Dairy Research Bulletin: Selected Articles from October 2024

Environmental Management and Sustainability

Characterization of Microbial Populations in Two Distinct Dairy Manure Management Systems: Seasonal Effect and Implications for Pollutant Gases Emissions. Fuertes E, Seradj AR, Balcells J, Maynegre J, de la Fuente G. J Anim Sci. 2024 Oct 26:skae316.

Following an increase in the demand for dairy products, higher quantities of manure are consequently produced, with the subsequent pollutant gas emission charge associated with its management.
The two mostly used housing systems in the northeast of Spain, cubicles and compost-bedded pack, entail different manure management techniques; thus, the main objective of this study was to describe the microbiota present in manure of both systems during two distinct climatic situations (winter, mean temperature of 6.2ºC; and summer, mean temperature of 36.4ºC).
The secondary aim was to correlate these microbiological profiles with literature findings on the emission of certain well-known pollutant gases from manure.
Compost-bedded pack was shown to have higher alpha biodiversity as well as presenting a remarkable clustering by season but showed lower network complexity than cubicles. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was found superior in cubicles, which also presented a significantly higher abundance of methanogenic genera belonging to Euryarchaeota phylum, such as Methanobrevibacter, Methanosaeta or Methanosarcina.
On the other hand, compost-bedded pack manure presented a significant presence of Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas or Truepera, among other genera, which activity has been linked to nitrogen transformation pathways in manure.
Season also had a relevant role to play on the fluctuation of these populations within each housing system under study.
These results show how microbial populations change when manure is differently managed, and how these variations can be related to the synthesis of certain pollutant gases upon housing systems.

Enhanced anaerobic digestion of freezing and thawing pretreated cow manure with increasing solid content: kinetics and microbial community dynamics. Abid M, Wu J, Zhou X, et al. Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 26;14(1):25579.

High solid anaerobic digestion has proved the mainstream technology for the treatment of organic wastes. However, the high molecular weight and complex lignocellulosic structure of cow manure make it indigestible and inefficient, leading to limit the hydrolysis step of anaerobic digestion at high solid content.
To mitigate this bottleneck, an improved cost-effective freezing and thawing pretreatment technique was proposed in this study.
The freezing and thawing pretreatment of raw cow manure without any dilution was done for 20 days.
The maximum cumulative methane yield (487 mL CH4 g- 1VS) was achieved at a total solid (TS) of 5% followed by TS of 10% and 15%, which was 13%, 20% and 21% higher than obtained from untreated cow manure, respectively. The kinetic results revealed that the biodegradable materials could be utilized at increasing TS with decreasing hydrolysis rate.
The pretreatment significantly enhanced the methylotrophic methanogenic pathway during high solid anaerobic digestion, which was contrary to the general concept that the process is usually dominated by acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens.
This study is very important to understand the effect of solid content but also important to understand the effect of freezing and thawing pretreatment on process parameters and microbial community dynamics in high solid anaerobic digestion.

Spatial Distribution of Ammonia Concentrations and Modeled Dry Deposition in an Intensive Dairy Production Region. Leytem AB, Walker JT, Beachley G, et al. Atmosphere (Basel);15(1):1-23.

Agriculture generates ~83% of total US ammonia (NH₃) emissions, potentially adversely impacting sensitive ecosystems through wet and dry deposition. Regions with intense livestock production, such as the dairy region of south-central Idaho, generate hotspots of NH₃
The study objective was to measure the spatial and temporal variability of NH₃across the south-central Idaho region and estimate its dry deposition.
Ambient NH₃was measured using diffusive passive samplers at 8 sites in two transects across the region from 2018-2020. NH₃ fluxes were estimated using the Surface Tiled Aerosol and Gaseous Exchange (STAGE) model.
Peak NH₃concentrations were 4-5 times greater at a high-density dairy site compared to mixed agriculture/dairy or agricultural sites, and 26 times greater than non-agricultural sites with prominent seasonal trends driven by temperature.
Annual estimated dry deposition rates in areas of intensive dairy production can approach 45 kg N ha^-1y^-1, compared to <1 kg N ha^-1 y^-1 in natural landscapes.
These results suggest that the natural sagebrush steppe landscapes interspersed within and surrounding agricultural areas in southern Idaho receive NH₃dry deposition rates within and above the range of nitrogen critical loads for North American deserts.
Finally, these results highlight a need for improved understanding of the role of soil processes in NH₃dry deposition to arid and sparsely vegetated natural ecosystems across the western US.

