effective treatment of cutaneous sarcoidosis. It should be used namely in patients who failed to respond to previous treatments with topical corticosteroids or antimalarial drugs.

Factors contributing to variation in the proportion of casein in cows' milk true protein: a review of recent INRA experiments.

The aim of this study was to identify and rank the various factors, in particular those involving feeding, that affect the proportion of caseins in milk true protein. Twenty-nine feeding trials involving 821 lactations were assessed, and lactoprotein genetic variants were known for 551 of these. The main factor affecting the casein: protein ratio was the genetic variant of beta-lactoglobulin: once corrected for other factors, the milk of BB type animals had a ratio nearly 30 g/kg total protein higher than AA animals. kappa-Casein variant B also had a positive effect (+12 g/kg in favour of BB relative to AA animals). Except in the last weeks of pregnancy and the first weeks of lactation, the casein: protein ratio varied little during lactation. It was significantly reduced when milk cell count exceeded 200,000 cells/ml, even in the absence of clinical mastitis. It also decreased slightly with parity. Among the various dietary factors studied (level and type of nitrogen and energy supplies, forage type and preservation method), none had any significant effect on the milk casein: protein ratio, except in drastic dietary situations. That ratio increased very slightly in parallel with the animals' milk yield and milk protein content. In practice, measuring the milk protein content in animals free from clinical mastitis remains a very precise predictor of casein content, accounting for 93% of its variation.

Contact dermatitis from a textile flame retardant.

We report a case of contact sensitivity to Flammentin ASN, a flame retardant used on cotton and wool. The patient was a painter who was protecting his face with a white cotton cap. He presented with eczema of the forehead at the sites of cap contact. Patch tests with the treated cap and flame retardant were positive; a formaldehyde patch test was negative. Flame retardants are used in construction, materials and textiles. Contact sensitivity is rarely described and we compare our case to those published in the literature.

[Squamous cell carcinoma and disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis]. / Carcinome spinocellulaire et porokératose actinique superficielle disséminée.

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis was first described by Chernosky and Anderson in 1969. It is characterized by multiple small keratotic lesions on sun-exposed areas beginning in the third of fourth decade. The development of a squamous cell carcinoma within lesions of porokeratosis or the association of superficial actinic porokeratosis with immunosuppression have been well documented. We report the case of a 68-year-old patient who presented actinic porokeratosis associated with rapidly evolutive squamous cell carcinoma of the leg. During the hospitalization, an IgA myeloma was discovered. The authors discuss the relationship between porokeratosis, immunosuppression, and squamous cell carcinoma. Pathogenesis of the lesions is interesting because it is admitted that a keratinocyte clone which carries the porokeratosis abnormality is going to proliferate because of immunosuppression, trauma and infectious diseases. It seems important to search for immunosuppression in patients presenting porokeratosis because the incidence of malignant transformation may increase.

Umbilical Paget's disease and prostatic carcinoma.

We report a case of umbilical Paget's disease occurring in a patient with a prostatic carcinoma. No other malignancy was found, and the patient was treated by surgical excision of the lesion. To our knowledge, the occurrence of extramammary Paget's disease of the umbilicus has not been reported previously. The clinical presentation, its association with prostatic carcinoma, and the possible pathogenesis are discussed.

[Acral erythema after allogeneic graft of the bone marrow]. / Erythème acral après greffe de moelle osseuse allogénique.

Acral erythema (AE) is a painful, erythematous bullous eruption of the palms and soles which is chemotherapy-induced. To the numerous chemotherapies which induce AE we must add, perhaps, a new drug, Vépéside. AE is followed by graft-versus-host-disease in all patients receiving bone marrow transplantation. AE and early GVH disease being very similar, we discuss the differential diagnosis which can be very difficult.

[Psoriatic onycho-pachydermo-periostitis]. / Onycho-pachydermo-périostite psoriasique.

