Comparison of Mineral, Metabolic, and Oxidative Profile of Saanen Goat during Lactation with Different Mediterranean Breed Clusters under the Same Environmental Conditions

Effects of the concentration and nature of total dissolved solids in drinking water on feed intake, nutrient digestion, energy balance, methane emission, ruminal fermentation, and blood constituents in different breeds of young goats and hair sheep

Understanding how different livestock species and breeds respond to consumption of brackish water could improve usage of this resource. Therefore, Angora, Boer, and Spanish goat doelings and Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix ewe lambs (6 animals per animal type [AT]; initial age = 296 ± 2.1 days) consuming water with varying concentrations of minerals of a natural brackish water source (BR) and sodium chloride (NaCl; SL) were used to determine effects on water and feed intake, nutrient digestion, heat energy, methane emission, ruminal fluid conditions, and blood constituent concentrations. There were 6 simultaneous 6 (water treatments [WT]) × 6 (AT) Latin squares with 3-wk periods. The WT were fresh (FR), BR alone (100-BR), a similar total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration as 100-BR via NaCl addition to FR (100-SL), BR with concentrations of all minerals increased by approximately 50% (150-BR), a similar TDS level as 150-BR by NaCl addition to FR (150-SL), and a similar 150 TDS level achieved by addition of a 1:1 mixture of BR minerals and NaCl to 100-BR (150-BR/SL). Concentrations (mg/kg) in BR were 4928 TDS, 85.9 bicarbonate, 224.9 calcium, 1175 chloride, 60.5 magnesium, 4.59 potassium, 1387 sodium, 1962 sulfate, and 8.3 boron, and TDS in other WT were 209, 5684, 7508, 8309, and 7319 mg/kg for FR, 100-SL, 150-BR, 150-SL, and 150-BR/SL, respectively. There were very few significant effects of WT or AT × WT interactions, although AT had numerous effects. Water intake was affected by AT (P = 0.02) and WT (P = 0.04), with greater water intake for 150-SL than for FR, 100-BR, 100-SL, and 150-BR. Dry matter intake among AT was lowest (P < 0.05) for Angora. Digestion of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber and heat energy differed among AT (P < 0.05), but nitrogen digestion and ruminal methane emission were similar among AT. Blood aldosterone concentration was higher (P < 0.05) for FR than for other WT. In conclusion, all AT seemed resilient to these WT regardless of mineral source and concentrations, with TDS less than 8300 mg/kg, which did not influence nutrient utilization, ruminal fermentation, energy balance, or blood constituent levels.

Study on the suitability of life cycle assessment for the estimation of donkey milk environmental impact

In the last decades, western Countries increased their interest in innovative products like donkey milk and other activities carried out with donkeys (onotherapy, onotourism). Donkey milk is considered a high-added-value food and is very similar to human breast milk. It is also used as an ingredient in cosmetics. The growing public interest suggests the need for a pilot study on the sustainability of donkey milk production, according to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) criteria. Milk was used as the Declared Functional Unit (DFU) and two different models were described, a Real Scenario Model (RSM, i.e. a farm with its declared milk yield), and an Increased Milk Production Model (IMPM, i.e., the same farm with theoretically increased milk yield). Allocation was applied both in RSM and IMPM; thus, different values of impact categories, i.e., Global Warming Potential (GWP, kg CO2 equivalents), Acidification Potential (ACP, g SO2 equivalents) and Eutrophication Potential (EUP, g PO43-) were observed. GWP improved after mass allocation and showed the lowest equivalents in IMPM, compared to economic and reference allocation criterion (P < 0.05). In RSM, allocations affected GWP in a different way: the smaller size of the DFU resulted in the largest estimation of CO2 equivalents (P < 0.05) for reference allocation, whereas the mass allocation estimates were lower than with economic allocation (P < 0.05). ACP and EUP followed the same trends. No differences were found in IMPM results across the three allocation methods used. Moreover, mass allocation values recorded in RSM did not significantly differ from IMPM. ACP and EUP of RSM improved after economic allocation, although they were less sustainable (P < 0.05) than all IMPM values and RSM equivalents after mass allocation (P < 0.05). As expected, the theoretical model with increased milk yield improved the sustainability of the system. Both scenarios were affected by allocation criteria. In RSM, the economic and mass allocations described a representative scenario where donkey meat contributed to subtracting equivalents from milk (the main product). The present paper is a pilot study estimating for the first time the environmental impact of donkey milk production, with the aim to stimulate further research.

