Dairy Research Bulletin: Selected Articles from May 2025 - California Dairy Research Foundation

Environmental Management and Sustainability

Environmental sustainability in US dairy farms: Policies, practices, and outcomes. Cloutier ML, Liptzin D, Coyotl A, Baxter AE, Morgan CLS. J Environ Qual. 2025 May 7.

Improving sustainability on US dairy farms has become a critical focus across the industry. As dairy farms continue to consolidate, there is a growing need to identify scalable, implementable soil health management practices that enhance environmental sustainability in the fields managed by the dairy.
This paper examines the constraints on dairy forage operations, summarizes key findings from research station experiments comparing soil health management practices in these systems, and synthesizes findings from on-farm research projects that track environmental outcomes after practice adoption.
The researchers discuss the knowledge gaps related to soil health management practices and forage production, highlighting the need for long-term, actionable research that is applicable to the diversity of dairy operations across the United States. To drive meaningful improvements in environmental sustainability, it is crucial to integrate region-specific soil health practices, supported by technical and financial support.
The researchers conclude that the current body of literature is not adequate to support the widespread adoption of locally appropriate practices, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive research and support systems to ensure the environmental and economic sustainability of the US dairy industry.
Finally, the researchers propose future research directions to address the knowledge gaps and region-specific challenges through an integrated systems approach, focusing on the farm-scale impacts of soil health practices across diverse climates and production systems.

The role of a national evaluation system in promoting dairy sustainability. Miles AM, Parker Gaddis KL, Cole JB, Fourdraine RH. JDS Commun. 2025;6(3):458-463

Sustainable agriculture is best defined as a balance of practices that promote economic vitality, protect the natural environment, and build healthy communities in the present without compromising the future. The dairy industry has achieved tremendous gains in productive efficiency following decades of work with these goals in mind.
A major tool contributing to this progress is the US National Cooperator Database (NCD), developed in partnership with key industry groups. Involving a complex system of both domestic and international data sharing, the NCD now includes >9 million genotypes, >100 million pedigrees, and >100 million lactation records.
The primary outputs of this system are national genetic and genomic evaluations, published tri-annually. Greater genetic gains have resulted in faster rates of inbreeding, a well-established antagonist to cow health and performance. Dairy genetics are traded all over the world, and the NCD enables the monitoring of inbreeding at the global population level.
Dairy systems are continually evolving thanks to technology advancements, changing consumer values, and resource availability; frequent interrogation of the NCD can facilitate the early detection of changing industry trends that affect the accuracy of existing evaluations, but also highlight the need for improvement tools that are just as dynamic as the dairy industry.
An industry-wide effort is underway to develop a herd-level sustainability metrics platform that would support dairy producer ability to farm and track their progress in key health and production areas. This pre-competitive collaboration among dairy industry groups ensures the reliable flow of accurate data so we can continue to develop tools to support the dairy producer in the present and future.

The key role of local and global farmer networks in the development of conservation agriculture in California. Mitchell JP, Jackson LE, Branco RBF, et al. J Environ Qual. 2025 May 22.

This article chronicles the history of California’s Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation (CASI) Center and how it has increased agricultural sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley, a major production area for the United States, by using agroecological practices to reduce soil erosion and conserve soil moisture, champion systems thinking, and create networks of farmers, advisors, and researchers.
Early conservation agriculture systems in the United States and other continents have informed CASI since its inception in 1998, with an emphasis on reducing soil disturbance for better soil structure and biological activity, retaining biomass on the soil to support soil life, and diversifying crops to enhance biodiversity.
CASI includes >2200 farmers, private sector, university, public agency, and environmental group partners. With timelines of its core research and extension education programs, practice adoption trends, and resource quality impacts, CASI’s specific accomplishments are described and compared with the dominant tillage-intensive conventional systems of the past 90 years for crops such as corn, small grains, tomatoes, cotton, dry beans, and melons.
An associated 25-year research station trial has shown that no-tillage and cover crop practices maintain productivity, increase soil quality (e.g., soil carbon and nitrogen, aggregation, and infiltration), greatly reduce dust that is detrimental to human health, and decrease annual production costs by $50-$75 per acre.
CASI tracked a 40-fold increase in the use of strip-tillage in dairy silage production during the early 2000s and average annual increases in cover crop seed sales of about 25% in recent years.
Outreach, extension, and farmer and industry education programs of CASI include documentary films on YouTube, blogs, workshops, and on-farm demonstrations. Interactions with other groups and networks are described along with their support for CASI’s momentum-building strategies for impacts.
Conservation agriculture is increasing in Central California and continued policy support will enable farmers and institutions to work together to accelerate even greater adoption in the future.

Spatially Resolved Greenhouse Gas Emissions of U.S. Milk Production in 2020. Pelton R, Tricarico J, Bernal F, de Ondarza MB, Kurt T. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 May 20;59(19):9552-9564.

This study provides a comprehensive and spatially resolved assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the U.S. dairy industry, spanning from cradle to farm gate.
The primary goal is to refine emission estimates for key sources, including enteric fermentation, manure, and feed production, using the latest climate science, predictive models, and updated industry data, including a broader range of dietary rations across 12 distinct dairy regions.
Compared with previous studies that employed generalized models and less granular data, this approach offers greater accuracy and regional specificity. In addition to establishing the 2020 GHG emissions baseline, the researchers compared the results to 2007 estimates to highlight trends and improvements in emission intensities and production practices.
S. raw milk production in 2020 generated 138.88 million tons of CO₂e, corresponding to an average of 1.38 kg CO₂e per kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), with regional emissions ranging from 1.24 to 1.87 kg CO₂e/kg FPCM.
Notably, the study shows that while enteric fermentation and manure emissions remain substantial contributors, their share of total emissions is less than in previous assessments.
A sensitivity analysis explores the impact of key methodological choices, ensuring robust results that support mitigation strategies and inform the dairy sector’s path toward net neutrality by 2050.

Air quality monitoring in dairy farms: Description of air quality dynamics in a tunnel-ventilated housing barn and milking parlor of a commercial dairy farm. Jannat A, Johnson A, Manriquez D. J Dairy Sci. 2025 May 16:S0022-0302(25)00365-0.

