Kefir from goat milk is a functional fermented dairy product with probiotics, enhanced digestibility and a distinct nutritional profile. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the addition of different concentrations (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%) of locust bean gum (LBG) on some biofunctional and microbiological properties of goat milk kefir during 28 days of storage. Storage time was the predominant factor affecting microbial viability. Lactobacilli, lactococci, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and Leuconostoc spp. decreased mainly during the first 14 days of storage, whereas yeast counts increased throughout storage. LBG supplementation significantly affected lactococci, AAB, yeast populations and tyrosine content, whereas no significant effects were observed for lactobacilli, TMAB and Leuconostoc spp. Tyrosine content ranged from 0.082 to 0.121 mg/g and increased significantly during storage. Kefir samples exhibited antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella Typhimurium. Individual biogenic amine concentrations in kefir samples ranged between 9.72 and 50.08 mg/kg. Although histamine was significantly affected by treatment, the effect was not consistent across LBG inclusion levels. Total phenolic content ranged from 6.39 to 8.74 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g and increased significantly during storage, whereas antioxidant activity averaged 0.87 ± 0.25 µM Trolox/100 g and was not significantly affected by either LBG supplementation or storage time. Overall, storage time was the primary factor governing changes in goat milk kefir during refrigerated storage, whereas LBG supplementation exerted limited but selective effects depending on the quality parameter evaluated.
This study investigated the potential use of lyophilized soapwort (Gypsophila sp.) extract as a functional ingredient in set-type nonfat yogurt. Yogurt samples were supplemented with lyophilized soapwort extract at four different concentrations (Control: 0%, 0.025%, 0.050% and 0.100% w/w) and stored for 30 days at 4°C. The effects of the extract on the physicochemical (acidity, dry matter, protein and fat), textural, rheological, microstructural (scanning electron microscopy [SEM]) and sensory properties of the yogurts were evaluated. The addition of soapwort extract did not significantly affect the pH, titratable acidity, total solids, protein content or colour parameters (L*, a*, b*) of the samples. Although the total colour difference (ΔE*) was significantly influenced by the extract, the values remained below the visual detection threshold (ΔE* < 2). Regarding textural properties, the extract did not significantly affect viscosity or serum separation. However, gel hardness decreased significantly with increasing soapwort extract concentration, from 343.8 g in the control sample to 279.7 g in the sample containing the highest level of soapwort extract (0.100%). SEM revealed that the extract interfered with the casein network, leading to an irregular gel structure characterized by larger pores and smaller aggregates compared to the control. Sensory evaluation indicated that while higher concentrations reduced consumer acceptability due to textural changes and bitterness, the sample containing 0.025% extract was statistically comparable to the control. Consequently, 0.025% was identified as the optimum inclusion level. These findings suggest that dried soapwort extract can be successfully incorporated into yogurt at low concentrations to develop a novel functional dairy product.
This study addressed the hypothesis that 24-h patterns of behavioural variables of dairy cows for specific periods within a day (i.e., reflecting the 24-h behavioural pattern) are sensitive to increasing daily mean temperature-humidity index (THI) and may provide complementary information to daily mean behavioural variables based on full days. Meteorological data and behavioural sensor data, including lying duration, number of steps and number of postural changes, were retrieved from eight dairy farms. Eighteen behavioural variables were extracted using time windows informed by exploratory analysis across three THI categories. Several 24-h pattern variables reflecting behavioural changes for specific periods in a day had a consistent direction of correlation with the daily mean THI across farms on days with and/or without pasture access. For the daily mean variables, only the daily mean lying duration had a consistent direction of correlation with daily mean THI across farms on days without pasture access, and no daily mean variables had a consistent direction of correlation with daily mean THI across farms on days with pasture access. Generalized additive mixed models indicated that relationships between behavioural variables and daily mean THI were nonlinear. For most behavioural variables, the daily mean THI ranges in which the behavioural variables changed differed between days with and without pasture access. Some of the 24-h pattern behavioural variables exhibited a wider daily mean THI range with significant behavioural change than the daily mean variables. In conclusion, some of the variables derived from the 24-h behavioural pattern were highly sensitive to daily mean THI and could complement daily mean variables in the detection of heat stress. Dairy cows had more behavioural changes in response to increasing THI on days with pasture access than on days without pasture access.
