Search

Organic dairy products, including fermented milk, are gaining popularity among consumers. Traditionally, for kefir production, kefir grains are used; however, in the modern industry, freeze-dried cultures are commonly employed. This study aimed to analyze the quality of kefirs produced from organic cow milk with two fermentation times (12 and 24 h) with the use of kefir grains or freeze-dried culture. During a 3-week storage period, physicochemical properties, color, syneresis index, texture, sensory, and microbiological quality were evaluated. The results proved that organic cow milk was suitable for kefir production both with the use of kefir grains and freeze-dried culture. Using freeze-dried culture and a 24 h fermentation period resulted in kefir with the lowest syneresis tendency (3.65–9.62%), along with the best textural properties (the highest cohesiveness and viscosity index), and desired sensory characteristics. Kefir grains had a better acidification ability, and the resulting products had a higher count of yeasts, lactobacilli, and lactococci compared with kefirs obtained with freeze-dried culture. However, both the type of starter culture and the fermentation time influenced the product's quality. The longer fermentation time of 24 h was more appropriate for the kefir production. Kefir grains, as a traditional form of kefir culture, may be preferred in organic kefir production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus sensu lato (B. cereus s.l.) comprises mesophilic and psychrotolerant bacteria commonly found in natural environments as well as in organic and conventional milk. Due to their potential toxigenicity and antibiotic resistance, these bacteria pose a significant threat to consumer health. Organic milk production, which prohibits the use of antibiotics and artificial additives, may influence the composition of microbiota between milk types. This study aimed to compare the antibiotic resistance profiles and enterotoxic potential of B. cereus s.l. isolates from organic and conventional milk. The results indicate that, although conventional milk contains on average 3 times fewer B. cereus s.l. isolates, it has 10–15% more resistant isolates to selected beta-lactams, macrolides, and aminoglycosides. Regarding drug resistance, 21% of B. cereus s.l. isolates were multidrug-resistant, and as many as 42% were non-susceptible to two classes of antibiotics. Even among the sensitive isolates, bacteria from conventional milk exhibited on average 2.05 times higher MICs (minimal inhibitory concentrations) for beta-lactams, 1.49 times higher for erythromycin, 1.38 times higher for vancomycin, and 1.38 times higher for azithromycin. Antibiotic resistance was mostly associated with the origin of the isolates. These findings underscore the need for ongoing monitoring of antibiotic resistance and enterotoxicity among opportunistic B. cereus s.l. strains, which may pose challenges for public health and veterinary medicine. The results highlight that selective pressure associated with antibiotic use can drive resistance development in bacteria that are not the primary targets of antimicrobial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production and milk fatty acid (FA) composition were followed in three Danish commercial organic dairy farms where grass clover silage was substituted with a forb-rich silage. Farms A, B, and C included a total of 50, 189, and 235 lactating dairy cows, and 20 cows in each herd were selected to record the productive performance and milk composition. In all farms, 70% of diets were grass clover silage, and during the experiment, forb-rich silage gradually replaced grass clover silage during the 2–4 weeks, where after cows were fed the forb-rich silage diets for additional 2 weeks. The data were separately analyzed in each farm. Milk production at farms A and B was not affected by diet change, but milk production at farm C decreased by 1.7 kg energy corrected milk (ECM)/cow in cows fed the forb-rich silage. Regardless of farm, the proportion of C18:3n-3, C18:2n-6, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers in milk from cows receiving the forb-rich silage increased compared to cows fed grass clover silage based diets. The results indicate the possibility for further increase in the content of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in organic milk by substituting grass clover silage with forb-rich silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy production systems significantly impact environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and human health. Intensive farming maximizes output through high-input practices, raising concerns about environmental degradation, animal welfare, and health risks from antibiotic residues. Conversely, organic farming emphasizes sustainable practices, animal welfare, and minimal synthetic inputs, potentially enhancing biodiversity, soil health, and milk quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression, are promising biomarkers due to their response to various conditions. In this study, miRNAs bta-miR-103 and bta-miR-155, which are abundant in milk from pasture-fed cows, were selected. Additionally, bta-miR-215, which is abundant in milk fat from intensive systems, was also studied, in order to differentiate dairy production systems. A novel, cost-effective gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based sensor was developed for miRNA detection, leveraging the unique plasmonic