Relación entre el estímulo musical y la producción de leche en madres con recién nacidos menores de 34 semanas en un centro de terapia intensiva: una experiencia de musicoterapia en Uruguay / Relationship between musical stimulation and milk production in mothers with newborns younger than 34 weeks old in an intensive care center: a music therapy experience in Uruguay / Relação entre o estímulo musical e a produção de leite materno em mães com recém nascidos menores de 34 semanas de vida assistidos no centro de terapia intensiva: experiencia de musicoterapia no Uruguai

Introducción: La relación entre producción de leche materna y la música ha sido reportada en diversas publicaciones científicas. No hay publicaciones en Uruguay que analicen esta relación. Este estudio fue realizado por el Instituto Universitario CEDIIAP junto a la Universidad ORT, el Banco de Leche Humana del Hospital Pereira Rossell (CHPR), de la Administración de los Servicios de Salud del Estado. Fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética del CHPR. Objetivo: evidenciar la relación entre el estímulo musical y la producción de leche de madres de recién nacidos pretérmino internados en Cuidados Intensivos del CHPR. Material y métodos: estudio cuasiexperimental, de corte longitudinal, prospectivo, diseño doble: intervención antes después y en paralelo (un grupo contra el otro) utilizando audición de canciones elegidas por las madres con andamiento modificado. Criterios de inclusión: cohorte de madres de recién nacidos ≤ 34 semanas de gestación, sin alimentación a pecho directo, medicación psiquiátrica o que afectara la producción de leche. Se analizó cortisol en saliva y volumen de leche. Como análisis multivariado final, se aplicó el modelo lineal general de medidas repetitivas. Resultados: el estudio se realizó entre marzo de 2017 y agosto de 2018 con 31 madres (15 intervención, 16 control). El grupo intervención presentó mayor producción láctea en los 2 primeros días y disminución del 57 % en niveles de cortisol frente al grupo control. Conclusiones: más allá de las limitaciones del trabajo, los resultados apuntan a que la musicoterapia podría colaborar en la disminución del estrés, el disfrute de la lactancia materna y, consecuentemente, en una mayor producción de leche.

Introduction: the relationship between breast milk production and music has been previously reported in several peer reviewed journals. There are no studies in Uruguay analyzing this relationship. The present study was performed by the CEDIIAP University Institute jointly with the ORT University, at the Pereira Rossell Hospital Human Milk Bank (CHPR) of the Administration of State Health Services (ASSE) in Montevideo. It has been approved by the CHPR's Ethics Committee. Objective: demonstrate the influence of musical stimulation on milk production of mothers with preterm newborns admitted in the CHPR Neonatology Intensive Care Unit. Material and Methods: longitudinal, prospective experimental study with double design: intervention before, simultaneous (one group against the other) and after the study. We used the music therapy technique of listening to songs chosen by the mothers and modified gait. Milk volume was quan- tified, and cortisol presence was analyzed in saliva. The General Linear Model of repetitive measures was applied. Inclusion criteria: cohort of mothers of newborns ≤ 34 weeks of gestation, without direct breastfeeding, psychiatric medication or affecting milk production. Saliva cortisol levels and milk volume were analyzed. As a final multivariate analysis, the General Linear Model of repetitive measures was applied. Results: the study was carried out from March 2017 till August 2018 with a total of 31 mothers (15 intervention, 16 control). Higher milk production in the first two days and a decrease of 57% in cortisol levels were observed in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusions: in spite of the limitations of this paper, our results suggest that music therapy can help to reduce the stress and increase the enjoyment of breastfeeding and consequently generate a higher milk production.

