Evaluating coagulation properties of milk from dairy sheep with subclinical intramammary infection using near infrared light scatter. A preliminary study

Exploring Interrelationships between Colour, Composition, and Coagulation Traits of Milk from Cows, Goats, and Sheep

This study explores the interrelationships between the composition, coagulation, and colour of sheep, goat, and cow milk to identify their similarities and differences and to assess whether the relationships between the variables are common to all species or whether they emerge from species-specific relationships. For this purpose, 2400 individual milk samples were analysed. The differences and similarities between the species were determined using discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. The results show a clear differentiation between species. Sheep milk stands out for its cheesemaking capacity and shows similarities with goat milk in composition and coagulation. Nonetheless, colorimetry highlights a greater similarity between sheep and cow milk. Composition and colorimetry were more discriminating than coagulation, and the variables that differed the most were fat, protein, curd yield, lightness, and red-green balance. Using canonical correlation, the interrelationships between the different sets of variables were explored, revealing patterns of common variation and species-specific relationships. Colorimetric variables were closely related to milk solids in all species, while in sheep milk, an inverse relationship with lactose was also identified. Furthermore, a strong relationship was revealed for all species between colour and curd yield. This could be modelled and applied to estimate the technological value of milk, proving colorimetry as a useful tool for the dairy industry.

Review: Precision livestock farming, automats and new technologies: possible applications in extensive dairy sheep farming

Precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies are becoming increasingly common in modern agriculture. They are frequently integrated with other new technologies in order to improve human-livestock interactions, productivity and economical sustainability of modern farms. New systems are constantly being developed for concentrated farming operations as well as for extensive and pasture-based farming systems. The development of technologies for grazing animals is of particular interest for the Mediterranean extensive sheep farming sector. Dairy sheep farming is a typical production system of the area linked to its historical and cultural traditions. The area provides roughly 40% of the world sheep milk, having 27% of the milk-producing ewes. Developed countries of the area (France, Italy, Greece and Spain - FIGS) have highly specialized production systems improved through animal selection, feeding techniques and intensification of production. However, extensive systems are still practiced alongside intensive ones due to their lower input costs and better resilience to market fluctuations. In the current article, we evaluate possible PLF systems and their suitability to be incorporated in extensive dairy sheep farming as practiced in the FIGS countries. Available products include: electronic identification systems (now mandatory in the EU) such as ear tags, ruminal boluses and sub-cutaneous radio-frequency identification; on-animal sensors such as accelerometers, global positioning systems and social activity loggers; and stationary management systems such as walk-over-weights, automatic drafter (AD), virtual fencing and milking parlour-related technologies. The systems were considered according to their suitability for the management and business model common in dairy sheep farming. However, adoption of new technologies does not take place immediately in small and medium scale extensive farming. As sheep farmers usually belong to more conservative technology consumers, characterized by an average age of 60 and a very transparent community, the dynamics do not favour financial risk taking involved with new technologies. Financial barriers linked to production volumes and resource management of extensive farming are also a barrier for innovation. However, future prospectives could increase the importance of technology and promote its wider adoption. Trends such as global sheep milk economics, global warming, awareness to animal welfare, antibiotics resistance and European agricultural policies could influence the farming practices and stimulate wider adoption of PLF systems in the near future.

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Milk Produced by Black-and-White Holstein Cows from Moscow

Milk must comply with quality standards for proper human nutrition. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative microbiological and elemental analysis of milk quality from Black-and-White Holstein cows. The studies were conducted on the basis of livestock farming in January-October 2019, Moscow region, Russian Federation. The experiment included 60 cows, divided into 3 groups of 20 animals of full age. All cows were kept under identical conditions. The first group consisted of purebred Black-and-White cows; the second group included Holstein half breeds; and the third group included the third generation of Holstein crossbreeds. 500 samples of milk were taken from animals of each group. The second group exceeded in content of zinc by 0.5 times (p≤0.05). The third group was recorded with lower manganese by 2 times (p≤0.001) while the first group by 0.5 times (p≤0.05) compering to the second group. Milk in groups 3 and 2 had a significant excess of iron and copper concentrations by 1.5-2.0 times (at p≤0.001), comparing to group 1. The milk in group 1 (purebred Black-and-White cows) exceeded TLV (threshold limit value) for lead (by 2.2 times) and cobalt (by 2.5 times). The milk in this group also had a higher cadmium content compering to the other two groups (by 1.3–2.7 times). Holstein crossbreeding helps to increase the concentration of cobalt, zinc and manganese. Lead and cadmium accumulate in the milk of purebred Black-and-White cows.