The use of indoor air quality monitoring systems in commercial dairies in the United States remains rare, primarily due to the cost associated with designing systems capable of enduring high moisture levels, dust, corrosive gases, and fluctuating temperatures, as well as the lack of air quality standards and practical information about the installation and operation of these systems for producers.
Despite these technical difficulties, several reports have identified dairy operations as sources of airborne microbes, methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide, ammonia (NH₃), hydrogen sulfides, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and particulate matter.
In addition to the contributions from enteric fermentation and manure to GHG emissions, the equipment used in dairy operations, including feeder trucks, loaders, all-terrain vehicles, other machinery, and chemical products, also may play a direct role in releasing different air pollutants, especially PM, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrogen species.
This study aimed to describe air quality dynamics in a commercial dairy farm focusing on 2 locations: a tunnel-ventilated barn (TVB) and a milking parlor (MKP).
Assessed air quality components included carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), ammonia (NH₃), particulate matter 2.5 µg/m³(PM2.5), total volatile organic compounds (VOC), and temperature-humidity index (THI), which were continuously monitored from August 16 to December 22, 2023, using a multiple air quality sensor platform.
Descriptive analysis revealed significant hourly variability in the air quality dynamics during the study period. Mixed-effects models revealed no significant differences in the overall CO and THI measurements between the barn and milking parlor. However, the location significantly influenced overall concentrations of other air components including CO₂, CH₄, PM2.5, VOC, and NH₃.
Overall comparisons between TVB and MKP showed that the TVB had a higher overall CO₂concentration mean during the observation period compared with the MKP (LSM ± SEM; 640 ± 9.02 vs. 612 ± 9.01 ppm), while the MKP recorded highest CH₄ levels (11.03 ± 0.52 vs. 8.87 ± 0.52 ppm).
In the TVB, the NH₃levels ranged from 0.401 to 44.9 ppm, whereas no NH₃ was detected in the MKP. The MKP recorded higher overall PM2.5 compared with the TVB (5.51 ± 0.31vs. 3.21 ± 0.31µg/m³).
The VOC levels exhibited higher overall means in the TVB compared with the MKP (153 ± 2.18 vs. 144 ± 2.16 ppm) but were characterized by substantial variability in both locations.
Temporal trends suggested that the monitored air components might be influenced by farm activities such as feeding, cleaning, and milking as identifiable peaks we observed at specific hours of the day.
The researchers identified hourly pattern dynamics of CO, CO₂, CH₄, NH₃, PM2.5, VOC, and THI within the TVB and the MKP. Understanding these dynamics provides the opportunity to develop mitigation strategies for enhancing air quality within dairy facilities.

Phycoremediation of dairy industry wastewater using Chlorella sorokiniana: a cost-effective strategy for biodiesel production. Talha MS, Elshobary ME, Khairy HM, Alprol AE. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 May 13.

The dairy industry generates substantial nutrient-rich wastewater, posing environmental challenges if discharged untreated. Microalgae cultivation in wastewater is a promising strategy for reducing nutrient loads and generating biomass that can be further exploited. Although microalgae grown under such conditions are not suitable for high-value applications, the resulting biomass can still be valuable for uses such as biofuels, biofertilizers, or animal feed.
This study explored the potential of a newly isolated strain of Chlorella sorokiniana for dairy wastewater (DWW) phycoremediation and biodiesel production.
Microalgae were cultivated in various dilutions of dairy wastewater (50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%) and compared with growth in synthetic Amaral medium.
The results demonstrated that C. sorokiniana exhibited robust growth across all wastewater dilutions, with the 90% dilution outperforming the synthetic medium in terms of cell concentration and biomass production (0.47 g/L/d).
Lipid content analysis revealed the highest accumulation in 90% DWW, reaching 40.33% of the dry weight biomass. Fatty acid profiling revealed a predominance of palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1), and linoleic acid (C18:2) across all treatments. The proportion of saturated fatty acids slightly increased with higher wastewater concentrations, while monounsaturated fatty acids decreased and polyunsaturated fatty acids remained relatively stable.
The results indicated that moderate dilution of 60% wastewater resulted in the highest nitrate removal efficiency (75%). Phosphate removal remained consistently high (85-98%) across all dilutions.
The biodiesel properties derived from wastewater-cultivated algae met the ASTM D6751 and EN14214 standards, with improvements in the cetane number and cloud point at higher wastewater concentrations.
This study demonstrated the feasibility of using dairy wastewater as a cost-effective and sustainable medium for microalgal cultivation, offering the dual benefits of wastewater phycoremediation and high-quality biodiesel feedstock production.
The findings highlight the potential for integrating algal cultivation with dairy industry waste management, contributing to circular economic principles in the biofuel sector.

Harnessing dairy wastewater to cultivate Scenedesmus sp. for biofertilizer applications in Phaseolus vulgaris L.: a sustainable agro-biotechnological approach. Álvarez-Montero X, Mercado-Reyes I, Castillo-Chamba W, Santos-Ordóñez E. Front Plant Sci. 2025 May 1;16:1568057

Transforming traditional linear production into sustainable circular processes is crucial, and integrating microalgae biomass production with wastewater recycling is a promising approach.
This study addresses key challenges using dairy industry effluents as a nutrient-rich medium, achieving high biomass productivity and protein content with Scenedesmus grown in an 80% wastewater-based medium.
Impressive nutrient removal efficiencies were recorded for TN (79.24%) and PO₄^-3 (77.14%). The proposed culture medium achieved maximum productivity of 0.22 ± 0.05 g L^-1 day^-1 and a high protein concentration of 384.38 ± 34.06 mg g^-1, demonstrating the medium’s efficiency in promoting substantial biomass and nutritional quality.
The application of Scenedesmus biomass in treatment T₁(extract) and T₂ (culture) in Phaseolus vulgaris significantly improved soil quality, increasing the concentration of organic matter (SOM), nitrates, phosphates, and microbial activity. Additionally, T₁ promoted the vegetative and reproductive development of P. vulgaris, as reflected in a germination index of 305.81%, an average height of 49.52 cm, higher leaf density, a greater number of floral buds, and enhanced floral development.
These results demonstrate the bio-stimulatory potential of biomass and its role in practical bioremediation, highlighting the environmental and agricultural benefits of this innovative approach.