This study evaluated the impact of synbiotic formulation on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) viability and quality attributes of yogurt during cold storage. Yogurt was manufactured with traditional starter cultures (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) with or without Lactobacillus acidophilus and enriched or not with freeze-dried banana powder, yielding three formulations: (i) conventional, (ii) probiotic and (iii) synbiotic. After fermentation at 41.5 °C to pH 4.7 ± 0.2, samples were stored at 4 °C and analysed on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 for LAB counts, physicochemical parameters (pH, titratable acidity, protein, moisture, ash, serum separation), total phenolic content, viscosity and sensory properties. The synbiotic formulation supported LAB viability throughout storage, while the probiotic formulation exhibited the highest LAB counts at the end of the storage period. However, the addition of banana powder also intensified post-acidification due to enhanced microbial metabolism, leading to lower pH and higher titratable acidity. From a structural perspective, interactions between banana-derived components and the casein network modified the gel microstructure, resulting in increased syneresis and reduced viscosity. These physicochemical changes were reflected in sensory properties, with the synbiotic yogurt showing slightly lower scores despite its functional benefits. In contrast, probiotic yogurt received the highest sensory scores in the trained panel evaluation. Overall, the findings demonstrate that banana-based prebiotic enrichment can support LAB viability and functional properties of yogurt but also induces structure-related changes that influence texture and stability. These results suggest that optimisation of ingredient interactions is important for balancing functionality and product quality in synbiotic dairy systems.
This study aimed to assess the prevalence, aetiology and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of mastitis in lactating she-camels on semi-intensive dromedary dairy farms. A total of 179 lactating camels from nine farms across five key regions were examined, with 716 udder quarters analysed. Mastitis was identified in 17.9% of animals and 9.4% of udder quarters (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 7.4-11.7), comprising clinical (7.3% of animals; 3.5% of quarters) and subclinical (10.6% of animals; 5.9% of quarters) forms. Bacteriological analysis revealed Staphylococcus aureus as the most frequently isolated pathogen (a combined prevalence 34.3%; 95% CI: 23.2-46.9), followed by Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 43 isolates showed high susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in both S. aureus (100%; 95% CI: 80.5-100) and Streptococcus spp. (100%; 95% CI: 78.2-100). For erythromycin, susceptibility was 100% (95% CI: 78.2-100) in Streptococcus spp. and 76.5% (95% CI: 50.1-93.2) in S. aureus. Conversely, E. coli exhibited high rates of resistance to tetracycline (72.7%; 95% CI: 39.0-94.0) and ampicillin (54.5%; 95% CI: 23.4-83.3), highlighting concerns about the efficacy of empirical treatment and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in this production context. These findings underscore the need for systematic udder health monitoring, evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship and improved biosecurity on semi-intensive camel dairy farms. This study contributes to the understanding of the microbial landscape and resistance profiles in camel dairy production, with implications for animal productivity, milk safety and public health within a One Health framework.