Introducion: a relação entre produção do leite materno e a música foi apontada com evidências científicas em vários jornais. Não existem publicações no Uruguai que analisem esta relação. Este estudo foi realizado pelo Instituto universitário CEDIIAP junto com a Universidade ORT, o Banco de Leite Humano do Hospital Pereira Rossell (CHPR) da Administração dos Serviços de Saúde do Estado. Foi aprovado pelo Comité de Ética do CHPR. Objetivo: evidenciar a relação entre o estímulo musical e a produção do leite de mães com recém nascidos prematuros internados na unidade de cuidados intensivos do CHPR. Material e metodo: estudo quase experimental de corte longitudinal, prospectivo com desenho duplo: intervenção antes, depois e em paralelo (um grupo contra o outro) utilizando a audição de canções escolhidas pelas mães e andamento modificado. Critérios de inclusão: coorte de mães de recém nascidos ≤ 34 semanas de gestação sem alimentação a peito direto, nem medicação psiquiátrica ou que afetara a produção de leite. Foi analisado o cortisol em saliva e o volumem de leite. Aplicouse o Modelo Linear General de medidas repetitivas como análise multivariado final. Resultados: o estudo foi realizado entre março 2017 e agosto 2018 com 31 mães (15 do grupo intervenção, 16 do grupo controle). Foi observada maior produção láctea no grupo de intervenção nos dois primeiros dias e diminuição de 57% nos níveis de cortisol em relação ao grupo controle. Conclusões: além das limitações do paper, os resultados apontam para que a musicoterapia poderia colaborar na diminuição do estresse, o desfrute da lactância materna e consequentemente poderiam resultar em uma maior produção de leite.

Association between Milk Intake and All-Cause Mortality among Chinese Adults: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effect of milk intake on all-cause mortality among Chinese adults. The present study aimed to explore the association between milk intake and all-cause mortality in the Chinese population. METHODS: Data from 1997 to 2015 of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) were used. A total of 14,738 participants enrolled in the study. Dietary data were obtained by three day 24-h dietary recall. All-cause mortality was assessed according to information reported. The association between milk intake and all-cause mortality were explored using Cox regression and further stratified with different levels of dietary diversity score (DDS) and energy intake. RESULTS: 11,975 (81.25%) did not consume milk, 1341 (9.10%) and 1422 (9.65%) consumed 0.1-2 portions/week and >2 portions/week, respectively. Milk consumption of 0.1-2 portions/week was related to the decreased all-cause mortality (HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41-0.85). In stratified analysis, consuming 0.1-2 portions/week was associated with decreased all-cause mortality among people with high DDS and energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: Milk intake is low among Chinese adults. Consuming 0.1-2 portions of milk/week might be associated with the reduced risk of death among Chinese adults by advocating health education. Further research is required to investigate the relationships between specific dairy products and cause-specific mortality.

Consumption of Dairy Products and the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer in Polish Women.

Lack of consistency in the relationship between dairy products consumption and breast cancer (BC) risk motivated us to evaluate this association in a case-control study of BC among Polish women. The study includes 1699 women 26-79 years of age, 823 BC cases identified in Cancer Registries and 876 randomly selected controls from the national population registry. Using a validated, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the consumption of dairy products was collected for a time period of 10-15 years prior to BC diagnosis. We used logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders, to assess the relationship between total dairy consumption as well as individual dairy groups of milk, cottage cheese and hard cheese and BC risk for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. For total consumption, a significant decrease in BC risk was observed with increased consumption of one serving/week, OR trend = 0.98, 2% decrease in risk, for premenopausal women only. For milk, a significant decrease in BC risk was observed for an increase in consumption of one glass/week, OR trend = 0.95, 5% decrease, in both strata of menopause. In contrast, for hard cheese, a significant increase in the risk of 10% was observed only in premenopausal women, OR trend = 1.10. Cottage cheese consumption significantly reduced BC risk by 20%, OR trend = 0.80, for an increase in one serving/week for postmenopausal women only. Our results show that individual dairy products have a statistically significant but bi-directional relationship with BC risk, which differs for premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Association between Milk Intake and Incident Stroke among Japanese Community Dwellers: The Iwate-KENCO Study.

We aimed to evaluate the association between the milk consumption and incident stroke in a Japanese population, where milk consumption is lower than that of Western countries. In total, 14,121 participants (4253 men and 9868 women) aged 40-69 years, free from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were prospectively followed for 10.7 years. Participants were categorized into four groups according to the milk intake frequency obtained from a brief-type self-administered diet questionnaire. The adjusted HRs of total stroke, ischemic stroke and haemorrhagic stroke associated with milk intake frequency were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. During the follow-up, 478 stroke cases were detected (208 men and 270 women). Compared to women with a milk intake of <2 cups/week, those with an intake of 7 to <12 cups/week had a significantly low risk of ischemic stroke in a model adjusting CVD risk factors; the HR (95% CI) was 0.53 (0.32-0.88). No significant associations were found in men. This study suggested that milk intake of 7 to <12 cups/week decreased the risk of ischemic stroke in Japanese women. Milk intake of about 1 to <2 cups/day may be effective in the primary prevention of ischemic stroke in a population with low milk intake.