A study on de-contamination of dairy wastewater using natural coagulants. Mishra L, Bhowmik PN, Anand P, Yantrapalli S. Environ Monit Assess. 2025 May 26;197(6):677.

Dairy wastewater is a major environmental challenge owing to its high organic load, which poses risks to aquatic ecosystems and water quality.
This study investigated the use of sustainable natural coagulants, specifically Carica papaya seeds, Citrus limetta peels, and Moringa oleifera, for treating dairy wastewater. These coagulants offer eco-friendly alternatives to conventional chemical methods.
The Jar test method was applied to determine the maximum removal efficiencies for biochemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, and turbidity in dairy wastewater. Key parameters, including coagulant dosage (0.05-0.5 g), contact time (10-30 min), and pH (5-7), were optimized and statistically analyzed using Behnken design.
The results demonstrated that Citrus limetta peels achieved 93.8% removal of biochemical oxygen demand, whereas Carica papaya seeds and Moringa oleifera showed 74% efficiency in reducing turbidity and total dissolved solids.
This research supports sustainable wastewater management by promoting the use of agricultural waste materials for pollutant removal, thereby advancing circular economic practices within the dairy industry.
The use of natural coagulants not only reduces the environmental impact of dairy wastewater, but also provides an accessible and cost-effective treatment option, recommending their broader application in wastewater treatment facilities.

Animal Health and Food Safety

Exploring the legitimacy of industry-led farm animal welfare governance using examples of Canadian and United States dairy standards. Kuo C, Weary DM, Roche SM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Anim Welf. 2025;34:e22.

The governance of farm animal welfare is led, in certain countries and sectors, by industry organizations.
The aim of this study was to analyze the legitimacy of industry-led farm animal welfare governance focusing on two examples: the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle and the Animal Care module of the proAction program in Canada, and the Animal Care module of the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program in the United States (US).
Both are dairy cattle welfare governance programs led by industry actors who create the standards and audit farms for compliance.
The paper describes the normative legitimacy of these systems, based on an input, throughput, and output framework, by performing a document analysis on publicly available information from these organizations’ websites and found that the legitimacy of both systems was enhanced by their commitment to science, the presence of accountability systems to enforce standards, and wide participation by dairy farms.
The Canadian system featured more balanced representation, and their standard development process uses a consensus-based model, which bolsters legitimacy compared to the US system. However, the US system was more transparent regarding audit outcomes than the Canadian system.
Both systems face challenges to their legitimacy due to heavy industry representation and limited transparency as to how public feedback is addressed in the standards. These Canadian and US dairy industry standards illustrate strengths and weakness of industry-led farm animal welfare governance.

The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in dairy cattle: implications for public health, animal health, and pandemic preparedness. Kamel M, Aleya S, Almagharbeh WT, Aleya L, Abdel-Daim MM. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025 May 14.

The 2024 outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in U.S. dairy cattle represents a significant change in the behavior of zoonotic influenza viruses. Previously, H5N1 was primarily an avian pathogen with limited infection in mammals.
The emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 in dairy herds across multiple states reveals the virus’s adaptation to mammalian hosts and highlights its potential for zoonotic transmission, raising important concerns for public health, veterinary medicine, and agriculture.
The virus demonstrated unique tropism for mammary tissue, with high viral loads detected in milk. Genomic analysis identified mutations that enhance binding to mammalian receptors and facilitate systemic spread. Viral RNA was found in raw milk, posing food safety risks; however, standard pasteurization effectively inactivated the virus.
Epidemiological data indicate the outbreak likely began with spillover from wild birds or contaminated fomites, followed by efficient local transmission within herds. Forty-one human cases linked to infected dairy operations were confirmed. The outbreak caused significant economic losses due to decreased milk production and trade restrictions. Although human-to-human transmission remains low, the zoonotic risk requires urgent attention.
The 2024 HPAI H5N1 outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle highlights critical gaps in surveillance, biosecurity, and coordination across sectors. A One Health approach integrating veterinary, public health, and environmental efforts is essential.
Recommendations include improved surveillance, stringent biosecurity measures, occupational safety protocols, focused research on viral evolution, and investment in diagnostics and vaccines. These actions are vital to reduce risks, protect public health, and ensure the sustainability of the dairy industry against future zoonotic influenza threats.

Alternative treatment candidates to antibiotic therapy for bovine mastitis in the post-antibiotic era: a comprehensive review. Askari S, Zomorodi AR, Aflakian F. Microb Pathog. 2025 May 8;205:107684.

Mastitis, an inflammation of mammary tissue frequently associated with infection, is a prevalent disease among dairy animals. Bacterial intra-mammary infection is identified as a primary cause of bovine mastitis (BM). In dairy cattle, antimicrobials are used for mastitis treatment during the lactating phase and for dry cow therapy.
Although self-curing can occur, the success of mastitis treatment depends on several factors, including the type of bacteria responsible for the infection, the effectiveness of the administered antibiotics, and the host’s overall immune response. Moreover, the growing resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics has restricted the available treatment options for managing intramammary infections.
In addition, the utilization of critically essential antimicrobials in animals raised for food production may elevate the risk of human infections that are challenging to treat. Therefore, it is crucial to have alternative treatments with equivalent or superior effectiveness as part of any stewardship program.
These may include the application of nanotechnology, stem cell technology, photodynamic and laser radiation or the use of traditional herbal medical plants, nutraceuticals, antibacterial peptides, bacteriocins, antibodies therapy, bacteriophages, phage lysins, and probiotics as alternatives to antibiotics.
This review aims to discuss the potential of vaccination as an indirect strategy, along with nanotechnology, probiotics, stem cell therapy, antimicrobial peptides, photodynamic therapy, laser irradiation, and antibody treatments as direct approaches. These approaches are examined as possible alternative therapeutic options to antibiotic treatment for BM.

Differential effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol supplementation on milk fatty acid profiles in 3 different dairy breeds. Lokuge GMS, Nielsen NI, Poulsen NA, et al. JDS Commun. 2024 Dec 16;6(2):261-266.