properties of AuNPs for visual detection. The method involves functionalizing AuNPs with complementary RNA probes and detecting miRNA-induced aggregation through colorimetric changes. This rapid, results in 30 min, and sensitive, visual limit of detection of 200 nM, assay requires minimal instrumentation and can be easily interpreted, offering significant advantages for field implementation in characterizing dairy production systems. This study demonstrates the successful application of this sensor in detecting miRNAs in 350 nM miRNA spiked raw milk, highlighting its potential for in situ dairy industry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study investigates the impact of the global economic crisis of 2008 on organic food consumption in the Czech Republic. The structure of this study includes general consumption attitudes and consumption of individual organic food items (organic milk). The goal of this study is to quantify the influence of selected income macroeconomic indicators on organic food consumption (in general and individually). This study is focused on analyzing how this impact changed after 2008 in both prospectives. Methods: Methodologically, the error correction methodology (ECM) has been applied. However, it has been modified to incorporate breakpoint analysis to model the impact of the global economic crisis on organic food consumption. Thus, the total consumption of organic food and consumption of organic milk has been investigated. Results: Econometric verification of the estimated model proved that there was a statistically significant positive dependence of both indicators of organic food consumption on all the investigated indicators of income before 2008. Nonetheless, it was also proved that this dependence disappeared after the global economic recession in 2008. This retrospective analysis provides a valuable view of the mechanisms of organic food consumption changes caused by economic crises. Discussion: Prospective repetition of the research with the data from the current crisis could enrich the theory of organic food consumption. On the one hand, the results of hypotheses testing could be verified, and thus, the mechanisms of consumer reactions to the crisis could be identified, and the model of reaction to the next crisis cycle could be developed so as not to harm radically this sector. On the other hand, the results of hypothesis testing could be denied, and thus, the evolution in organic food perception and consumption could be stated. In this case, the need to revise the so-far formulated theoretical approaches would be proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the demand for organic fermented dairy products has been growing. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are of major interest in the food industry due to their ability to form the quality and functionality of fermented products. A significantly higher LAB cell count is presented in organic (ORG) fermented products such as yoghurt and kefir, than their conventional (CONV) counterparts. There is still a lack of information on the possible explanation and evidence of ORG milk as a better medium for LAB growth. The aim of the present review is to summarise the results of research articles on the milk compounds and their effect on LAB growth, and to identify differences between ORG and CONV milk that may provide a plausible explanation for their influence on LAB growth in ORG milk. The monographic method was used in this study. According to the previous research, significant differences were established in a content and range of carbohydrates, nitrogen sources, fats, macroelements and microelements, as well bioactive compounds in ORG and CONV milk. The composition of ORG milk may have potential benefits for the development of LAB due to the higher concentration of peptides and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply of organic products is critical in ensuring sustainable consumption in the face of increasing world population. The increasing awareness of individuals about healthy eating and re-liable food also increases the demand for organic products. The most commonly consumed product group among organic products, after fruits and vegetables, is milk and dairy products. This study aims to determine the perception of organic milk and the factors affecting organic milk consumption by consumers in the city center of the Kocaeli province. The data of the study were collected from 384 consumers with a survey using proportional sampling. The primary material of the study consisted of the data collected by the face-to-face survey method from milk consumers living in the center of Kocaeli province. The study demonstrated their sociodemographic structure with frequency distributions in the data obtained. In addition, statistical analysis methods, such as the chi-squared test and t-test factor analysis, were used for data evaluation. According to the research results, the rate of organic milk consumers was 78.91%. In addition, consumers stated that organic milk was expensive, tasty, and not widely available. Moreover, the most commonly consumed organic dairy products were yogurt, butter, and cheese. The factors influencing consumers about organic milk consumption were price, availability, reliability, and awareness. Increasing the consumption of organic milk is critical for ensuring sustainable consumption and the health of future generations. These results clearly demonstrate that we can increase organic