New insights into the enteric methane production based on the archaeal genome map of ruminant gastrointestinal tract. Tang Y, Liu X, Sun HZ, et al. J Adv Res. 2024 Oct 17:S2090-1232(24)00418-1.

As one of the important components of ruminant gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome, archaea are involved in many biological processes, especially methanogenesis. However, the diversity and individual metabolic characteristics of archaea in this habitat remain largely understudied, partly due to the lack of a unified reference genome catalog.
This study aimed to construct a unified genome map for taxonomic and functional exploration of ruminant GIT archaea in the future.
Researchers collected archaeal genomes from public sources and new data from this study. They performed phylogenetic analysis, functional genomics analyses, prophages identification based on the genomes. Using collected genomes as a reference, the researchers conducted metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses on rumen fluid samples from 18 dairy cows with different methane (CH₄) production.
The researchers constructed the ruminant GIT archaeal genomes (RGAG) by compiling 405 strain-level (160 species) non-redundant archaeal genomes from more than 10 ruminant species. The functional heterogeneity and methanogenic structure within RGAG was investigated.
RGAG possessed 1,124 (99.5 %) unknown microbial biosynthetic gene clusters. A survey of RGAG-borne prophages identified 63 prophages with 122 host-beneficial genes and 18 auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs).
The pipeline for both metagenomics and metatranscriptomics generated in the study revealed the roles of archaeal genomes under-assessed in general analyses of muti-omics. The highly expressed genus Methanosphaera was negatively correlated with CH₄
In conclusion,a unified genome map of ruminant GIT archaea was constructed in the study and functional genomics indicates that the multifaceted functions of RGAG remains undiscovered. Multi-omics analyses reveal the advantages of metatranscriptomics over metagenomics in studying rumen archaeal communities.
Differences in rumen archaeal community structure among cattle with different CH₄production may reflect the balance between rumen hydrogen production and methanogenesis. This work provides new understanding of archaeal functions in the ruminant GIT and potential targets for future CH₄

Feasibility study of plasma pyrolysis on dairy waste. Fasihi M, Khani M, Shokri B. Heliyon. 2024 Sep 10;10(19):e37694.

Considering the ever-increasing necessity of the disposal of industrial and household waste and using mechanisms through which the utmost potential of the waste is directed to the efficient recycling of materials or forms of energy.
The current study investigated plasma pyrolysis as an eco-friendly and appropriate approach that leads to the production of value-added products.
The novelty of this study lies in the development of a method for spoiled milk disposal since no efficient solution has been provided yet in this respect. The other benefit of implementing the proposed disposal method is the production of high-quality syngas.
The maximum produced hydrogen percentage and syngas rate during the process under study in this research were obtained as 60.396 % and 2.166, respectively. A plasma method is a rare approach to yielding products with such values.
The obtained results revealed that the transferred thermal plasma could efficiently dispose of the spoiled milk waste and be used as a novel approach to the green synthesis of hydrogen through plasma pyrolysis.

Animal Health and Food Safety

From One Heath to One Sustainability: The Role of Contagious Mastitis Pathogens in Decreasing the Dairy Herd Sustainability. Zaghen F, Sora VM, Zanirato G, Zecconi A. Pathogens. 2024 Oct 20;13(10):914.