3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) is a promising and approved antimethanogenic feed additive in dairy farming.
The objective of this study was to evaluate breed-specific variation in milk fatty acids (FA) following 3-NOP supplementation.
Milk FA composition was analyzed from 3 studies using Danish Holstein (DH), Danish Jersey (DJ), and Danish Red (DR) dairy cows respectively, fed control or 3-NOP supplemented diets. The 3-NOP was supplemented at a dose of 60 mg/kg feed DM. Bulk milk samples were analyzed for milk FA by GC flame ionization detection.
The 3-NOP supplemented diets increased the proportion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and decreased the proportion of C16:0 in the milk of DH cows. A similar tendency in milk FA composition induced by 3-NOP was observed in DJ cows; however, the extent of these changes was less pronounced, and no changes were observed in milk FA from DR cows.
Indirect comparison among the breeds showed a higher proportion of SCFA in milk from DJ cows, a higher proportion of medium-chain FA in DR cows and a higher proportion of long-chain FA in DH cows.
The effect of 3-NOP on milk FA composition appears to vary between breeds; however, this variation may also be influenced by differences in feeding regimens between breeds, making further studies worthwhile to better understand these interactions.

Meta-Analysis of Incorporating Glucosinolates into Diets and Their Effects on Ruminant Performance, Ruminal Fermentation, Methane Emissions, Milk Composition, and Metabolic Biochemical Attributes. Gao M, Irawan A, Liu Y, et al. Animals (Basel). 2025 May 20;15(10):1480.

Brassica-derived feeds have been recognized for their economic and environmental benefits in ruminant nutrition. However, their utilization is constrained by the presence of glucosinolates and sulfur-containing compounds that exhibit both beneficial and adverse effects.
This meta-analysis included 36 studies that evaluated the impact of glucosinolate intake on ruminant performance, nutrient digestibility, milk composition, and methane emissions.
This analysis, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, revealed that glucosinolate supplementation resulted in a quadratic increase in milk urea nitrogen concentration (p= 0.017). Additionally, significant interactions between glucosinolate level and source influenced crude protein digestibility (p = 0.026).
Milk composition parameters, including 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, milk protein, and lactose proportions, were significantly affected (p< 0.05).
Furthermore, methane emissions (g/kg DMI) decreased quadratically with increasing glucosinolate intake (p= 0.003), with additional interactions observed between dietary treatments and animal species (p = 0.029).
Propionate and isobutyrate concentrations increased in a quadratic and linear manner, respectively (p< 0.05).
These findings suggest that glucosinolate-containing feed can enhance nutrient utilization and mitigate methane emissions in ruminants. However, the magnitude of these effects is dependent on the glucosinolate dosage, source, animal species, and dietary composition, necessitating further research to optimize their use in ruminant nutrition.

Cannabinoid Distribution and Clearance in Feeding Spent Hemp Biomass to Dairy Cows and the Potential Exposure to delta(9)-THC by Consuming Milk. Irawan A, Nosal DG, Bionaz M, et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2025 May 20.

Spent hemp biomass (SHB) is the byproduct of the cannabinoid extraction from hemp. Despite having an excellent nutritional profile, it cannot legally be used as a feed ingredient in livestock mainly due to the presence of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), which could accumulate in animal products, posing a risk for consumers.
This study investigated the accumulation and clearance of cannabinoids in milk and tissues of dairy cows fed SHB and the risk for people consuming the milk from those cows.
Using UHPLC-MS/MS, researchers detected cannabinoids in the tissues and milk of dairy cows fed SHB, with less than 1% transfer of cannabinoids in the milk. A high accumulation of Δ⁹-THC was detected in the adipose tissue.
Twelve days after SHB withdrawal, Δ⁹-THC in milk was undetectable, but it remained detectable in the adipose tissue until 30 days after SHB withdrawal. CBD and CBD-acid (CBDA) were detectable in the plasma of cows after calving (i.e., 90 days after SHB withdrawal).
When consuming milk from cows fed SHB, the total THC intake exceeded the acute reference dose of 1 μg/kg BW. However, 2 weeks of SHB withdrawal from the diet of the cows eliminates any risk of ingesting Δ⁹-THC by consuming the milk from those cows.

Ruminant Nutrition Symposium: Novel microbial solutions to optimize production efficiency in beef and dairy systems. Cappellozza BI, Cooke RF, Vendramini JMB, et al. J Anim Sci. 2025 May 15:skaf165.

The livestock industry is in search of sustainable technologies that enhance profitability and sustainability of food animal production. Among these technologies, microbial solutions include living bacteria that may support soil, plant, and animal health.
Bacterial inoculants have been the most used additives to modulate whole-plant corn silage fermentation, including homo- and heterofermentative bacteria. Bacterial inoculants can improve fermentation characteristics of grass silage, whereas the wide variation in chemical composition and management practices across cool- and warm-season grasses makes the outcome of inoculation less predictable.
Tailored recommendations for bacterial inoculant species and strains, based on species and management practices are necessary to increase the predictability of silage inoculation, including whole-plant corn and grass silage.
Microbial solutions are also used as feed additives for beef and dairy cattle, including Bacillus-based direct-fed microbials (DFM). Recent advancements in Bacillus-based DFM supplementation have shown promise for enhancing cow-calf productivity through improved gut health, immune function, and nutrient metabolism.
Incorporating Bacillus-based DFM into stocker and feedlot receiving programs can improve feed intake and digestibility, health, and productivity of high-risk cattle. Bacillus-based DFM have also been used in feedlot diets to address public concerns with antimicrobial resistance, but also to improve cattle performance and reduce the incidence of diseases.
Multispecies bacterial-based DFM are promising alternatives to counteract the potentially adverse effects of Salmonella, as these DFM supported the integrity of the intestinal epithelial cells under in vitro settings. In dairy cattle, most DFM-related research in mature cows has targeted improvements in rumen fermentation and enterocyte health.
In general, improvements in milk production due to supplementation of bacteria-based DFM seem to be more consistent than those obtained with yeast-based DFM. Collectively, microbial solutions have the potential to optimize silage quality, enhance feed intake and digestibility by ruminants, support cattle health and performance, while fostering sustainable practices in beef and dairy production systems.