Seasonal Changes in the Antioxidant Activity and Biochemical Parameters of Goat Milk

Goats are ubiquitous, including in hot and dry regions, while also being very sensitive to climate fluctuations, expressed in temperature differences. This affects their productivity and milk quality. Adaptation to heat requires high energy costs, affects "neurohumoral" regulation and is accompanied by oxidative stress with the increased production of free radicals. The aim was to study the main biochemical parameters of goat milk and its antioxidant activity depending on the season of the year. Sampling was carried out in April, June, August and October. Analysis of the biochemical components and antioxidant activity of goat milk was performed using modern analytical systems. From spring to autumn, the mass fraction of true or crude proteins in goat milk increased by 14.6-63.7% or by 12.3-52.1%, and the mass fraction of caseins also increased by 13.6-60.6%. For vitamin C level and the total amount of water-soluble antioxidants, a pronounced gradual decrease from spring to autumn was observed. In the summer period, a small increase in the carotene level in milk (by 3.0-6.1% compared to April) was established. Vitamin A content increased by 86.5% (June) or by 70.3% (October) compared to April. Thus, the numerous significant changes in the major parameters of goat's milk depending on the season were revealed.

Changes in ghrelin, microminerals, antioxidants and vitamins A, E and C levels during different physiological status in high yielding Saanen goats subjected to heat stress

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of ghrelin, microminerals, antioxidants, and vitamins A, E and C levels during different metabolic periods in high yielding Saanen goats subjected to heat stress. Twenty clinically and paraclinically healthy, high yielding and multiparous goats with an average age of 3 ± 0.5 years and pregnant with a single fetus were included in this study. Sampling was performed at three different physiologic periods: non-pregnancy non-lactation (P₁), four-month gestation (P₂), and first month of lactation (P₃). In this study, the ambient temperature ranged from 19 to 42 °C and relative humidity ranged from 14 to 19% during the hot months. Serum concentrations of ghrelin, glucose (Glu), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), vitamins (A, E and C) and microminerals (selenium, manganese, cobalt, iron, copper and zinc) were measured. Mean raw milk yield of the goats per day at the first month of lactation was 2.34 ± 0.2 kg. Concentration of ghrelin at P₁ was significantly lower than P₂ and P₃ (P < 0.05). Glucose levels were significantly lower at P₃ compared with P₁ and P₂ (P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between ghrelin and Glu at different periods. Concentrations of selenium and manganese were significantly higher at P3 compared with P2 and were significantly higher at P2 compared with P1. Values of copper at P2 were significantly higher than P1 and P3 (P < 0.05). Zinc levels were significantly higher at P₁ compared with P₂ and P₃ (P < 0.05). Values of antioxidants and vitamins were significantly lower at P3 compared with P2. It is concluded that high yielding Saanen goats may suffer from hormonal and metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress and micromineral deficiencies during late gestation and the first month of lactation especially when they are subjected to heat stress.