Economic, social, and environmental sustainability are the results of efforts aiming to improve all aspects of milk production, respecting animal welfare and improving herd health.
An epidemiological study was designed to assess the role of contagious pathogens ( aureusand S. agalactiae) in a cohort of 120 dairy herds located in the southern regions of Italy.
Milk quality was assessed using certified methods, and the prevalence of mastitis pathogens in bulk tank milk was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Welfare scores were assessed using a scoring card that has more than 100 items, including animal-based measurements.
The results showed that aureushad a significant negative effect on the amount of milk nutrients delivered to the dairy plant, and on the level of welfare, whereas the presence of S. agalactiae did not show any significant association. The major risk factors associated with the presence of S. aureus were also identified to help prioritize control programs.
These results support the “One Sustainability” approach, implying that an increase in animal productivity is related to the improvement of animal health and welfare and potentially leading to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Maternal gastrointestinal microbiome shapes gut microbial function and resistome of newborns in a cow-to-calf model. Zhuang Y, Liu S, Cao Z, et al. Microbiome. 2024 Oct 22;12(1):216.

The maternal gut microbiome is the direct and important source of early colonization and development of the neonatal gut microbiome. However, differences in unique and shared features between mothers with different physiological phenotypes and their newborns still lack exhaustive investigation.
Here, using a cow-to-calf model, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to elucidate the pattern and characterization of microbial transfer from the maternal source to the offspring.
The microbiota in the rumen and feces of dairy cows were divided into two clusters via enterotype analysis.
The cows from the enterotype distinguished by Prevotella in the rumen had better production performance, whereas no difference was observed in the cows classified by feces enterotype.
Furthermore, through a pairwise combination of fecal and ruminal enterotypes, the researchers screened a group of dairy cows with excellent phenotypes. The gastrointestinal microbiomes of cows with different phenotypes and their offspring differed significantly. The rumen was a more important microbial source for meconium than feces.
Transmission of beneficial bacteria from mother to offspring was observed. Additionally, the meconium inherits advantageous metabolic functions of the rumen. The resistome features of the rumen, feces, and meconium were consistent, and resistome abundance from cows to calves showed an expanding trend. The interaction between antibiotic-resistance genes and mobile genetic elements from the rumen to meconium was the most remarkable.
The diversity of core metabolites from cows to calves was stable and not affected by differences in phenotypes. However, the abundance of specific metabolites varied greatly.
Overall, this study demonstrates the microbial taxa, metabolic function, and resistome characteristics of maternal and neonatal microbiomes, and reveals the potential vertical transmission of the microbiome from a cow-to-calf model. These findings provide new insights into the transgenerational transmission pattern of the microbiome.

A meta-analysis approach to evaluate the effects of early group housing on calf performance, health and behavior during the preweaning period. Donadio JP, De-Sousa KT, Deniz M, et al. J Dairy Sci. 2024 Oct 14:S0022-0302(24)01219-0.

Dairy calves are commonly separated from their dams shortly after birth and raised isolated from other individuals during pre-weaning (usually until 2 mo old). These practices contrast with what occurs under natural conditions and are not well seen by citizens. Furthermore, isolated housing has detrimental effects on calves’ early life.
The stress caused by social isolation makes calves more fearful than those with social contact. Therefore, group housing has been studied to understand the importance of social interactions for calf development.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of early group housing on the performance, health, and behavior of dairy calves during the pre-weaning period using systematic and meta-analysis approaches.
Peer-reviewed articles written in English that compared dairy calves individually and group-housed with performance, health, or behavior outcomes were collected from Web of Science, PubMed and CabDirect databases. The resulting articles (n = 850) underwent a PRISMA 4-step appraisal process, resulting in a final sample of 51 articles containing 85 studies.
Most of the studies included in this review evaluated female calves (45.8%) weaned at 8 weeks old (52.6%). Housing systems were mainly paired housing (55.3%), followed by groups of 3 to 6 calves (30.65) and groups of 7 to 15 calves (4.7%).
Weight gain and feed intake parameters were higher in group-housed calves. The researchers did not find studies with comparable outcomes for more robust health parameters (as occurrence of diseases), only blood parameters, that were not influenced by the housing system.
Through the meta-regression, the researchers found that average daily gain was positively affected by the group housing in studies with calves housed in small pen areas (<1.5 m²per calf). Group-housed calves presented more active behaviors (feeding and playing) and less stress-related behaviors (self-grooming and interacting with the pen) than individually-housed calves.
Individually-housed calves presented fewer vocalizations on these tests and spent more time interacting with humans during the human approach test than group-housed calves.
These findings provide consistent evidence that group housing improves the welfare of dairy calves; however, the effects on health parameters are still scarce and unclear.