Type of Milk Feeding and Introduction to Complementary Foods in Relation to Infant Sleep: A Systematic Review.

Inconsistent conclusions from infant sleep and feeding studies may influence parents feeding-related decisions. This study aimed to systematically review the existing literature on infant sleep and its relation to the timing of introduction to complementary foods and type of milk feeding to better understand their role(s) in infant sleep. Cohort, longitudinal, cross-sectional studies, and controlled trials were identified using online searches of five databases up to April 2020. Twenty-one articles with a total of 6225 infants under 12 months-of-age were eligible. Exclusively breastfed infants (≤6 months-of-age) had a greater number of night wakings, but most studies (67%) reported no difference in night-time and 24 h sleep duration compared to formula-fed infants. However, after 6 months-of-age, most studies (>65%) reported breastfed infants to sleep less in the night-time and over 24 h compared to formula-fed infants. Furthermore, studies reported no association between the timing of introduction to complementary foods and infant sleep duration (<12 months-of-age). Future studies using standardized methodologies and definitions, transdisciplinary expertise, and longitudinal design are required to better understand the complex role of feeding on sleep.

Is High Milk Intake Good for Children's Health? A National Population-Based Observational Cohort Study.

Milk is widely considered as a beneficial product for growing children. This study was designed to describe the milk consumption status of Korean children aged 30-36 months and to investigate its association with the risk of obesity and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This nationwide administrative study used data from the Korean national health insurance system and child health screening examinations for children born in 2008 and 2009. In total, 425,583 children were included, and they were divided into three groups based on daily milk consumption: low milk group (do not drink or drink <200 mL milk per day, n = 139,659), reference group (drink 200-499 mL milk per day, n = 255,670), and high milk group (drink ≥500 mL milk per day, n = 30,254). After adjusting variable confounding factors, the consumption of a large amount of milk of ≥500 mL per day at the age of 30-36 months was associated with an increased risk of obesity at the age of 42-72 months and IDA after the age of 30 months. These results may provide partial evidence for dietary guidelines for milk consumption in children that are conducive to health.

The Association between Milk Intake and Nutrient Intake Adequacy among Japanese Female Junior High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The consumption of dairy products, including milk, may be important for improving the overall quality of a diet. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between milk intake and nutritional adequacy among Japanese female junior high school students. The participants of this study were Japanese female junior high school students aged between 12 and 15 years. Dietary habits over the past month were assessed by a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. The adequacy of each nutrient intake was determined based on the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese 2020, with two goals: the estimated average requirement for fourteen nutrients and tentative dietary goals for preventing lifestyle-related diseases for six nutrients. The participants were classified into five groups according to milk intake (Q1 (lowest) to Q5 (highest)) by quintile. The adequacy of vitamin B2, calcium, magnesium, and potassium were higher among students with a higher milk consumption than among those with a lower milk consumption. However, the intake of saturated fatty acids was in excess among higher milk consumers. The present study suggests that milk intake was related to an adequate intake of some vitamins and minerals and an inadequate intake of saturated fatty acids among Japanese female junior high school students.

Influence of lactation number and parity on milk yield of Saanen goat's breed / [Influência do número de lactação e paridade na produção de leite da raça de cabras Saanen]

The aim of this research was to determine the influence of lactation number and parity on milk yield of Saanen goat's breed. It has been concluded that milk yield was higher for goats that had given birth to twins and three kids than for goats that had given birth to a single kid (P<0.05). The longevity has a great positive impact on production, given that goats in the fifth lactation produced more milk than goats in first or second lactation (P<0.05), while goats in the sixth lactation still produced more milk than goats in first lactation (P<0.05). During the period from 2014- 2019, the research was conducted on a farm of multiparous Saanen goats in Vojvodina (northern part of Serbia). In the observed period, the farm had between 350 and 400 goats per milking, and the research included a total of 1,628 concluded lactations, within which the first lactations were the most 484, then the second 381. According to the number of lactations, goats were grouped into classes from one to seven and from one to three for parity. By comparing each individual lactation, it was determined that in first lactation goats produced significantly lower milk than goats in the rest lactations(P<0.05), except the seventh. Research has shown that lactation number has a significant influence on milk yield (P=0.00). Increasing the fertility of goats significantly affects the production capacity of dairy goats, since does with a larger number of kids in the litter had a significantly higher milk production (P<0.05). Due to the larger number of kids in the litter, milk production also increases. Likewise, it is assumed that the increase in milk yield of goats with two and three kids is a consequence of a larger placenta, i.e. stronger lactogenic activity during pregnancy.(AU)