Dairy Farms and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): The Allocation Criterion Useful to Estimate Undesirable Products

In this study, the life cycle assessment (LCA) principle was performed to estimate the environmental impact of three dairy farms that operate using different farming systems, namely, conventional (CON), organic (ORG), and high-quality (HQ) modes. In Italy, the typical style of high-quality (HQ) farming is commonly included in the conventional system but is more strictly regulated by the Decree of the Italian Ministry of Health N° 185/1991. Although the farms are not fully representative of each conduct, they showed intrinsic peculiarities, e.g., the cow-culling rate of each system. This rate requires a quantification as it may be related to loss of income. Allocation criteria were applied to attribute the quantities of pollutants to the co-products: wheat, involved in the congruence and number of cows culled, the latter being undesirable and therefore necessary to quantify. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) highlighted that the no-dairy products significantly mitigated (p < 0.05) some of the impacts’ categories. The allocation of culled cows decreased the impacts of the CON and particularly those of the ORG farms when the mass mode was adopted. HQ showed values similar to the results without allocation. Overall, the objective of identifying a “marker” of undesirable products, estimated by the culling rate, was partially achieved.

Evaluation of Different Test-Day Milk Recording Protocols by Wood's Model Application for the Estimation of Dairy Goat Milk and Milk Constituent Yield

Simple Summary

Considering the seasonal trend of milk production due to application of estrus synchronization treatments in autumn or in spring season, as well as to meet meat production and market requirements for religious holidays, one may find it useful to simplify the milk and milk constituent yield quantification during the entire period of lactation. The present work aimed to verify the application of Wood’s model to a different number of test-day milk recording protocols in order to reduce the frequency of National Breeding Association test-day milking record protocol. Wood’s model fit well on goat milk production, showing high R² values. Moreover, the milk yield, fat-corrected milk yield, fat yield, and protein yield estimation applying Wood’s model to four recordings (first, second, fourth, and sixth month records) showed results superimposable to International Committee of Animal Recording (ICAR) application and Wood’s model application on test-day records every 15 days.

Abstract

Goats have important social and economic roles in many countries because of their ability to survive and be productive in marginal areas. The overarching aim of this study was to compare the application of Wood’s model to different test-day milk recording protocols for estimation of total milk, fat, and protein yield in dairy goats. A total of 465 goats were used (Garganica, 78; Girgentana, 81; Jonica, 76; Maltese, 77; Red Mediterranean, 76; Saanen, 77). Milk yield was recorded every 15 days throughout lactation of 210 days, for a total of 14 collection days, during both morning and afternoon milking sessions. Milk samples were collected and analyzed for protein and fat. The fat-corrected milk was standardized at 35g fat/kg of milk. Wood models showed high R² values, and thus good fitting, in all the considered breeds. Wood model applied to first, second, fourth, and sixth month recordings (C) and ICAR estimation showed total milk yield very close to Wood’s model applied to all 14 recordings (A) (p > 0.38). Differently, Wood’s model applied to the first, second, third, and fourth month recording (B) estimation showed great differences (p < 0.01). This could be applied for farms that had the necessity to synchronize flock groups for kidding in order to produce kid meat. In farms that apply the estrus induction and/or synchronization for kidding, it would be possible to perform only four test-day milk recordings and to apply the Wood’s model on them in order to obtain the estimation of total milk, fat, and protein yield during lactation for animals inscribed, or to be inscribed, to the genealogical book.

The Impact of Mastitis on the Biochemical Parameters, Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Markers in Goat's Milk: A Review

Goat mastitis has become one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in goat farms, with significant economic impact on the dairy industry. Inflammation of the mammary gland poses serious consequences on milk composition, with changes regarding biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers. The aim of this paper is to present the most recent knowledge on the main biochemical changes that occur in the mastitic milk, as well as the overall effect of the oxidative and nitrosative stress on milk components, focusing on both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant markers. Mastitis in goats is responsible for a decrease in milk production, change in protein content with pronounced casein hydrolysis, and reduction in lactose concentration and milk fat. Milk enzymatic activity also undergoes changes, regarding indigenous enzymes and those involved in milk synthesis. Furthermore, during mastitis, both the electrical conductivity and the milk somatic cell count are increased. Intramammary infections are associated with a reduced milk antioxidant capacity and changes in catalase, lactoperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase or superoxide dismutase activity, as well as reduced antioxidant vitamin content. Mastitis is also correlated with an increase in the concentration of nitric oxide, nitrite, nitrate and other oxidation compounds, leading to the occurrence of nitrosative stress.