Effects of Using Mechanical Brushes on the Productive Performance of Dairy Cows. Li H, Zhang R, Lin P, et al. Vet Sci. 2024 Oct 7;11(10):481.

Intensive farming can reduce production costs and maximize animal production efficiency; however, it also causes many adverse effects on the welfare of dairy cows. A mechanical brush is an automated grooming device that promotes the grooming behavior of dairy cattle, thereby helping to alleviate stress.
In the present study, we evaluated the effects of using mechanical brushes on the production performance of dairy cows by comprehensively analyzing their milk production, health status, and reproductive performance.
The cows were assigned to 6 groups:
- 109 lactating dairy cows (brush treatment)
- 105 controls (without brush treatment)
- 64 dry milk dairy cows (brush treatment)
- 49 controls (without brush treatment)
- 198 perinatal cows (brush treatment)
- 65 controls (without brush treatment).
The researchers found an increasing trend in the daily utility time and usage frequency of mechanical brushes for each cow during the lactating period, dry period, and perinatal period.
The installation location of the mechanical brush significantly affected the frequency of its usage during the different periods. The head was the preferred body part for using the mechanical brush during the lactation and dry periods, while the hip was the main preferred grooming part during the perinatal period.
Overall, the time, frequency, and preferred body part of dairy cows that used mechanical brushes varied across different physiological stages. Additionally, mechanical brush use in lactating and dry dairy cows significantly improved cleanliness of the body’s surface and enhanced milk production of lactating cows, particularly for cows with four and five parities.
Thus, the use of mechanical brushes could improve the production performance of dairy cows and enhance sustainability of large-scale farms.

Effectiveness of pasteurization for the inactivation of H5N1 influenza virus in raw whole milk. Alkie TN, Nasheri N, Berhane Y, et al. Food Microbiol. 2025 Jan;125:104653.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx viruses continue to cause episodic incursions and have been detected in more than 12 taxonomic orders encompassing more than 80 avian species, terrestrial and marine mammals, including lactating dairy cows.
HPAI H5N1 spillover to dairy cattle creates a new interface for human exposure and raises food safety concerns.
The presence of H5N1 genetic material in one out of five retail pasteurized milk samples in the USA has prompted the evaluation of the pasteurization processes for the inactivation of influenza viruses.
This study examined whether pasteurization could effectively inactivate HPAI H5N1 spiked into raw whole milk.
First, researchers heated 1 mL of non-homogenized cow milk samples to attain an internal temperature of 63°C or 72°C and spiked with 6.3 log₁₀EID₅₀ of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus. Complete inactivation was achieved after incubation of the H5N1 spiked raw milk at 63°C for 30 min.
In addition, viral inactivation was observed in seven of eight experimental replicates when treated at 72°C for 15s. In one of the replicates, a 4.44 log₁₀virus reduction was achieved, which is about 1 log higher than the average viral quantities detected in bulk milk in affected areas.
Therefore, the researchers conclude that pasteurization of milk is an effective strategy for mitigation of the risk of human exposure to milk contaminated with H5N1 virus.

Human Nutrition and Health

Terrestrial Animal Source Foods and Health Outcomes for Those with Special Nutrient Needs in the Life Course. Iannotti L, Rueda García AM, Palma G, Fontaine F, Scherf B, Neufeld LM, Zimmerman R, Fracassi P. Nutrients. 2024 Sep 24;16(19):3231.