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar a influência do número de lactações e da paridade na produção de leite da raça de cabras Saanen. Concluiu-se que a produção de leite era maior para caprinos que haviam dado à luz gêmeos e três cordeiros do que para caprinos que haviam dado à luz um único cordeiro (P<0,05). A longevidade tem um grande impacto positivo na produção, dado que as cabras na quinta lactação produziram mais leite do que as cabras na primeira ou segunda lactação (P<0,05), enquanto as cabras na sexta lactação ainda produziram mais leite do que as cabras na primeira lactação (P<0,05). Durante o período de 2014- 2019, a pesquisa foi realizada numa fazenda de cabras Saanen multipares em Voivodina (parte norte da Sérvia). No período observado, a fazenda tinha entre 350 e 400 cabras por ordenha, e a pesquisa incluiu um total de 1.628 lactações concluídas, dentro das quais as primeiras lactações foram as mais 484, depois as segundas 381. De acordo com o número de lactações, as cabras foram agrupadas em classes de um a sete e de um a três para paridade. Comparando cada lactação individual, determinou-se que na primeira lactação as cabras produziram leite significativamente menor do que as cabras nas demais lactações (P<0,05), exceto a sétima. Pesquisas mostraram que o número de lactações tem uma influência significativa na produção de leite (P=0,00). O aumento da fertilidade das cabras afeta significativamente a capacidade de produção de caprinos leiteiros, já que com um número maior de cabritos na ninhada a produção de leite foi significativamente maior (P<0,05). Devido ao maior número de cabritos na ninhada, a produção de leite também aumenta. Da mesma forma, assume-se que o aumento na produção de leite de cabras com dois e três cabritos é uma consequência de uma placenta maior, ou seja, de uma atividade lactogênica mais forte durante a gestação.(AU)

Rates and time trends in the consumption of breastmilk, formula, and animal milk by children younger than 2 years from 2000 to 2019: analysis of 113 countries.

BACKGROUND: Previous analyses of trends in feeding indicators of children younger than 2 years have been limited to low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to assess time trends in the consumption of different types of milk (breastmilk, formula, and animal milk) by children younger than 2 years from 2000 to 2019 at a global level. METHODS: In this time-series analysis, we combined cross-sectional data from 487 nationally representative surveys from low-income and middle-income countries and information from high-income countries to estimate seven infant and young child feeding indicators in up to 113 countries. Multilevel linear models were used in pooled analyses to estimate annual changes in feeding practices from 2000 to 2019 for country income groups and world regions. FINDINGS: For the absolute average annual changes, we found significant gains in any breastfeeding at age 6 months in high-income countries (1·29 percentage points [PPs] per year [95% CI 1·12 to 1·45]; p<0·0001) and at age 1 year in high-income countries (1·14 PPs per year [0·99 to 1·28]; p<0·0001) and upper-middle-income countries (0·53 PPs per year [0·23 to 0·82]; p<0·0001). We also found a small reduction in low-income countries for any breastfeeding at age 6 months (-0·07 PPs per year [-0·11 to -0·03]; p<0·0001) and age 1 year (-0·13 PPs per year [-0·18 to -0·09]; p<0·0001). Data on exclusive breastfeeding and consumption of formula and animal milk were only available for low-income and middle-income countries, where exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life increased by 0·70 PPs per year (0·51-0·88; p<0·0001) to reach 48·6% (41·9-55·2) in 2019. Exclusive breastfeeding increased in all world regions except for the Middle East and north Africa. Formula consumption in the first 6 months of life increased in upper-middle-income countries and in east Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and north Africa, and eastern Europe and central Asia, whereas the rates remained below 8% in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Animal milk consumption by children younger than 6 months decreased significantly (-0·41 PPs per year [-0·51 to -0·31]; p<0·0001) in low-income and middle-income countries. INTERPRETATION: We found some increases in exclusive and any breastfeeding at age 6 months in various regions and income groups, while formula consumption increased in upper-middle-income countries. To achieve the global target of 70% exclusive breastfeeding by 2030, however, rates of improvement will need to be accelerated. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through WHO.