Abstract This review examines the role glycerophospholipids ( PL ) in dairy cow health, with specific focus on phosphatidylcholine ( PC ), phosphatidylethanolamine ( PE ), phosphatidylinositol ( PI ) and phosphatidylserine ( PS ). Increasing parity of cows is associated with lower concentrations of plasma PL that contain very long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, which are precursors for prostaglandin synthesis, and have anti-inflammatory roles. Low concentrations of these PL could plausibly contribute to the increased risk of disease, reproductive failure and mortality in older cows. The bioavailability and metabolism of fatty acids may differ among supplements that are predominately neutral lipids, such as triacylglycerol-rich oils, and those bound to PL including pasture, whole or ground oilseeds and fish meal. Hepatic lipidosis can occur during the transition period if there is insufficient very-low density lipoproteins ( VLDL ) production in the liver to transport lipids into blood circulation. The PC are the primary PL of VLDL and are produced by two main pathways in the liver, the cytidine diphosphate-choline pathway that uses choline as a substrate, and the PE N -methyltransferase pathway that uses PE and methyl-donors as substrates. Co-supplementation strategies that target both pathways may increase PC production over a one-pathway supplementation strategy. The PIs are phosphoinositides precursors, which have broad physiological roles including regulating inflammatory processes and may offer targets for novel treatment and management of disease. Both the PI and PE are precursors to endocannabinoids, important regulators of energy metabolism, immune function and reproduction in mammals. Early findings on the endocannabinoid system in transition dairy cows yielded results that diverge from non-ruminant models. The PS expression on cytoplasmic membranes signals apoptosis, coagulation and contributes to sperm–oocyte recognition. As lipidomic diagnostics become increasingly available, understanding the metabolism of PL will continue to develop and promises to offer novel strategies for optimising cattle health and longevity.
This study is an analysis of technical solutions to ensure the reliable operation of electric drives in dairy production under conditions of unstable power supply. The methodology involved the use of system analysis methods, the evaluation of technical solutions through the analysis of their characteristics and theoretical data processing to model the power supply system of a dairy plant. The study found that power supply instability, including voltage sags, pulse surges, phase failure and frequency deviations, reduces the productivity of the dairy plant. Modelling the power supply system using a generalised functional model helped to identify critical points, such as external grid instability and voltage asymmetry, which have the greatest impact on equipment operation. The assessment of power quality parameters revealed that voltage variations between phases (0.22-0.24 kV) often exceed the normal limit (0.23 kV), the zero-sequence unbalance factor reaches 3.0% (exceeding the 2% limit) and the sinusoidal distortion factor is 0.8-1.6%, with peaks for the second and fourth harmonics (0.74-0.80%). The analysis also revealed that pumps and coolers are the most sensitive to voltage sags, while milking machines are the most sensitive to frequency instability. The implementation of technical solutions such as uninterruptible power supplies, inverters, automatic backup power switches and voltage filters can reduce downtime by 50-90%, save energy by 10-25%, reduce harmonic distortion to < 5% and extend motor life by 20-30%. Integration of electric drives with automated control systems provides real-time monitoring, automatic control and alarms, minimising downtime and increasing process reliability. The practical significance of the results is to create a basis for increasing the efficiency and stability of the dairy industry, which contributes to the smooth functioning of production, reducing operating costs and ensuring high-quality products.
The worldwide adoption of automatic milking systems (AMSs) has expanded, attracting growing interest from researchers. Although several reviews have already been carried out regarding the features of AMS in confined systems, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on automated milking in pasture-based systems is still lacking. Therefore, this review set out to provide a bibliometric approach focused on pasture-based AMS to explore and map the extent of research in the scientific literature. Initially, a comprehensive search was carried out in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Then, a four-step PRISMA evaluation was applied on 235 identified articles, resulting in a final sample of 45 articles. Most studies were conducted in Europe (44%), in research herds (79%), involving Holstein-Friesian cows (76%), using automated milking from Lely (57%) and DeLaval brands (30%). White clover and perennial and annual ryegrass are the most commonly used pastures among the countries (87.5% vs. 75%). The main topics (33%) investigated over studies were milk production, composition and efficiency of AMS on pasture, followed by animal behaviour (27%), animal nutrition (16%), heat stress (9%), methane emissions (7%), health disorders (2%), economic viability (2%), somatic cell count and mastitis (2%) and energy consumption (2%). Concentrate allocation and heat stress were identified as emerging research areas that deserve greater attention in future studies. This study contributes to our understanding of scientific developments, trends and research gaps regarding pasture-based AMSs.