Animal source foods are under scrutiny for their role in human health, yet some nutritionally vulnerable populations are largely absent from consideration.
Applying a Population Intervention/Exposure Comparator Outcome (PICO/PECO) framework and prioritizing systematic review and meta-analyses, researchers reviewed the literature on terrestrial animal source foods (TASFs) and human health, by life course phase.
There were consistent findings for milk and dairy products on positive health outcomes during pregnancy and lactation, childhood, and among older adults. Eggs were found to promote early childhood growth, depending on context. Unprocessed meat consumption was associated with a reduced risk for anemia during pregnancy, improved cognition among school-age children, and muscle health in older adults.
Milk and eggs represent a risk for food sensitivities/allergies, though prevalence is low, and individuals tend to outgrow the allergies. TASFs affect the human microbiome and associated metabolites with both positive and negative health repercussions, varying by type and quantity.
In conclusion, there were substantial gaps in the evidence base for studies limiting our review, specifically for studies in populations outside high-income countries and for several TASF types (pig, poultry, less common livestock species, wild animals, and insects). Nonetheless, sufficient evidence supports an important role for TASFs in health during certain periods of the life course.

Dairy Consumption at Breakfast among Southeast Asian Children: Associations with Nutrient Intake from the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys II (SEANUTS II). Mikulic N, Khouw I, de Groot N, et al; SEANUTS II Study Group. Nutrients. 2024 Sep 24;16(19):3229.

Children’s rapid growth requires adequate nutrient intake, with breakfast, especially when incorporating dairy, playing an important role.
This study examined associations between dairy consumption at breakfast and energy and nutrient intake among children in Southeast Asia.
Utilizing the cross-sectional South East Asian Nutrition Surveys II dataset, using a 24 hour dietary recall and questionnaires distributed among 10,286 children aged 2 to 12 years from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the researchers investigated the impact of dairy consumption at breakfast on nutrient intake and examined associations between breakfast consumption and the prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity.
Although most of the children consumed breakfast, only 37%, 27%, 16%, and 18% in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, respectively, included dairy in this meal, with younger children being significantly more likely to consume dairy at breakfast.
Dairy consumers had significantly higher intakes of vitamins A, B₁₂, and D and calcium both at breakfast and throughout the day. Breakfast skippers had a 29% increased risk of being overweight/obese.
In conclusion, dairy consumption at breakfast was associated with enhanced nutrient intake and overall diet quality among Southeast Asian children. The association between breakfast habits and anthropometric outcomes highlights the need to address nutritional deficiencies and promote healthy growth and development.

Effect of probiotic yogurt on antibiotic-associated diarrhea among pediatric patients; randomized controlled trial. Shyoran R, Kaur A, Bharat P, Pathania R. J Educ Health Promot. 2024;13:317.

Diarrhea is a common unfavorable consequence of antibiotics. Probiotic yogurt is equally effective as probiotic capsules, so it may provide a simple and cost-effective means of preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD).
The study aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotic yogurt on AAD among pediatric patients.
The randomized controlled trial design was adopted in this investigation, with a post-test-only control group. Data were obtained from 244 pediatric patients on antibiotics who were admitted to the hospital and included in the trial via full enumeration sampling. Selected subjects were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 122) or control (n = 122) groups.
The experimental group received probiotic yogurt for five days, whereas the control group received standard care. The incidence and severity of diarrhea on the fifth day of the intervention were used to determine the study’s results.
AAD occurred in 13.90% and 36.88% of individuals in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Further, yogurt intervention was found to be effective in terms of increasing the consistency of the stool, decreasing the duration and onset of diarrhea,reducing the frequency and amount of loose stool, reducing the urgency of defecation, the presence of abdominal discomfort, and dehydration.
In hospitals, antibiotics are commonly prescribed, and the most common side effect of medications is diarrhea. Probiotic yogurt guards against this side effect of antibiotics. Medical practitioners need to understand the value of probiotic yogurt as a preventive measure that could save children’s lives.

The associations between dairy product intake, fatigue status, and physical activity among postpartum women in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Almasaudi AS, Alashmali S, Baattaiah BA , et al. BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 9;24(1):2759.