Prediction of cow's fertility based on data recorded by automatic milking system during the periparturient period.

The results of most studies show the beneficial effect of milking automation on production parameters of dairy cows, but its effect on fertility traits is debatable. Therefore, a study was undertaken to predict cow fertility - services per conception (SC) and calving interval (CI) - based on automatic milking system (AMS) data collected in the periparturient period subdivided into the second and first week before calving, 1-4, 5-7, 8-14, 15-21 and 22-28 days of lactation. SC and CI were predicted using daily indicators such as concentrate intake, number of milkings, cow box time, milking time, milking speed, colostrum and milk yield, composition, temperature and electrical conductivity. The study material was derived from the AMS management system and from the SYMLEK milk recording system. The analysis covered data for 16,329 milkings of 398 Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) cows, which were used in three AMS herds. The collected numerical data were statistically analysed by correlation analysis in parallel with decision tree technique (SAS statistical package). The present study showed that due to the low, mostly non-significant coefficients of correlation between AMS data collected between 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after calving, it is not possible to predict cow fertility based on single traits. It has been established that the decision tree method may help breeders, already during the postcalving period, to choose the level of factors associated with AMS milking, which will ensure good fertility of cows in a herd. The most favourable number of services per conception is to be expected from cows that were milked <1.6 times per day from 1 to 4 days of lactation and electrical conductivity of their colostrum did not exceed 69 mS during that time. In turn, shortest CI (366 days) will be characteristic of the cows whose average daily colostrum yield did not exceed 20.2 kg and their daily concentrate intake from 8 to 14 days of lactation was at least 5.0 kg.

Evidence for a causal association between milk intake and cardiometabolic disease outcomes using a two-sample Mendelian Randomization analysis in up to 1,904,220 individuals.

BACKGROUND: High milk intake has been associated with cardio-metabolic risk. We conducted a Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to obtain evidence for the causal relationship between milk consumption and cardio-metabolic traits using the lactase persistence (LCT-13910 C > T, rs4988235) variant as an instrumental variable. METHODS: We tested the association of LCT genotype with milk consumption (for validation) and with cardio-metabolic traits (for a possible causal association) in a meta-analysis of the data from three large-scale population-based studies (1958 British Birth Cohort, Health and Retirement study, and UK Biobank) with up to 417,236 participants and using summary statistics from consortia meta-analyses on intermediate traits (N = 123,665-697,307) and extended to cover disease endpoints (N = 86,995-149,821). RESULTS: In the UK Biobank, carriers of 'T' allele of LCT variant were more likely to consume milk (P = 7.02 × 10-14). In meta-analysis including UK Biobank, the 1958BC, the HRS, and consortia-based studies, under an additive model, 'T' allele was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) (Pmeta-analysis = 4.68 × 10-12) and lower total cholesterol (TC) (P = 2.40 × 10-36), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 2.08 × 10-26) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 9.40 × 10-13). In consortia meta-analyses, 'T' allele was associated with a lower risk of coronary artery disease (OR:0.86, 95% CI:0.75-0.99) but not with type 2 diabetes (OR:1.06, 95% CI:0.97-1.16). Furthermore, the two-sample MR analysis showed a causal association between genetically instrumented milk intake and higher BMI (P = 3.60 × 10-5) and body fat (total body fat, leg fat, arm fat and trunk fat; P < 1.37 × 10-6) and lower LDL-C (P = 3.60 × 10-6), TC (P = 1.90 × 10-6) and HDL-C (P = 3.00 × 10-5). CONCLUSIONS: Our large-scale MR study provides genetic evidence for the association of milk consumption with higher BMI but lower serum cholesterol levels. These data suggest no need to limit milk intakes with respect to cardiovascular disease risk, with the suggested benefits requiring confirmation in further studies.