Nutrition and Health

Current contribution to energy and nutrient intake from dairy foods in children and adults using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2018. Fulgoni K, Fulgoni VL 3rd, Agarwal S, Ricklefs-Johnson K, Pikosky MA, Cifelli CJ. J Nutr. 2025 May 23:S0022-3166(25)00307-4.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommends 2-3 servings of dairy a day, but most of the American population consumes less. Multiple factors can influence the intake of dairy including sex, age, ethnicity, and income.
The objective of this study was to determine calorie and nutrient contribution of dairy foods stratified by race/ethnicity in the US to assess if messages regarding dairy recommendations should be tailored to different populations.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018 (N=14,851) data were used to calculate the contribution of dairy and dairy products to under-consumed nutrients and nutrients of public health concern stratified by age and race/ethnicity.
The population ratio method was used to determine percentage of contribution of dairy foods to calories and nutrients.
Milk was the top source of vitamin D and potassium from the dairy group, whereas cheese was the top source of calcium in children and adults.
Both non-Hispanic black children and adults consumed less nutrients from dairy, whereas non-Hispanic Asian children consumed more nutrients from dairy compared to their adult counterparts.
Given the disparity in dairy intake, results suggest concerted efforts are needed to develop targeted specific messages to different subgroups based on race/ethnicity to promote dairy intake.

Yogurt and Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Exploring the FDA Qualified Health Claim and Potential Implications for Improving Public Health. Freitas M, O’Connor A, Blechman A, Cifelli CJ, Kapsak WR. J Nutr. 2025 May 29:S0022-3166(25)00310-4.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a significant public health burden in the U.S. today. As the incidence is predicted to increase, advancing our understanding of food-based recommendations that reduce the risk of T2D is critical to improve public health.
Over the past two decades, a body of scientific evidence has emerged demonstrating the association between consumption of dairy yogurt and reduced risk of T2D. This culminated in 2024, with the decision of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to announce a qualified health claim on the consumption of yogurt and reduced T2D risk.
Qualified health claims enable specific messaging on the role that a food may play in mediating disease risk.
As yogurt is a component of the under-consumed Dairy food group within the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), communication on the relationship between yogurt and T2D risk can help encourage the public to increased intake of yogurt and with it, nutrients of public health concern such as calcium.
The key research included in the FDA enforcement discretion letter and Evidence-Based Review is outlined. This Perspective illustrates the outcome of multi-sector work that includes scientific researchers, nonprofit and industry partners, and policymakers in the development and activation of science-based public health messaging.

Impact of dairy intake on circulating fatty acids and associations with blood pressure: A randomized crossover trial. Arghavani H, Bilodeau JF, Rudkowska I. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2025 Apr 30:104112.

Fatty acids (FAs) are essential substrates for the synthesis of endocrine mediators, which are involved in key biological functions, including inflammatory processes and cardiovascular regulation.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of high and adequate dairy intake (>4, 2-3 serving/day, respectively) on circulating FAs and their associations with blood pressure (BP).
A randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted with 27 participants (8 women, 19 men) at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center.
Participants were assigned to either a high-dairy (HD) or adequate-dairy (AD) diet for six weeks, followed by a six-week washout period before crossing over. Plasma phospholipid-bound FAs were analyzed using gas chromatography, and BP and arterial stiffness were measured at each visit.
Pentadecanoic acid (15:0) and heptadecanoic acid (17:0) were positively correlated with dairy intake and showed increases after the HD. Palmitic acid (16:0) and total saturated FAs were positively associated with systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP), while 17:0 was inversely associated with diastolic BP.
In conclusion, high dairy intake was associated with increased 15:0 and 17:0. Notably, 17:0 had an inverse association with diastolic BP, while 16:0 was positively linked. These findings highlight the importance of dietary strategies that incorporate specific FAs to enhance cardiovascular health.

Unraveling the Association Between Cheese Consumption and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Insights From a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis. Ding C, Weng S. Food Sci Nutr. 2025 May 10;13(5):e70213.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease globally, and diet plays a crucial role in its progression. While dietary fats impact NAFLD, the specific effect of cheese consumption remains unclear.
This study employs a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach to explore the causal relationship between cheese intake and NAFLD, liver fat content, and liver fat proportion.
Using summary-level data from large genome-wide association studies, researchers applied a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach. Genetic variants linked to cheese consumption served as instrumental variables, selected under strict criteria, including genome-wide significance and exclusion of pleiotropy.
Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that increased cheese consumption is negatively associated with NAFLD risk (OR = 0.589). This inverse relationship also extended to liver fat content (OR = 0.814) and liver fat proportion (OR = 0.830).
No significant link was found between cheese intake and liver volume.
In conclusion, cheese intake may have a protective effect against NAFLD, potentially informing dietary management strategies. Further research is needed to confirm these findings across diverse populations.

The Role of Fermented Product Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation in the Development of Cow’s Milk Allergy in Infants. Çevik S, Altaş U, Özkars MY, et al. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2025 May 28:1-11.

Maternal diet can influence immune tolerance and the development of allergic diseases in the offspring. Although the protective effects of fermented foods on various health conditions are recognized, evidence on their role in preventing allergic diseases remains inconclusive.
This study investigates the potential impact of maternal consumption of fermented products during pregnancy and lactation on the development of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) in infants.
The research was conducted as a case-control study with 95 children aged 0-3 years, comprising 46 CMPA cases and 49 healthy controls. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with mothers, focusing on demographic information, maternal diet, and environmental factors. Fermented product consumption was measured in grams and milliliters, and allergy diagnoses were confirmed via clinical evaluations, IgE tests, and oral food challenge tests.
Among the 46 CMPA cases, 67.4% (n=31) had IgE-mediated CMPA, while 32.6% (n=15) had non-IgE-mediated CMPA. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was reported in 4.3% of cases and 10.2% of controls (p=0.437).
Yogurt intake during pregnancy was lower in cases (230 g/week) than in controls (420 g/week), while cheese intake was 210 g/week and 225 g/week, respectively.
The study concludes that maternal consumption of fermented products during pregnancy may reduce the risk of CMPA in infants. However, larger and long-term studies are needed to clarify the interaction between dietary, cultural, and environmental factors.
Further investigation into variables like antacid use, probiotic supplementation, and infection history is also recommended to better understand their influence on CMPA development.