milk consumption in Türkiye and create a fairer and more sustainable organic milk market by ensuring producers follow policies supporting organic milk production, investing in education, and organizing awareness programs for Turkish consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the in vitro potential of the Bidens pilosa as an antibiofilm-antimicrobial against Staphylococcus aureus. This pathogen is the most common causative agent of bovine mastitis, a disease responsible for economic losses in dairy production worldwide. Three extracts were obtained by macerating B. pilosa shoots in 70% ethanol for 4 h, 48 h, or 7 days (BPE4h, BPE48h, BPE7d). BPE4h and BPE48h had higher (p < 0.05) total phenolic and flavonoid contents than BPE7d. The antioxidant activities of BPE4h, BPE48h, and BPE7d were 80.7, 79.5, and 56.3%, respectively. Chromatographic analysis of extracts after solid-phase extraction suggested that flavonols were the major compounds in BPE4h and BPE48h and phenolic acids in BPE7d. Despite their chemical differences, all extracts showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (MIC = 0.3 mg/mL). BPE4h at 2 mg/mL completely inhibited and eradicated bacterial biofilms. The IC50 of BPE4h for MAC-T cells was 0.156 mg/mL. Our results show the great potential of B. pilosa as an ecofriendly and low-cost antimicrobial for sanitization of the milking environment for use in organic and agroecological dairy farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for organic products has increased with the increase in individuals’ education and income levels, their sensitivity to the quality of the products, and their willingness to pay higher prices for natural and quality products. Confidence in organic products, caring about the health effects of organic products, and the ease of accessing them are among the factors that increase their consumption. Organic products are also perceived as natural products in Turkey. The awareness of questioning the certificates and logos of purchased organic products has not yet been formed. Those who do not know the legislation, such as the organic logo requirement, perceive all kinds of natural products obtained from rural areas as organic. In this study, 477 questionnaires from households were obtained in Bursa, the 4th largest city in Turkey. The study aimed to reveal organic milk and dairy products (OMDP) consumption perceptions, consumption status, and reasons for preference by participants’ income level. Consumers’ awareness and perceptions of OMDP, their OMDP consumption status, and the relationship between OMDP consumption and income level. The study also inquired whether consumers would be willing to pay more for OMDP and whether this willingness to pay was affected by income levels. Middle-income consumers consumed the most organic milk—consumers with high income purchased OMDP the least. However, in case of increased product awareness, half of the high-income consumers were willing to pay 30% more for OMDP. This research is a reliable, empirical field study to reveal Turkish OMDP consumers’ characteristics and contribute to the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoghurt has been known as an excellent source for delivering viable lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in concentrations providing benefits to the human host and microbiome. Different gastrointestinal tract (GIT) simulators have been developed and are successfully used to determine the viability of LAB from fermented dairy products in vitro studies. Commercial yoghurts were tested for digestibility using the GIT IT system Labfors 5 (INFORS HT, Switzerland). The length for both the gastric phase and the small intestinal phase was 120 min each. Yoghurt LAB colony-forming units were analysed prior to the GIT simulation test, as well as after the simulation test. The survival rate of LAB was evaluated based on the differences in the viable LAB count at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Tested yoghurts’ LAB were tolerated in the simulated gastric and small intestinal phases. Samples collected prior to and after the intestinal phase revealed that LAB had adapted and started to grow within 120 min. Our results showed the ability of LAB to recover in the intestinal phase which has been explained by the food matrix, which protects the bacteria from the elimination effect of intestinal secretions. In addition, differences in survival rates of LAB significantly influenced the overall LAB colony-forming units in the gastrointestial tract. The chemical composition of the product has an influence on the survival rate of LAB, and it should be studied more thoroughly. In vitro studies are quite different from the assay in vivo studies; however, this information provides significant data about the viability of LAB from regularly consumed products and helps to modulate the influence of LAB on human microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The profile of triacylglycerides and sterols in fat of raw cow's milk produced under organic conditions in Tecpatán, Chiapas, Mexico was determined. The triacylglyceride values described a bimodal behavior, with maximums at C38 in the first mode and, between C50 and C52, the second mode. Cholesterol presented the highest percentage (96.41%) of sterols. The study of milk fat composition is a priority topic at the international level; however, there are few studies on the composition of triacylglycerides (TAG) and sterols in cow's milk