Milk Consumption and Respiratory Function in Asthma Patients: NHANES Analysis 2007-2012.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma prevalence has steadily risen since the 1980s. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we investigated associations between milk consumption and pulmonary function (PF). Multivariable analyses were performed, adjusted for a priori potential confounders for lung function, within the eligible total adult population (n = 11,131) and those self-reporting asthma (n = 1,542), included the following variables: milk-consumption, asthma diagnosis, forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC%-predicted (%), forced expiratory volume in one-second (FEV1), FEV1% and FEV1/FVC. Within the total population, FEV1% and FVC% were significantly associated with regular (5+ days weekly) consumption of exclusively 1% milk in the prior 30-days (ß:1.81; 95% CI: [0.297, 3.325]; p = 0.020 and ß:1.27; [0.16, 3.22]; p = 0.046). Among participants with asthma, varied-regular milk consumption in a lifetime was significantly associated with FVC (ß:127.3; 95% CI: [13.1, 241.4]; p = 0.002) and FVC% (ß:2.62; 95% CI: [0.44, 4.80]; p = 0.006). No association between milk consumption and FEV1/FVC was found, while milk-type had variable influence and significance. Taken together, we found certain milk consumption tendencies were associated with pulmonary function values among normal and asthmatic populations. These findings propound future investigations into the potential role of dairy consumption in altering lung function and asthma outcomes, with potential impact on the protection and maintenance of pulmonary health.

Food group intakes and all-cause mortality among a young older Japanese population of the same age: the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation Project.

Evaluating the effects of dietary intake on mortality in older populations has become increasingly important in modern aging societies. The objective of the present study was to investigate the associations between food group intakes and all-cause mortality among a young older population. We conducted a prospective study on 1,324 men and 1,338 women aged 64-65 years at baseline who were living in a suburban city from 1996 to 2005. The participants were followed for all-cause mortality from 1996 through 2015 to assess the effects of 17 food group intakes (g) per 1,000 kcal after multivariable adjustments in proportional hazard models. During follow-up (mean: 13.2 years), 339 deaths were registered. In women, total mortality was significantly and inversely associated with the consumption of milk and dairy products and vegetables. The hazard ratios across intake quartiles after multivariable adjustment were 1, 0.70 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-1.17), 0.66 (0.40-1.10), and 0.40 (0.22-0.75) (P for trend = 0.003) for milk and dairy products, and 1, 0.77 (0.46-1.28), 0.83 (0.50-1.38), and 0.42 (0.23-0.78) (P for trend = 0.008) for vegetables. In men, a positive association was found between total mortality and sugar and sweetener consumption (P for trend = 0.038). Higher consumption of milk and dairy products and vegetables was suggested to reduce all-cause mortality in young older women.

Yield gap in milk production is considerable in Indian Himalayan state of Meghalaya.

Yield gaps in milk production are here defined as the differentials between the actual yield obtained by the dairy farmer and the potential farm yield (production achieved by the top 10% of farmers: Gap 2) as well as the differential between this potential farm yield and the yield registered in the research stations (Gap 1). Assessment of yield gaps provides valuable information on potential production enhancement and drivers behind yield gaps. Milk production can be increased by narrowing the predominant large yield gaps in resource-poor smallholder farming system. Hence, this study assessed the milk yield gap and factors affecting the yield gap in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, a state located in the north-eastern Himalayan region of India. This research paper provides a scope for exploring the possibilities for improving dairy production in the state as well as contributing to literature through incorporating crucial determinants responsible for milk yield gap. A sample of 81 respondents was drawn purposely from two blocks of the district. The results indicated that the average number of cattle per household was 9.38 in standard animal units. The total yield gap was estimated at 6.20 l (91.06%) per day, composed of 0.80 l (11.76%) per day of yield gap I and 5.40 l (79.30%) per day of yield gap II. This demonstrates that the top performing farms were achieving a production level not dissimilar to that obtained on the research stations, but many were doing far less well. The size of cattle shed, dairy farming experience, concentrate price and human labour were the important determinants of the yield gap. Hence, encouraging the right stocking density of cattle, training on the preparations of home-made concentrates, access to cheap and quality concentrates, incorporating training and experience sharing on proper dairy management practices and use of technology could benefit the dairy farmers of the region.