Rising Phytate and Oxalate Intake, Declining Calcium Intake, and Bone Health in U.S. Adults: 1999-2023, a Serial Cross-Sectional Analysis. Sun H, Weaver CM. Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 May 21:S0002-9165(25)00273-4.

The relationship between dietary patterns, calcium bioavailability, and bone health in U.S. adults remains unclear.
The objective of this study was to examine associations between dietary calcium, phytate, and oxalate intake and calcium bioavailability and bone health indicators, including bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis prevalence, and fracture incidence.
A serial cross-sectional analysis was conducted using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (1999-2023) for adults aged 18-85.
Serum calcium and BMD were measured in NHANES laboratories; dietary intake, osteoporosis, and fracture history were self-reported. Primary exposures included dietary calcium, phytate, and oxalate; outcomes included estimated calcium absorption, and changes of BMD, osteoporosis, and fractures.
In 2017-2020, mean phytate intake was significantly higher than in 1999-2000 (834.1±26.2 mg/day vs. 593.5±23.2 mg/day), and oxalate intake increased from 241.5±6.6 mg/day to 280.5±6.6 mg/day.
Calcium intake peaked at 1025.3±9.7 mg/day in 2009-2010 but lowered to 899.9±15.7 mg/day by 2021-2023. Periods of lower calcium intake and higher phytate and oxalate levels corresponded with reduced calcium absorption.
Milk consumption, a primary source of bioavailable calcium, decreased from 0.95±0.03 cup-equivalents/day in 1999-2000 to 0.56±0.02 in 2017-2020. Serum calcium concentrations lowered from 9.46±0.02 mg/dL in 2009-2010 to 9.29±0.01 mg/dL in 2017-2020.
BMD at the femur dropped from 0.982±0.004 to 0.934±0.005 g/cm², and at the femoral neck from 0.849±0.003 to 0.775±0.005 g/cm²between 2009-2010 and 2017-2020. Osteoporosis prevalence increased, and fractures at the hip, wrist, and spine were more frequently reported in 2017-2020 compared to 2009-2010.
In conclusion, diets with greater phytate and oxalate and lower calcium and dairy intake may contribute to reduced calcium bioavailability and unfavorable bone health outcomes among U.S. adults.

Unveiling probiotic and prebiotic functional dairy foods: a health beneficial outlook. Jena R, Choudhury PK. 3 Biotech. 2025 Jun;15(6):175.

Functional dairy foods represent a rapidly growing category in the food industry, driven by enormous consumer demand for health promotion and disease prevention. The interplay between probiotics and prebiotics in these products has the potential to enhance their overall health supports.
Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteriumspecies, commonly found in fermented dairy foods like yogurt, fermented milk, and whey beverages, support gut health by improving intestinal homeostasis, which aids digestion, nutrient absorption, and strengthens immune functionality.
Meanwhile, prebiotics, naturally present in foods like chicory root, garlic, onions, and certain whole grains, serve as a nutritional source that promotes the growth of these probiotics.
Synbiotics, the combined intake of probiotics and prebiotics, in functional dairy foods creates a synergistic effect, improving the survival and colonization of probiotics in the gut while amplifying their positive effects. It can boost digestive health, reduce inflammation, and boost host immunity.
Additionally, scientific research suggests that synbiotics offer benefits beyond gut health, including improved respiratory health and potential impacts on mental well-being through the gut-brain axis.
Dairy products fortified with synbiotics provide a convenient and appealing way to incorporate these health-promoting components into the diet, making them increasingly popular in functional foods.
Understanding the interactions between them, as well as the mechanisms behind their synergism, opens the door for developing innovative dairy products with enhanced nutraceutical potential.

Differences in DHA bioaccessibility and fat digestion of DHA-enriched milks: An in vitro infant digestion model. Zou J, Ba G, Zhu Y, et al. Food Res Int. 2025;213:116602.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is essential for infant neurodevelopment, and cow’s milk is an effective vehicle for delivering DHA to infants. However, it remains unclear how different production and processing methods affect the bioavailability of milk.
There are two primary methods for producing DHA-enriched dairy products: (1) directly adding DHA supplements, such as fish oil or algal oil, to milk, and (2) enriching animal feed with DHA supplements, resulting in endogenous DHA-enriched milk from cows.
Therefore, this study evaluated the bioaccessibility of DHA in different DHA-enriched milks using a simulated infant digestive model.
The results showed that naturally DHA-enriched milk and homogenized naturally DHA-enriched milk exhibited higher DHA bioaccessibility (52.06 % and 43.19 %, respectively) compared to algae oil-enriched milk (33.63 %).
Naturally DHA-enriched milk also contained a higher proportion of glycerophospholipid-bound DHA, fewer long-chain fatty acids, and more saturated fatty acids adjacent to DHA within the same triglyceride molecule, which likely facilitated DHA digestion and absorption.
Homogenization significantly reduced DHA bioaccessibility, possibly by damaging the milk fat globule membranes and affecting lipolysis.
These findings provide a scientific basis and novel insights for developing DHA-enriched milk as a nutritional food for infants and young children.

Innovation, Social Science, and Dairy Alternatives

Flavors of the Earth: Bioprospecting and Potential of Agricultural Ingredients in Yogurt Production with a Focus on Sustainability, Quality, and Technological Innovation. Cardoso CEF, Silva ST, Teodoro AJ, et al. Foods. 2025;14(9):1497.

There is a growing interest in promoting health and improving quality of life, which has led consumers to prefer foods that offer not only basic nutrition but also additional health benefits. In this space, yogurt has gained increasing attention due to its potential to deliver bioactive compounds and improve overall consumer well-being.
As a fermented dairy product consumed globally, yogurt serves as an effective dietary base for nutritional enhancement through the incorporation of a wide range of primary agricultural products, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, and their respective by-products, including peels, seeds, and pomace.
This review provides an overview of recent advances in yogurt biofortification using primary agricultural matrices and agro-industrial by-products within the framework of sustainable food systems and the circular economy.
Significant increases in antioxidant activity and final phytochemical content are observed after the addition of ingredients to yogurt. Enrichment with dietary fiber from fruit peels or pomace also improved syneresis control and viscosity of the products. The microbiological viability of probiotic strains was maintained or increased in most formulations, and sensory acceptance remained favorable with enriched yogurts.
These findings highlight the potential of agricultural matrices to enhance yogurt functionality, promoting sustainability and reducing food waste.