The electrical conductivity of sheep's milk and the possibility of mastitis detection

Measurement of electrical conductivity (EC) is a method frequently used in dairy cows during milking in milking parlours, but especially in robotic milking as a low-cost mastitis detection method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and EC of milk in sheep reared in Slovakia as factors for monitoring subclinical mastitis on the basis of a bacteriological examination of udder health. Samples were collected individually from both halves of the udder from 295 sheep of different breeds from eight farms during evening milking. Based on SCC, the samples (590) were divided into classes (SCC < 2 × 105, 2 × 105 ≤ SCC < 4 × 105, 4 × 105 ≤ SCC < 6 × 105, and SCC ≥ 6 × 105 cells.mL-1), (SCC < 7 × 105 and SCC ≥ 7 × 105 cells.mL-1) and (SCC < 1 × 105 and SCC ≥ 1 × 105 cells.mL-1) respectively. Based on the presence of pathogens in the udder halve, they were classified as “major pathogens” (14), “minor pathogens” (161) and “without pathogens” (415). The presence of a pathogen had a significant effect on the increase in EC, SCC and protein content and decrease in content of lactose. We found a significant correlation between EV and SCC at first classification only in cases where all data was analysed jointly (r = 0.531), SCC ≥ 6 × 105 (r = 0.403) and SCC < 2 × 105 (r = 0.214). In the second and third classification, we found significant correlations in both cases, the SCC < 7 × 105 (r = 0.270) and the SCC ≥ 7 × 105 (r = 0.382) and SCC < 1 × 105 (r = 0.136) and the SCC ≥ 1 × 105 (r = 0.557). The electrical conductivity showed a stronger correlation with the lactose and protein content than LogSCC. We can argue that measuring the electrical conductivity of sheep milk may be a possible alternative for mastitis detection in sheep. EC can be useful in detecting animals with level of SSC greater than 6 × 105 cells.mL-1.

Milk quality and milk transformation parameters from infected mammary glands depends on the infecting bacteria species

The current study measured the influence of milk of subclinically infected glands by different bacteria species on the cow’s milk. The effects of bacterial infection or inflammation on gland milk yield were related to the bacteria species that caused the infection. The volume of milk of the inflamed gland from the cow’s milk yield was significantly lower (P<0.001) for the glands previously infected by Escherichia coli (PIEc) and those infected with Streptococcus dysgalactiae. Coagulation properties, rennet clotting time (RCT) and curd firmness (CF) also depended on the bacteria causing the infection. RCT values of all the inflamed glands were significantly longer (P<0.001) and CF values were significantly lower than that of the healthy ones. Moreover, in the whole milk, CF was also significantly lower and not proportional to the volume of the milk from the inflamed gland of the cow’s milk. Calculation of the predicted 40% dry matter curd weight (PCW) on the cow level, including the healthy and inflamed glands or the healthy glands alone, showed that for 10 of 13 PIEc cows, the presence of the affected gland’s milk in the whole cow milk resulted in a lower PCW value. Likewise, 7 of 20 cows infected by S. dysgalactiae had negative delta values. Unlike the latter bacteria, PCW from milk of glands infected with CNS increased, although in a lower magnitude than in the healthy glands. No correlation was found between logSCC in the whole cow milk (healthy and inflamed glands) and PCW.

Udder types and associated traits affect milk composition and subclinical mastitis in Karayaka sheep

This study was carried out to determine the relationships between udder type and udder traits and milk composition and subclinical mastitis in Karayaka sheep. For this purpose, udder types were determined and udder and teat traits were measured in 32 Karayaka sheep. In addition, milk fat, protein, lactose, dry matter contents, freezing point, SCC and pH were measured. Our results showed that udder type had an effect on right (RTL) and left (LTL) teat length, right (RTDM) and left (LTDM) teat diameter and teat distance (TD). In addition, udder type was found to have an effect on lactose and pH. High or moderate phenotypic correlations were found between teat traits and lactose, freezing point and pH. In addition, of the phenotypic correlations between udder and teat traits, only the correlation between RTL and SCC was significant. SCC showed high phenotypic correlations with fat, lactose, dry matter, protein, freezing point and pH. Our results showed that udder type was effective on teat size, the sheep whose teats were vertical had low milk lactose and high pH, and the sheep with this type of udder were found to have a higher probability of mastitis.

Extensive countrywide field investigation of subclinical mastitis in sheep in Greece

The objectives of this work were (1) to investigate prevalence of subclinical mastitis, (2) to identify etiological agents involved, and (3) to study factors potentially predisposing ewes to subclinical mastitis. Milk samples were collected from 2,198 ewes in 111 farms with a total population of 35,925 ewes, in all 13 administrative regions of Greece, for bacteriological and cytological examination. Prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 0.260. Main etiological agents were staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative species), which accounted for 0.699 of all isolates recovered; prevalence of staphylococcal mastitis was 0.191. In a multivariable mixed-effects analysis, the primary factor found to be associated with increased prevalence of subclinical mastitis was the management system practiced in flocks (flocks under a semi-intensive system had the highest prevalence). Other factors that were included in the multivariable model were the stage of lactation period (ewes in the 2nd month postpartum showed the highest prevalence) and application of postmilking teat dipping. In contrast, measures taken at the end of a lactation period (e.g., intramammary administration of antimicrobial agents) were not found to have an effect on prevalence of subclinical mastitis. The results confirmed the significance of subclinical mastitis as a frequent problem of ewes, with staphylococci as the primary etiological agent. The findings confirm the multifactorial nature of subclinical mastitis and indicate that its control should rely on many approaches.