Fatigue is a major issue that affects women during the postpartum period. A healthy dietary pattern and increased physical activity are commonly recommended lifestyle modifications to promote health during this time. However, little is known about the interrelationship between dairy product intake, physical activity level, and postpartum fatigue (PPF) among women.
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether PPF is associated with dairy product intake in relation to physical activity level.
A total of 242 women were included in this cross-sectional study. Data related to dairy product intake and physical activity were collected using a food frequency questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, respectively. PPF was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale.
Higher consumption rates of yogurt and total dairy predicted lower odds of PPF in women engaged in moderate levels of physical activity (aOR = 0.24 and 0.70, respectively).
In women engaged in high levels of PA, lower odds of experiencing PPF were predicted by higher consumption rates of milk (aOR = 0.24), yogurt (aOR = 0.21), laban (aOR = 0.16), and total dairy (aOR = 0.66). However, no association was observed between dairy product intake and PPF in women with low levels of PA.
In conclusion, higher consumption rates of dairy products were associated with lower odds for experiencing PPF, particularly for women engaged in moderate to high levels of PA. These findings support nutritional and PA promotion programs to moderate issues with PPF.

Dietary strategies and nutritional supplements in the management of heart failure: a systematic review. Yu X, Chen Q, Xu Lou I. Front Nutr. 2024 Oct 11;11:1428010.

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of increased intracardiac pressure or decreased cardiac output. There is a lack of conclusive evidence to recommend the regular use of any dietary supplement in patients with HF. However, certain studies have shown nutritional interventions to be beneficial for patients with HF.
Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to understand and map the updates of dietary interventions and nutritional supplementation measures related to patients with HF over the past 5 years.
Researchers conducted a systematic review of several databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) and included 19 randomized clinical trials that focused on the association between dietary interventions and nutritional supplements and HF that were published between 2018 and 2023.
The findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet improves functionality, quality of life, and cardiac function, and that probiotic yogurt may effectively improve the inflammatory and antioxidative status of chronic heart failure. Additionally, whey protein and melatonin have a positive effect on improving endothelial function in HF patients.
Certain dietary interventions and nutritional supplements may provide some benefit to patients with HF. However, more high-quality clinical trials are needed for further in-depth studies.

Neuroprotective effects of whey and buttermilk-based formulas on a DSS-induced colitis murine model. Buey B, Latorre E, Castro M, Valero MS, Plaza MÁ, Arruebo MP, Abad I, Rodríguez-Largo A, Sánchez L, Mesonero JE. Biochem Cell Biol. 2024 Oct 1.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a gut-brain axis disorder that comprises chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, where alterations in the mood of patients are common
The close association between inflammatory bowel disease and neuroinflammation has far-reaching implications, as is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
The increasing prevalence and high economic cost, together with the loss of life quality of people suffering from these diseases, point to the need to find alternatives to alleviate them.
Exploring new therapeutic avenues prompts us to consider the potential benefits of milk fractions, taking advantage of the use of dairy by-products, such as whey and buttermilk.
This study examines the impact of cow’s whey- and buttermilk-based formulas supplemented with bovine lactoferrin and milk fat globule membrane on the expression of cytokines, as well as on the components of immune and serotonergic system of the brain in a murine model of DSS-induced colitis.
The results show the potential of these dairy by-products, especially whey, as functional foods in ameliorating neuroinflammation and safeguarding the central nervous system function amid the neurological complications induced or concomitant with intestinal inflammatory processes.

Innovation, Economics, and Dairy Alternatives

By-Products Valorization: Peptide Fractions from Milk Permeate Exert Antioxidant Activity in Cellular and In Vivo Models. Scalcon V, Fiorese F, Rigobello MP, et al. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024 Oct 10;13(10):1221.