Transforming Dairy for a Difference: Key Factors Influencing Electronic Word-of-mouth Intention and Purchase Intention for Social Enterprise Dairy Products. Ip CY, Wu CN. J Dairy Sci. 2025 May 9:S0022-0302(25)00327-3.

In recent years, social enterprises have garnered increasing attention for their unique integration of social and economic value creation, because consumers seek products and services that align with ethical and sustainable values.
As consumers increasingly seek products and services that not only meet functional needs but also reflect personal values and contribute to societal well-being, demand for sustainable options has accelerated.
This trend is particularly apparent in the dairy sector, where concerns about environmental impact, animal welfare, and ethical sourcing have encouraged the growth of social enterprises committed to responsible and transparent practices.
Despite the increasing presence of social enterprises in the dairy sector, limited research has explored the factors influencing consumer intention and behavior toward their products.
This study explores the factors influencing purchase intention and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) intention for sustainable dairy products offered by social enterprises. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, this research extends existing models by incorporating perceived adherence to social missions (PATSM), altruism, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) knowledge as key determinants.
Researchers collected data through an online survey of 651 Taiwanese consumers familiar with the social enterprise brand “BetterMilk.”
The findings indicate that altruism and SDG knowledge indirectly influence purchase and eWOM intention through PATSM, outcome expectations, and subjective norms.
By demonstrating that altruistic values and SDG knowledge can enhance consumer support for social enterprises, this study offers insights that may inform organizational strategies aimed at strengthening purchase and eWOM intention in the sustainable dairy sector.
In addition, this research advocates for integrating sustainability education into entrepreneurship curricula. The implications highlight the potential for social enterprises in the dairy industry to align profitability with purpose, thereby contributing to a more sustainable marketplace.

EnrichKit: a multi-omics tool for livestock research. Liu L, Peñagaricano F. Front Genet. 2025 May 13;16:1573374.

The increasing applications of omics technologies in livestock research highlights the need for tools capable of interpreting preliminary signals, such as mapping genomic coordinates to gene features and annotating gene lists for functional characterization.
These tools should effectively leverage various biological databases for comprehensive analysis. Additionally, the development of user-friendly interfaces is essential to broaden the accessibility and enable a wider range of users to contribute more effectively to the field of livestock genomics.
EnrichKit provides friendly graphical user interface and superior efficiency in data management and computational analysis by integrating various public databases and statistical algorithms. Its functionalities are showcased through applications in DNA methylation analysis, gene co-expression network analysis, and differential gene expression analysis.
The comparative analysis with existing tools underscores EnrichKit advantages in terms of species-specific gene-set libraries and user accessibility. EnrichKit significantly advances the interpretation of omics studies in livestock genomics. Its tailored approach for species-specific analysis, combined with a comprehensive computational framework, positions it as a valuable tool for researchers.
The potential of EnrichKit to transform livestock genomics research is evident, opening avenues for future enhancements and broader applications in the livestock omics research field.

Innovations in Cattle Breeding Technology: Prospects in the Era of Gene Editing. Wang Y, Cui X, Chen Z. Animals (Basel). 2025 May 8;15(10):1364.

As a core species in the global livestock industry, cattle play an irreplaceable role in human food security and economic development. Beef cattle and dairy cattle meet the dietary needs of billions of people around the world by providing high-quality protein and dairy products, respectively.
With the growth in population and the intensification of the pressure of climate change, traditional breeding techniques may be unsuitable to meet the increasingly growing demands for sustainable and highly adaptable processes.
In recent years, the rapid development of genomics, bioinformatics, and gene-editing technologies has provided unprecedented tools and perspectives for the genetic improvement of cattle, driving the precise design and efficient development of new cattle breeds.
However, the development of new cattle breeds still faces multiple bottlenecks pertaining to scientific, ethical, and industrialization aspects, which can be addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration.
In this review, we will systematically assess the technological progress in the genetic breeding of beef cattle and dairy cattle, analyze the integration path of traditional breeding and modern biotechnology, and explore the future directions of cattle breeding research under the sustainable development goals, with the aim of providing theoretical support for cattle breeding.

Nanoparticles as New Antifungals in the Prevention of Bovine Mycotic Mastitis Caused by Candida spp. and Diutina spp.-In Vitro Studies. Kot M, Lange A, Gołębiewski M, et al. Molecules. 2025 May 8;30(10):2086.

Bacterial infections are the primary cause of mastitisin dairy cattle. Fungal mastitis occurs in 1-12% of cases. Antibiotic therapy, the standard treatment for mastitis, has led to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, reducing treatment efficacy and increasing fungal mastitis
Antibiotics lack biocidal effects on fungi, which often exhibit resistance to antifungal agents.
This study evaluated the antifungal properties of nanoparticles (NPs) against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Diutina rugosarugosa, Diutina catenulata, and Diutina rugosa.
Tested NPs included gold (AuNPs), silver (AgNPs), copper (CuNPs), iron with hydrophilic carbon coating (FeCNPs) (1.56-25 mg/L), and platinum (PtNPs) (0.625-10 mg/L), along with their complexes.
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) at 0.75-25 mg/L for AuNPs, AgNPs, CuNPs, and FeCNPs and 0.313-10 mg/L for PtNPs, as well as fungal sensitivity to standard antifungals, were determined.
Each strain showed different sensitivities depending on the NPs used and their concentrations. glabratawas the most resistant to nanoparticles, while D. catenulata was the most susceptible. PtNPs and FeCNPs showed no or weak biocidal properties. Some mycotic-resistant strains were sensitive to nanoparticles.
This study indicates a high in vitro antifungal potential for the application of nanoparticles, especially AgCuNPs, as a new effective non-antibiotic agent for the prevention and control of mycotic mastitisin dairy cattle.

High-pressure processing as an emerging technology for enhancing dairy product safety and quality: a critical review of latest advances, sustainability impact, limitations, and prospects. Saputra A, Gavahian M, Boing Sitanggang A, et al. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2025 May 6:1-25.