Yoghurt is a food product with strong sensory acceptance and health appeal, making its matrix a target for various innovative presentations and modifications. This study aimed to develop a yoghurt bar with the addition of probiotic microcapsules and to evaluate the effect of gelatine concentration on its chemical composition, microbiological stability, rheological properties and texture profile. Three formulations were developed: YB6 (6.66% gelatine dispersion), YB9 (9.33% gelatine dispersion) and YB12 (12% gelatine dispersion) Probiotics were microencapsulated by ionic gelation, achieving 93.46% encapsulation efficiency. Gelatine concentration influenced protein (YB6/YB9: 6.95 g.100 g-1; YB12: 7.65 g.100 g-1) and sodium content (YB6/YB9: 56.00 mg.100 g-1; YB12: 57.50 mg.100 g-1) but did not significantly alter other compositional parameters. Probiotic counts (log CFU.g-1) for Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (YB6 = 7.08; YB9 = 7.34; YB12 = 7.4), Streptococcus thermophilus (YB6 = 9.20; YB9 = 9.08; YB12 = 9.18) and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® (YB6 = 7.32; YB9 = 7.3; YB12 = 7.0) remained stable over 30 days at 5 °C, meeting regulatory standards for yoghurt classification. Gelatine concentration and temperature influenced rheological properties. At 10 °C, formulations exhibited no structural failure up to 1000 Pa of shear stress, whereas at 25 °C, YB9 and YB12 demonstrated higher structural integrity than YB6. YB12 presented the highest values of firmness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, gumminess and elasticity. The yoghurt bar represents an innovative product that expands the range of fermented dairy options. The use of 9% or 12% gelatine dispersion in yoghurt bar production ensures good storage stability, protein enrichment and a suitable texture for handheld consumption, thereby expanding the scope of yoghurt-based offerings.
This research paper aimed to determine if bio-stimulation affects peri-oestrous behavioural patterns of buffalo heifers and can improve oestrous behavioural responses through fenceline and direct contact with bulls during the heifers' first and second oestrous cycles. Buffalo heifers are known to have poor and less intense expression of oestrus behaviour. This leads to lower oestrous detection rates and ultimately results in poor reproductive efficiency. Providing social cues, such as bio-stimulation, is an effective technique for improving oestrous behaviours in cattle, pigs and sheep. For this study, 24 pre-pubertal Murrah heifers were allotted to 3 groups of 8 each; similar in age (15.08 ± 0.16 months) and body weight (199.5 ± 0.21 kg). In T0, heifers were not exposed to a bull; in T1, heifers had continuous exposure to a bull behind a fenceline; and in T2, heifers were directly exposed to a bull twice daily (6 hours total). Oestrous behaviours were recorded on days -3, -2 and -1 (prior to oestrus), day 0 (day of oestrus) and on days +1, +2 and +3 (post-oestrus) using 24-hour digital cameras. Oestrous behaviours (sniffing/licking, tail raising, micturition, chin resting and mounting attempts) commenced on day -3 or day -2, peaked on day 0 and waned by day +2 or day +1 during both oestrous cycles. Oestrous behaviour frequencies were higher for the heifers in T1 and T2 groups (P < 0.05) in comparison to the T0 group during both cycles. Receptive standing in response to mounting was only observed during the second oestrous cycle on the day of oestrus, and the frequency was significantly highest in T2, followed by T1 and T0 (P < 0.05). It was concluded that direct or fenceline bull exposure triggered more expression of oestrous behaviours in buffalo heifers, with direct exposure having a greater effect than fenceline exposure.