Psoriatic-onycho-pachydermo-periostitis is a particular form of psoriatic arthropathy recently described, which combine psoriatic onychosis, thickening of the distal soft tissues and osteo-periostitis of the distal phalanx without lesion of the interphalangeal joint. Biological examinations are normal. Radiological lesions show a phalanx condensation which gives a spicule aspect. Two cases of onycho-pachydermo-periostitis are described. We report the first one with all the fingers and toes concerned.

Milking of cows in late pregnancy: milk production during this period and during the succeeding lactation.

Fifteen lactating cows were milked throughout pregnancy, and the effects on milk performance were studied during this period and during the succeeding lactation, relative to 11 conventionally managed cows (2 months dry before calving) as controls. During the last 2 months of pregnancy, only nine cows did not dry off spontaneously. Protein and fat concentrations in milk increased rapidly, but the concentration of lactose, corrected for milk yield, did not change. The ratios of individual caseins to total protein decreased with the quantity of milk produced, but only for yields below approximately 6 kg/d. The relative proportion of kappa-casein tended to decrease in the last milkings. During the succeeding lactation (first 15 weeks after calving and first 6 weeks of grazing) continuously milked cows yielded 4 kg milk/d less than the cows of the other group. The protein content of their milk was higher (2-3 g/kg depending on the period) than that of the control group, and the lactose content tended (P less than 0.10) to be lower. Changes in the relative proportions of nitrogenous fractions with time were not different in the two groups. Differences between the two groups in the concentration of protein in milk, and in the concentration of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids in the plasma, suggest a better energy balance for the continuously milked cows during the succeeding lactation.

Plasma osteocalcin concentrations in cows around parturition. The influence of a regular versus a very short dry period.

Plasma Ca, P, Mg and OC concentrations were compared between 2 groups of Holstein cows around 2nd calving. Thirteen cows were milked until their daily milk production was lower than 2 kg, which occurred 4 d before parturition. The control group (8 cows) was normally dried 8 weeks before the expected time of calving. Apart from the week following the initiation of the dry period where plasma OC concentrations were significantly lower in dried cows than in the control group (which would indicate lower bone remodeling in dried cows), no significant difference concerning Ca, P, Mg and OC concentrations were observed between the 2 groups of cows. This indicates that the only lack of 1 8-week-long dry period probably has no major immediate effect upon Ca and bone metabolism in young dairy cows given a convenient Ca and P daily intake. Nevertheless, the lack of the dried period might protect the cow against parturient hypocalcemia: the decrease in plasma Ca and P concentrations observed 12 h after calving was less intense in non-dried cows than in controls.

Body composition of dairy cows according to lactation stage, somatotropin treatment, and concentrate supplementation.

Body weight, condition score, deuteriated water dilution space, estimated body lipids and proteins, and calculated energy and protein balances were determined in 24 multiparous Holstein cows at wk 1, 7, 20, and 39 after parturition. Cows received two levels of energy concentrate (high and low groups) from wk 3. The objective was to estimate changes in body composition as affected by stage of lactation, concentrate level, and bST administration or placebo from wk 9 in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Cows from high and low energy groups lost 25 and 35 kg of body lipids and 3.3 and .5 kg of body proteins, respectively, during the first 7 wk of lactation. During the end of the winter period (wk 8 to 20), control and bST-injected cows lost 8.5 and 21.1 kg of body lipids, respectively. During the grazing period (wk 20 to 39), bST-injected cows gained more BW (34 kg), water (36 kg), and estimated proteins (5.8 kg) and lost more condition score (-.2 units) and estimated lipids (-11.5 kg) than controls. Using data from control periods, it was calculated that 1 unit change in body condition score corresponded to changes of 35 to 44 kg in BW (corrected for estimated gut content variation), 21 to 29 kg in body lipids, and 200 to 300 Mcal in body energy. One kilogram of corrected BW change corresponded to a change of 4.3 or 5.5 to 5.9 Mcal in body energy when calculated from cumulative energy balances or body components, respectively.