High-pressure processing (HPP) is an emerging non-thermal alternative to thermal pasteurization, offering enhanced safety and quality to dairy products. However, the industry demands an update on HPP’s progress, sustainability impact, limitations, and prospects.
This review analyzed recent progress (2021-2025) in applying HPP as a preservation method by recapping its microbiological, physicochemical, and nutritional effects on dairy products. It also examined HPP’s prospects, consumer preferences, sustainability impact, regulatory aspects, and limitations.
HPP has reduced microbial loads in milk, cheese, yogurt, and reconstituted milk. At 600 MPa, HPP reduced pathogens such as Escherichia coliand Listeria monocytogenes by 3-5 logs in fresh milk and extended refrigerated shelf-life to 60 days. monocytogenes was particularly sensitive to HPP in low-salt white cheese, achieving 8-log reduction.
Besides, this emerging technology enhanced food nutrition by maintaining more than 90% of essential vitamins (A, B1-B3, B5-B7, B9, B12, C, D, E) and minerals (e.g., calcium and phosphorus).
HPP can preserve milk’s pH, viscosity, color, and taste to meet consumer preferences. However, current HPP-based dairy processing has a limited capacity to effectively inactivate spore-forming bacteria at commercial scales.
Nevertheless, HPP can redefine dairy preservation by bridging safety, quality, nutrition, and sustainability after developing affordable, scalable systems that align with regional safety standards.

Milk extracellular vesicles: A burgeoning new presence in nutraceuticals and drug delivery. Marsh SR, Beard CE, Gourdie RG. Bioeng Transl Med. 2025;10(3):e10756.

Mammalian milk, a multifaceted developmental biofluid, has attracted new attention due to its diverse constituents and their implications for health and disease. Among these constituents, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as focal points of investigation.
EVs, including exosomes and small EVs, have demonstrated biological activity in preclinical studies-including reports of enhancement of cognition and neural complexity, promotion of gastrointestinal development, barrier function and microbiome richness, the bolstering of immune response, and facilitation of musculoskeletal maturation in neonates.
The richness of milk as a source of EVs is noteworthy, with hundreds of milliliters (at >10¹²EVs/mL) of nanovesicles extractable from a single liter of milk (>10¹⁴ EVs/starting liter of milk). Techniques such as tangential flow filtration hold promise for scalable production, potentially extending to thousands of liters.
Together with the scale and increasing sophistication of the dairy industry, the abundance of EVs in milk underscores their commercial potential in various nutraceutical applications.
Beyond natural bioactivity, milk EVs (mEVs) present intriguing possibilities as orally deliverable, non-immunogenic pharmaceutical carriers, with burgeoning interest in their utilization for heart disease and cancer chemotherapy and as vectors for gene-editing modules such as CrispR.
This review synthesizes current knowledge on mEV biogenesis, characterization, isolation methodologies, and cargo contents. Moreover, it delves into the therapeutic potential of mEVs, both as inherently bioactive nanovesicles and as versatile platforms for drug delivery.
As efforts progress toward large-scale implementation, rigorous attention to safe, industrial-scale production and robust assay development will be pivotal in harnessing the translational promise of small EVs from milk.

An innovative carbonated beverage based with milk permeate and prebiotics. Lasset RCLGS, Filho ERT, Cruz AG, et al. Food Res Int. 2025;212:116536.

Milk permeate is an underutilized dairy co-product with potential for innovative applications, such as in carbonated dairy beverages. Given that carbonation remains largely unexplored in dairy beverages, it may represent a strategic opportunity to expand the product portfolio in a highly competitive market.
Furthermore, incorporating prebiotics can provide functional properties to the product, such as promoting gut health, while adding value to a co-product and aligning with consumer demand for health-promoting beverages.
This study aimed to develop and evaluate a carbonated dairy beverage using milk permeate (CPB) and prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides, and inulin-FOS, GOS, XOS, INUL), with a sugar-sweetened control (SUGAR).
CPB-FOS exhibited the highest viscosity and consumer preference, likely due to the enhanced sweetness perception. SUGAR sample ranked second in acceptance, while the other prebiotic-containing formulations did not achieve satisfactory acceptance levels.
Further analysis revealed that sweetness, particularly mildly lingering residual sweetness, and lemon flavor were the primary drivers of liking. In contrast, bitterness negatively influences acceptance, especially when perceived at the beginning of consumption.
The findings suggest that milk permeate can serve as a valuable base for innovative carbonated beverages, with FOS demonstrating superior sensory acceptance and favorable rheological properties. The study highlights the importance of balancing sweetness and lemon flavor while minimizing bitterness to optimize consumer preference.

Time to consider more than just calcium? The impact on protein, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and iodine intake of replacing cows’ milk with plant-based milk-like drinks-an Australian usual intake dietary modelling study. Lawrence AS, Russo-Batterham D, Doyle K, Tescari E. Eur J Nutr. 2025 May 23;64(4):182.

Most plant-based milk-like (PBML) drinks sold in Australia are not fortified with riboflavin, vitamin B12 or iodine.
Reduced dairy intake is often recommended for planetary health and the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines advise that PBML drinks are a suitable replacement for cows’ milk if calcium fortified.
Therefore, researchers investigated the likely population-wide impacts on riboflavin, vitamin B12, iodine and protein usual intakes of replacement of cows’ milk with PBML drinks.
The researchers used computer simulation modelling of data from the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 11,925 persons aged 2 + years). Cows’ milk was replaced with PBML drinks and the likely impacts on usual intakes of riboflavin, vitamin B12, iodine and protein were assessed across eight age groups.
Replacement of cows’ milk with unfortified PBML drinks would likely lead to:
- an increased proportion of older women (71 + years) with an inadequate riboflavin intake (from 20 to 31%)
- an increased proportion of older men and females aged 14 + years with an inadequate vitamin B12 intake (from < 1 to 9%, from 5-8 to 11-17%, respectively)
- an increased proportion of males and females (2 + years) with an inadequate iodine intake (from 2 to 5%, from 8 to 16%, respectively)
Effects on protein adequacy were more minor except for older adults.
Replacement of cows’ milk with most types of Australian PBML drinks has the potential to adversely impact riboflavin, vitamin B12, iodine and protein intake adequacy within the Australian population and future recommendations should consider all population groups and a range of nutrients, not just calcium.