The discarding of agri-food by-products is a stringent problem due to their high environmental impact. Recovery strategies can lead to a reduction of waste and result in new applications. Agri-food waste represents a source of bioactive molecules, which could promote health benefits.
The primary goal of this research has been the assessment of the antioxidant activity of milk permeate, a dairy farm by-product, and the isolation and identification of peptide fractions endowed with antioxidant activity.
The fractions showed radical scavenging activity in vitro. Moreover, the results in the Caco-2 cell model demonstrated that the peptide fractions were able to protect from oxidative stress by stimulating the Keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway, increasing the transcription of antioxidant enzymes.
In addition, the bioactive peptides can affect cellular metabolism, increasing mitochondrial respiration. The action of the peptide fractions was also assessed in vivo on a zebrafish model and resulted in the protection of the whole organism from the adverse effects of acute cold stress, highlighting their strong capability to protect from an oxidative insult.
Altogether, the results unveil novel recovery strategies for food by-products as sources of antioxidant bioactive peptides that might be utilized for the development of functional foods.

Microwave-sonication synergistic extraction of dairy waste proteins: A review of green approach for dairy waste proteins valorization. Waseem M, Rizwan Javed M, Ahmad Nayik G, et al. Ultrason Sonochem. 2024 Oct 16;111:107111.

Ultrasonic and microwave extraction process has great prospects to convert food and agricultural waste from food industries to value-added goods. Also, this review extensively elaborates the utilization of ultrasonication and microwave extraction (US-MW) process for valorization of dairy waste extracted proteins into novel foods. Both of these extraction and processing techniques are considered as green technologies when compared with the other conventional or chemical extraction and processing techniques. Further, this review also explains the impact of US-MW alone and in combination on the dairy waste proteins extraction, nutritional and techno-functional attributes of these dairy-waste proteins.

The review also highlights the economic and cost-effective benefits of US-MW processes for extracting the proteins from dairy waste, indicating their feasibility and sustainability. The review also elucidated the synergistic utilization of US-MW extraction as a viable processing technique in extraction or production of bioactive compounds like dairy proteins.
In conclusion, this review elucidates the US-MW, both individually and in synergy as a viable source of dairy waste proteins extraction and their application in functional foods. Moreover, in accordance with the latest developments and future prospects at pilot and commercial level to assess the practicability of synergistic use of US-MW extraction in bioenergy production from food wastes other than dairy waste for extraction and production of biodiesel, hydrogen, green methane, and ethanol.

Association Between Dairy Production System and Milk Functionality Based on Analysis of miRNAs in Exosomes from Milk. Abou El Qassim L, Golan-Gerstl R, Reif S, Royo LJ. Animals (Basel). 2024 Oct 14;14(20):2960.

Dairy farming practices significantly affect the nutritional and functional properties of milk.
This study compares miRNAs in milk exosomes from extensive and intensive dairy systems and explores their potential implications for human consumers.
Extensive systems are believed to produce milk of higher quality with better animal welfare compared to intensive systems.
Milk samples from eight extensive and nine intensive dairy farms were analyzed. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles were isolated and characterized to determine the size and the concentration of the extracellular vesicles.
miRNA levels were quantified using RT-qPCR, and metabolic pathways associated with miRNAs showing significant differences between farm groups were analyzed. EVs from extensive farms had higher concentrations.
Notably, bta-miR-451levels were significantly higher in milk from extensive farms (p = 0.021). Like human miRNA hsa-miR-451, it is linked to pathways related to Parkinson’s disease and cancer.
This research suggests that milk production in extensive systems may have positive effects on human health through their miRNAs. Further research is warranted to explore the bioactive potential of these miRNAs and their implications for human health.

Sphingomyelin-enriched milk phospholipids offer superior benefits in improving the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and surface characteristics of infant formula. Pan Y, Zhang X, Yu M, et al. Food Chem. 2024 Oct 5;463(Pt 4):141549.