Chlorine formed the basis of milking equipment cleaning protocols for decades on farms in the Republic of Ireland as it is an exceptional cleaning and disinfection agent but concerns around chlorine-based residues, primarily chlorate and trichloromethane led to the imposition of chlorine-free cleaning of milking equipment in 2021. In contrast to the versatility of chlorine-based cleaning protocols, chlorine-free cleaning requires the proper employment of several elements for effective cleaning: adequate hot water temperature, washing time and solution concentration. The objective of this study was to ascertain if the essential elements of chlorine-free cleaning are being employed as recommended on farms and if not, is it impacting on the delivery of farm bulk milk of a high microbiological standard, as measured by total bacteria (TBC) and thermoduric counts. Participating farms with TBC >15,000 cfu/mL were considered to produce poor quality milk from a TBC perspective, as were farms with a thermoduric count of >200 cfu/mL. A high percentage of farms were not using sufficient volumes of detergent (38%), acid (53%) and hot water with a starting temperature >75°C (69%) to achieve effective chlorine-free cleaning. Of the farms that were using insufficient volumes of chlorine-free detergent when 'hot washing' (n = 39), 62% had 'build-up' present on the internal surfaces of claw-bowls. Moreover, the probability of having a TBC >15,000 cfu/mL (OR = 1.67) and a thermoduric count >200 cfu/mL (OR = 1.09) was numerically higher when insufficient volumes of acid were used. Approximately half the farms visited were producing low-quality milk due largely to suboptimal chlorine-free cleaning practices being employed on those farms. This research reiterates that chlorine-free cleaning will facilitate the production of high-quality milk at farm level, but it is critical that the chlorine-free washing protocols are correctly implemented.
Fungal feed additives offer a potential avenue to enhance dairy cattle health and productivity. This narrative review examines and consolidates literature investigating the effects of products containing, or derived from, anaerobic fungi (AF), obligately aerobic filamentous fungi and yeasts. There is a sparsity of research investigating supplemental AF in cattle, but existing literature demonstrates that AF can consistently increase the digestibility of feeds. Anaerobic fungal additives are limited by their oxygen vulnerability, although characterization of the resting stage of their lifecycle would aid in the development of products which could be used on farm. The majority of research investigating aerobic fungi in dairy cattle is based upon their fermentation products. These products often enhance digestibility variables in cattle, which sometimes benefits growth and production. Inconsistent responses, which are attributed to heterogenous product composition and rumen stability, hinder the industry utility of these additives, and further research is required to define the conditions required for efficacy. A large body of research exists examining the effects of active yeast and yeast derivatives in mature cattle and calves. In-depth examination of this research is beyond the scope of this review, but substantial evidence suggests that supplementing dairy cattle with yeast can be advantageous for gut health and development, production and stress tolerance. This review highlights the pathways through which exogenous fungi can enhance dairy production, and that further research is required to define the causes of inconsistent responses from treatments. This will increase the value of fungal additives to the dairy sector.
This Research Paper tested the hypothesis that the dietary inclusion of a fermentation product of Aspergillus niger (ANP), alone, or in combination with a mannan-rich fraction (MRF) derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall, would enhance dairy calf performance and rumen variables. Thirty Holstein-Friesian bull calves (age 19 ± 5 days) were obtained from a single farm and randomly assigned according to days of age to one of three dietary treatment groups and one of two cull dates, experimental day 27 (immediately prior to weaning) or experimental day 70. Dietary treatment groups were: CTRL, no treatment; ANP, 3 g/day ANP; MRF, 3 g/day ANP and 2 g/day MRF. Calves were housed and fed individually and had ad libitum access to starter concentrates, water, and straw. Throughout the trial, ANP calves consumed a greater quantity of solid starter feed than CTRL and MRF calves. Body weight, average daily gain, apparent total tract dry matter digestibility and faecal scores were unaffected by treatment. Calves fed ANP and MRF had improved feed conversion efficiency compared with CTRL in some weeks, but this was not consistent throughout the pre-weaned and weaned periods. Calves fed MRF had a decreased acetate to propionate ratio compared with CTRL pre-weaning, and ANP had a lower acetate to propionate ratio and higher propionate proportion of total VFA compared with CTRL post-weaning. At both culling timepoints, ANP and MRF had thicker stratum basale, stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum in their rumen papillae compared with CTRL. The inclusion of ANP and ANP + MRF could favourably alter rumen fermentation and increase the metabolic and absorptive capacity of papillae in transition stage dairy calves but no consistent effects of treatment on calf growth or feed efficiency were observed in this trial.