Is milk and dairy intake a preventive factor for elderly cognition (dementia and Alzheimer's)? A quality review of cohort surveys.

Milk and dairy (M&D) is a longstanding human food with widespread use. Many studies showed the preventive capacity of M&D in several human health disorders, but its utility in others is under discussion. Aging has been associated to elderly cognitive decline including dementia-Alzheimer syndrome (Dem-AD). The absence of a therapy to impede or postpone Dem-AD determines the need for its prevention, including nutritional factors. To evaluate the preventive capacity of M&D consumption in elderly Dem-AD we performed a systematic review in the main biomedical databases and information resources, but we present this study as a narrative review to discuss better the complexity of this subject. The elderly Dem-AD has a long pre-symptomatic period and the M&D intake has a widespread use. These determinants and the quality flaws of published studies impeach us to answer whether M&D consumption is preventive for Dem-AD. Moreover, two long Japanese cohorts suggest that M&D intake could prevent Dem-AD. Prospective cohorts beginning in midlife (or early life) could answer this question in the future.

Milk and Fermented Milk Intake and Parkinson's Disease: Cohort Study.

Milk and fermented milk consumption has been linked to health and mortality but the association with Parkinson's disease (PD) is uncertain. We conducted a study to investigate whether milk and fermented milk intakes are associated with incident PD. This cohort study included 81,915 Swedish adults (with a mean age of 62 years) who completed a questionnaire, including questions about milk and fermented milk (soured milk and yogurt) intake, in 1997. PD cases were identified through linkage with the Swedish National Patient and Cause of Death Registers. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were obtained from Cox proportional hazards regression models. During a mean follow-up of 14.9 years, 1251 PD cases were identified in the cohort. Compared with no or low milk consumption (<40 mL/day), the hazard ratios of PD across quintiles of milk intake were 1.29 (95% CI 1.07, 1.56) for 40-159 mL/day, 1.19 (95% CI 0.99, 1.42) for 160-200 mL/day, 1.29 (95% CI 1.08, 1.53) for 201-400 mL/day, and 1.14 (95% CI 0.93, 1.40) for >400 mL/day. Fermented milk intake was not associated with PD. We found a weak association between milk intake and increased risk of PD but no dose-response relationship. Fermented milk intake was not associated with increased risk of PD.

Milk Intake and Stroke Mortality in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study-A Bayesian Survival Analysis.

The aim of this study was to further examine the relationship between milk intake and stroke mortality among the Japanese population. We used data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study (total number of participants = 110,585, age range: 40-79) to estimate the posterior acceleration factors (AF) as well as the hazard ratios (HR) comparing individuals with different milk intake frequencies against those who never consumed milk at the study baseline. These estimations were computed through a series of Bayesian survival models that employed a Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation process. In total, 100,000 posterior samples were generated separately through four independent chains after model convergency was confirmed. Posterior probabilites that daily milk consumers had lower hazard or delayed mortality from strokes compared to non-consumers was 99.0% and 78.0% for men and women, respectively. Accordingly, the estimated posterior means of AF and HR for daily milk consumers were 0.88 (95% Credible Interval, CrI: 0.81, 0.96) and 0.80 (95% CrI: 0.69, 0.93) for men and 0.97 (95% CrI: 0.88, 1.10) and 0.95 (95% CrI: 0.80, 1.17) for women. In conclusion, data from the JACC study provided strong evidence that daily milk intake among Japanese men was associated with delayed and lower risk of mortality from stroke especially cerebral infarction.

Effect of Removing Chocolate Milk on Milk and Nutrient Intake Among Urban Secondary School Students.