produced in organic production systems. The objective of this study was to determine the profile of TAG, cholesterol, and other sterols in the fat of raw cow's milk produced under organic conditions in the municipality of Tecpatán, Chiapas. Every month for one year, milk samples were obtained from three production units (PU 1, 2 and 3) and from the collecting tank (CT) of the municipality (12 months × 4 = 48 samples), in accordance with Mexican regulations. Milk fat was extracted by detergent solution and TAG and sterol analyses were performed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and capillary columns. Chromatographic analyses identified and quantified 15 TAG in all milk fats, from C26 to C54, with a bimodal behavior; the maximum value (% w/w) for the first mode was located at C38 (14.48) and, for the second mode, C50 and C52 were considered with values of 11.55 and 11.60, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test only yielded significance (p < 0.05) for C26; most TAG values over time showed homogeneous variability. Cholesterol, brassicasterol, and campesterol were also determined; ANOVA did not show statistical significance (p ≥ 0.05) between them in the production units and collecting tank. Cholesterol had the highest percentage of the sterols with a mean value of 96.41%. The TAG and cholesterol profiles found in this study were similar to those reported in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates a milk price relationship between organic and conventional milk in Austria. We employ a vector error correction model, Johansen co-integration, and threshold co-integration test to establish whether organic and conventional milk markets are integrated and have asymmetric price relationships. Our results show no existence of threshold co-integration compared to linear co-integration. Our findings also present a price leadership of organic on conventional milk in a long-run. In a short-run, our results indicate while organic milk price has a positive effect on conventional milk price, conventional milk price does not have a significant effect on conventional one price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to characterize and compare non-volatile polar metabolite profiles of organic and conventional liquid milk products using a non-targeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) metabolomics approach. Pasteurized plain-liquid milk products from 10 different brands available in Thai marketplace were analyzed for their major chemical compositions and 1H-NMR derived metabolome data. Results demonstrated no specific trend for differentiation between organic and conventional milk samples based on their pH, fat, protein, lactose, and milk solid-not-fat compositions. A total of 45 non-volatile polar metabolites in milk samples were identified by 1H-NMR technique. The chemometric analysis allowed discrimination between organic and conventional milk samples based on their 1H-NMR metabolite profiles. Changes in the relative concentration of formate, betaine, dimethyl sulfone, 2-oxoglutarate, creatine, pyruvate, butyrate, proline, acetoacetate, alanine, glycerophosphocholine, carnitine, and hippurate were statistically identified as potential biomarkers accountable for the discrimination between organic and conventional milk samples in this study. Variations of these compounds might be the reflections of animal diets, rumen fermentation, and physiological adaptation of the cows raised in organic dairy farming systems. Our findings provide new insights and support the effectiveness of using a non-targeted 1H-NMR combined with chemometrics to investigate the molecular authenticity of organic food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers care about healthy food. Thus, several firms use organic appeals advertising to change consumer attitudes and persuade them to purchase organic food. Organic appeals advertisement often presents content that provides information and knowledge about organic elements of a food product (e.g., health, safety, a lack of chemicals, and rich nutrition). In contrast, non-organic appeals advertisement does not present information about organic elements of a food product. This study aims to clarify the effect of organic appeals advertisement on consumer motivations and behavior. It uses the stimuli-organism-response model and self-determination motivation theory to investigate the relationship between organic appeals advertisement and purchase intention toward organic milk considering the mediating role of intrinsic motivation and the moderating role of emotional appeals. Two experimental designs are used to test the hypotheses. Results show that consumers receiving organic appeals advertisement have a higher intention to purchase organic milk than those receiving non-organic appeals advertisement. Furthermore, intrinsic motivation is found to have a mediating role in the link between organic appeals advertisement and purchase intention. In other words, when consumers receive advertisements of an organic milk product, they have higher intrinsic motivation and hold higher intention to purchase organic milk products. Furthermore, emotional appeals have a moderating effect on the relationship between organic appeals advertisement and intrinsic motivation. The influence of organic appeals advertisement on intrinsic motivation is stronger when emotional appeals are positive and weaker when emotional appeals are negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is