The primary objective of the current work was to determine whether pH could be used as a proxy measure for bacterial contamination (using reference standard sheep blood agar plates to measure total bacteria counts [TBCs] and MacConkey agar plates to measure total coliform counts [TCCs]) of bovine colostrum (BC). The hypothesis for this work was that bacteria produce acid by-products from their metabolism, thereby more highly contaminated BC is likely to be more acidic, based on lower pH measurement. A secondary objective was to identify optimal thresholds for pH to identify colostrum highly contaminated with total bacteria or coliform species, with industry thresholds for highly contaminated colostrum being TBCs > 100,000 CFU/mL and TCCs > 10,000 CFU/mL. One hundred and one samples were purposively selected from previously frozen BC samples. Sample pH was measured using a pH meter in duplicate, and bacteria counts were measured using the reference tests of 5% sheep blood agar and MacConkey agar plates for TBC and TCC, respectively. Small decreases in pH measurement were associated with increases in bacterial contamination of BC, particularly coliform species, which are those most implicated in the disruption of IgG absorption from colostrum. There was a statistically significant relationship between pH measurements and log-transformed bacterial measurements.
The digitalisation of pedigree accounting in the dairy cattle sector of the Kyrgyz Republic is crucial for improving animal husbandry efficiency and meeting increasing demands for food security and sustainable rural development. The main aim of the study was the development and piloting of software to automate the processes of identification, pedigree analysis, productivity and veterinary control of cattle. The methodology of the work included an analysis of existing solutions, the collection of functional requirements, the design of the database architecture and user interface, as well as the pilot implementation of the system in a real farm. The database structure implemented eight functional tables linked through cascading foreign keys, ensuring the logical integrity of information and the automatic construction of pedigrees. The system interface is adapted to conditions of limited digital infrastructure and supports a multilingual environment, an offline mode and simple visual navigation. During the on-farm pilot study, a reduction in the time to register an animal by more than four times and a decrease in the number of errors were recorded. The system received positive user evaluations on the criteria of convenience, accessibility and accuracy. In addition, compatibility with International Committee for Animal Recording standards is ensured, which opens opportunities for international integration. The developed solution demonstrates resilience when scaling and can be adapted to other regions with similar infrastructure. The paper also provides a comparison with foreign and regional solutions, confirming the advantages of localisation, simplicity and compliance with national requirements. The study highlights the high practical significance of the proposed solution, offering a foundation for further scaling, including within national digitalisation programmes for agriculture.
South Asia hosts over 270 million cattle raised under diverse low-input production systems, yet enteric methane (EntCH4) emissions in the region are often estimated using models developed for temperate, high-productivity systems. This study compared eight commonly used enteric methane prediction models - five based on dry matter intake (DMI) (IPCCDMI, RibeiroDMI, PatraDMI, 1AlamDMI, 2AlamDMI) and three based on gross energy intake (GEI) (IPCCGEI, RibeiroGEI, PatraGEI) - using standardised feeding trial data from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Data were extracted from 91 published feeding trials covering 1684 cattle of different breeds, physiological states and yield levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) models overestimate emissions by approximately 7-28% compared with the Alam models across different factors, for example, countries, breed and lactating status. Significant variation was observed across countries, with Pakistani cattle showing the highest predicted emissions compared to India and Bangladesh, driven by greater body weight and feed intake. Breed-wise comparisons revealed consistently higher emissions from Holstein Friesians than from indigenous and Sahiwal cattle. The IPCC models consistently overestimated methane compared with tropical-calibrated models. GEI-based models showed less variation than DMI-based models. Overall, the study highlights large discrepancies among models and demonstrates the importance of using region-specific or tropical-calibrated equations for robust EntCH4 estimation in South Asian cattle. These findings provide an evidence base for improving national greenhouse gas inventories and methane mitigation planning in tropical livestock systems.