INTRODUCTION: Schools across the United States have removed sweetened, flavored milk from cafeterias to reduce students' sugar consumption and improve their health. However, evidence on the impact of the removal is limited. We examined the effect of a policy that removed chocolate milk from secondary schools on students' milk consumption and estimated milk-related nutrient intake. METHODS: We collected data on milk selection and consumption during 1 lunch period in 24 California public secondary schools pre-policy (N = 3,158 students in 2016) and post-policy (N = 2,966 students in 2018). Schools had a student population that was 38% Asian and 29% Latino, with 63% qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. We used linear mixed effects models to assess changes in milk selection and waste, and we estimated related changes in added sugars, calcium, protein, and vitamin D consumed from milk. RESULTS: The proportion of students selecting milk declined 13.6%, from 89.5% pre-policy to 75.9% post-policy (95% CI for difference, 10.8% tο 16.4%), but the proportion of milk wasted remained stable (37.1% vs 39.3%; 95% CI for difference, -0.2% to 4.6%). Although average per-student milk consumption declined by less than 1 ounce per student (from 4.8 oz to 3.8 oz; 95% CI for difference, -1.1 oz to -0.7 oz), we observed no significant reductions in average per-student intake of calcium, protein, or vitamin D from milk. Estimated added sugars from milk declined significantly, by 3.1 grams per student (95% CI, -3.2 g to -2.9 g). CONCLUSION: Removing chocolate milk modestly reduced student milk consumption without compromising average intake of key milk-related nutrients, and consumption of added sugars from milk declined significantly. Secondary schools should consider removing chocolate milk to support healthy beverage consumption.

Culling reasons and risk factors in Estonian dairy cows.

BACKGROUND: Culling is a major cost for dairy farms but also an essential part in managing herd productivity. This study aimed to identify the culling rates of Estonian dairy cows, identify the farmers' stated reasons and risk factors for culling. This observational study used registry data of all cows from herds with ≥20 cow-years in 2013-2015. Cow lactation-level analyses included data of 86,373 primiparous cows from 409 herds and 177,561 lactations of 109,295 multiparous cows from 410 herds. Weibull proportional hazard regression models were used to identify risk factors for culling due to slaughter or death. RESULTS: The overall culling rate of Estonian dairy cows was 26.24 (95% CI 26.02; 26.46) per 100 cow-years. The most common reasons farmers stated for culling were feet/claw disorders (26.4%), udder disorders (22.6%), metabolic and digestive disorders (18.1%) and fertility problems (12.5%). Animal-level risk factors for culling were Holstein breed, older parity, lower milk yield breeding value, older age at first calving, longer previous calving interval, having assisted calving, stillbirth and birth of twins/triplets. Lower milk yield, somatic cell count over 200,000 cells/ml and fat/protein ratio over 1.5 at first test-milking after calving were associated with greater culling hazard during the lactation. Cows from larger herds, herds with decreasing size and higher milk yields had a higher culling probability. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasises the need for improved management of hoof health and prevention of mastitis and metabolic diseases. It is essential to ensure easy calving and good health of cows around calving in order to lower the culling hazard.

Antibiotic dry buffalo therapy: effect of intramammary administration of benzathine cloxacillin against Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in dairy water buffalo.

BACKGROUND: Mastitis is one of the most costly diseases in Mediterranean buffalo (MB). At present, just a few specific antibiotics registered for this dairy specie have been synthetized. Efficacy of an antibiotic dry buffalo therapy (aDBT) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) mastitis, based on intra-quarter administration of 600 mg of benzathine cloxacillin, have been evaluated for the first time. Eighty MB's quarters received a drying-off therapy (aDBT-group) and 80 were left untreated (no-aDBT-group). They were sampled at drying-off (pre-treatment) and at the resumption of milking [< 10 days in milk (DIM)]. Fresh calver mastitis rate, dry period new mastitis rate, dry period cure rate, and persistent mastitis rate were calculated for clinical monitoring. Overall proportion of positive quarters/animals, quarters affected by mastitis or intramammary infections (IMI), effects on somatic cell count (SCC) and milk yield were also assessed. RESULTS: An inter-group difference (aDBT vs. no-aDBT) was recorded for all the indexes considered. An intra-group (drying-off vs. < 10 DIM) difference was detected in aDBT-group regarding the proportion of positive-cultured quarters and animals. Concerning the latter, an inter-groups difference was also recorded at second sampling. No clinical mastitis due to the S. aureus was observed. Regarding the subclinical ones, a higher intra-group difference was observed in aDBT than no-aDBT group, while an inter-group difference was recorded at second sampling. No protective effect was observed against IMI. SCC showed an inter-group difference at second sampling, while none difference was instead detected for milk yield. CONCLUSIONS: The effects against S. aureus mastitis of benzathine cloxacillin administration at drying-off were assessed for the first time in MB. Its use shows encouraging results in reducing the proportion of mastitis and positive animals at the resumption of the lactation.