Phospholipids from different sources have varying chemical compositions, but how they contribute to different properties of infant formula is unclear.
In this study, four types of phospholipids, milk phospholipids (MPLs), soybean phospholipids (SBPLs), sunflower phospholipids (SFPLs), and egg yolk phospholipids (EYPLs), were added to infant formula to investigate their physicochemical properties, microstructure, and surface characteristics.
MPLs uniquely offer high sphingomyelin and saturated fatty acid levels. The MPL-based emulsion had the smallest particle size (334.50 nm), lowest stability constant (0.30), and highest viscosity among all groups tested. Furthermore, the abundance of sphingomyelin in MPLs allowed for a denser interfacial film and the complete phospholipid-coated structure of lipid droplets in infant formula emulsion.
This consequently improved the microstructure and fat encapsulation of the powder, leading to significantly lower surface fat content in the MPL group. Therefore, the proper selection of phospholipids is crucial for modulating the stability and surface characteristics of infant formula.

Probiotic Milk Enriched with Protein Isolates: Physicochemical, Organoleptic, and Microbiological Properties. Pawlos M, Szajnar K, Kowalczyk M, Znamirowska-Piotrowska A. Foods. 2024 Oct 3;13(19):3160.

Incorporating plant protein isolates into milk can enhance probiotic culture growth by providing essential nutrients and altering the physicochemical properties of fermented milk.
This study investigated the effects of adding 1.5% or 3.0% soy, pea, and whey protein isolates on the growth of Lacticaseibacillus caseiand Lactobacillus johnsonii monocultures, as well as the physicochemical (acidity, syneresis, color) and organoleptic properties of fermented milk during 21 days of refrigerated storage.
The results showed that 1.5% SPI and WPI did not significantly alter milk acidity compared to controls. Still, pH increased with 1.5% and 3.0% PPI. Storage time significantly affected pH in caseifermented milk.
The initial addition of WPI at 1.5% and 3.0% reduced syneresis in caseifermented milk compared to other samples. Color components were significantly influenced by isolates. Initial L. casei cell counts were lower with SPI (LCS1.5 and LCS3) and 1.5% PPI (LCP1.5) compared to controls.
Increasing isolate concentration from 1.5% to 3% enhanced johnsoniigrowth in WPI-milk but reduced L. casei in LCW3 compared to LCW1.5. Only increased pea protein concentration significantly increased L. casei growth.
Probiotic populations generally were reduced during extended storage. Moreover, isolates impacted milk organoleptic evaluation.
This research demonstrates the potential of protein isolates in creating health-promoting and diverse fermented products and offers insights into their interaction with probiotic cultures to advance functional food technologies.

Ultra-processed vegan foods: Healthy alternatives to animal-source foods or avoidable junk? Estévez M, Arjona A, Sánchez-Terrón G, Molina-Infante J, Martínez R. J Food Sci. 2024 Oct 8

Animal-source foods (ASFs), namely, meat, milk, eggs, and derived products, are crucial components of a well-balanced diet owing to their contribution with multiple essential nutrients. The benefits of the consumption of ASFs in terms of hedonic responses, emotional well-being, and mood are also widely documented.
However, an increasing share of consumers decide to exclude ASFs from their diets. Some of these vegan consumers are inclined to consume so-called “meat” and/or “dairy analogs,” which are produced from plant materials (soy, wheat, and oat, among others).
In order to simulate appearance, texture, and flavor of ASFs, these industrial vegan foods are designed using an intricate formulation and industrial processing, which justifies their identification as ultraprocessed foods (UPFs).
While the introduction of these processed vegan products is becoming popular in developed countries, the consequences of the sustained intake of these products on human health are mostly ignored. Contrarily to common belief, which emphasizes their role as “healthy” alternatives to ASFs, these plant-based UPFs may enclose certain threats, which are reviewed in the present paper.
The remarkable differences between vegan UPFs and the genuine ASFs (meat/dairy products) from sensory, nutritional, hedonic, or health perspectives precludes the designation of the former as analogs of the latter.
Understanding the basis of these differences would contribute to (i) providing consumers with grounds to make reasoned decisions to consume meat/dairy products and/or the vegan alternatives and (ii) providing food companies with strategies to produce more appealing, nutritive, and healthy industrially processed vegan products.