Vegetable rennet (VR) has a long history in Mediterranean cheese-making, and in response to the growing demand for vegetarian-friendly cheeses, enzymes extracted from the thistle Cynara humilis have become a promising substitute for calf rennet. This study investigated consumer acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) for artisanal cheeses produced with thistle rennet in three Mediterranean countries: Italy, Spain and Tunisia. Sensory evaluations focused on feta cheese in all three countries, while queso de Murcia al vino was additionally tested in Italy and Spain. The research was conducted in three stages. First, focus groups explored consumers' knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards thistle rennet. Second, hedonic tests were carried out under three conditions: blind liking (tasting without information), expected liking (only information, no tasting) and actual liking (tasting with information). Finally, an experimental auction was conducted for feta cheese to assess consumers' WTP. In general, consumers showed positive perceptions of thistle-curdled cheeses, despite some cross-country differences. Both intrinsic factors (e.g., taste and fat content) and extrinsic cues (e.g., information, price and origin) influenced acceptance. Overall, results highlight the potential of VR for traditional cheeses, with specific emphasis on targeted marketing strategies and transparent labelling to support their adoption as high-value artisanal products.
The Sewa sheep has an important economic value. This study selected mammary gland tissues from Sewa sheep during summer (S) and autumn (A) for transcriptome sequencing to explore the molecular regulatory mechanisms affecting lactation performance. In this experiment, 3566 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 1837 were up-regulated, and 1729 were down-regulated. DEGs were implicated in the 20 most highly enriched pathways, according to analyses using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology, such as cell adhesion molecules and Rap1 signalling pathways, which are involved in mammary gland development and milk fat production. Using RT-qPCR, we analysed the expression levels of eight genes across two distinct lactation periods. Our results indicated that butyrophilin subfamily 1 member A (BTN1A1), fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3), perilipin 2 (PLIN2) and stearoyl-coA desaturase (SCD) were downregulated. Conversely, stearoyl-coA desaturase 5 (SCD5), cluster of differentiation 52 (CD52), perilipin 1 (PLIN1) and potassium inwardly-rectifying channel, subfamily j, member 3 (KCNJ3) exhibited upregulated expression. These genes are primarily related to protein and fat metabolism, synthesis and milk fat formation, indicating the performance differences in mammary glands during various lactation periods may be due to the differential expression of related genes. These findings provide foundational data for mining candidate genes related to sheep lactation regulation and mammary gland development and provide insights into the mechanism of lactation regulation in sheep.
The dairy cattle sector in Boyolali Regency, Central Java, plays a strategic role in food provision and local employment. However, it faces multiple challenges, including climate change, low generational renewal among farmers and limited policy support. These conditions indicate a need for a systematic and measurable reformulation of sustainability strategies. Therefore, this study aims to develop a comprehensive and relevant set of sustainability indicators for the dairy cattle sector based on consensus among experts and stakeholders. To achieve this objective, the Delphi method was employed, involving 19 panellists from diverse backgrounds. Two Delphi rounds were conducted. In the first round, indicators compiled from the literature were screened and evaluated through questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. In the second round, consensus on the selected indicators was assessed using a quantitative approach. The results identify 62 sustainability indicators grouped into 5 dimensions: economic (13 indicators), environmental (10), social (15), governance (3) and animal welfare (21). Five indicators were classified as highly relevant: intergenerational business sustainability, access to marketing partnership and information, protection of productive female cattle, health screening of breeding stock upon purchase and biosecurity control through livestock movement monitoring. In addition, 29 indicators (47%) achieved full consensus among all panellists. These findings provide a strong conceptual and empirical foundation for implementing sustainability strategies at the farm level, as well as for informing more targeted policy formulation by both local and national governments.