ample evidence on consumers' perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) for organic food in developed markets, empirical evidence for transition economies is scarce. This paper is based on a survey of 608 Russian consumers that combined a questionnaire with a contingent valuation approach to investigate the impact of perceptions and trust on consumers' WTP for certified organic, uncertified all‐natural and conventional milk, respectively. A between‐subject treatment design was used to analyse how consumers' WTP responds to different information treatments. Our results suggest that most participants connect health benefits with the consumption of organic food, followed by slightly fewer respondents connecting organic production with environmental benefits. In the case of animal welfare benefits, the picture is less clear, as only 46% of respondents indicated that they agree that organic livestock production is associated with animal welfare benefits. Concerning the trust in farmer's adherence to organic standards, a substantially higher share of respondents expressed trust in producers from the European Union versus their Russian counterparts. About 51% of respondents exhibited a positive WTP for organic milk in comparison to conventional milk. At the same time, there is no statistically significant difference in respondents' WTP between all‐natural and organic milk. This similarity suggests that respondents do not seem to differentiate between uncertified all‐natural milk and certified organic milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural Dairy cultivating implies raising creatures on natural feed (for example pastures developed without the utilization of chemical fertilizer or pesticides), approaching the field or outside, alongside the limited use of anti-microbials and chemicals. Items acquired from Organic dairy ranch are natural dairy items. Natural cultivating is an arrangement of creation, a bunch of objective-based guidelines that permit ranchers to deal with their specific circumstances independently while keeping up with natural honesty. This article highlighted, the advantages, conditions required, imperatives included and managemental practices of natural dairying, alongside data about the administrative specialists worried about the natural dairy cultivating, were inspected momentarily to make understudies and ranchers mindful of natural dairy cultivating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of mid-infrared (MIR; 5000–900 cm−1) and visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR; 400–2500 nm) spectroscopy to discriminate organic (ORG) from conventional (CONV) bulk milk. Samples (n = 225) from 24 farms (ORG, n = 12; CONV, n = 12) located in the same area, mainly rearing Holstein-Friesian cows, under similar management conditions, except for ORG livestock spending a period of time on pasture, were collected from September 2019 to August 2020. Chemical composition of the lactation ration was similar between groups. Mid-infrared and Vis/NIR spectrum of each sample were collected. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were done using R software. For the PLS-DA, records were divided in a train set (8 farms/group) and a test set (4 farms/group), and only wavelengths with VIP >1 were retained. The PCA was not able to discriminate both groups. The PLS-DA revealed an accuracy of the model in the test set of 54.1% and 62.9%, for MIR and Vis/NIR, respectively. In conclusion, both infrared regions performed similarly, and the moderate accuracy of the PLS-DA could be related to the similarity of the selected farms between both categories. Infrared spectra from bulk milk samples of organic and conventional farms were similar. Low accuracy using partial least squares-discriminant analysis. Both MIR and Vis/NIR infrared regions performed similarly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Redes (1414-7106) is the property of Associacao Pro-Ensino em Santa Cruz do Sul - APESC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Organic farming involves the use of indigenous knowledge and experiences and new scientific information to reduce or control use of different chemicals and drugs in the production of animal products, including organic milk, which is a flow and promising product produced in different countries across the world. The purpose of this study was to identify the potentials and prerequisites of organic milk production in rural and nomadic areas from the viewpoints of experts in Ardabil province. This study was a descriptive-correlation research in which statistical population consisted of experts from Organization of Jihade-Agriculture and consultancy-technical private companies in Ardabil province (N=200) out of which a sample of 130 people were selected in accordance with Krejtsy & Morgan sampling table. Stratified proportionate random sampling technique was applied to select the samples. For collecting data, a questionnaire was developed based on an information provided by literature review. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by expert judgment who were some people working in the area of organic production and faculty members of in the Department of Agricultural Management and Development in the University of Tehran. The reliability of the interview instrument was assessed by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, its values were found between 0.85 and 0.94, respectively. The data analysis has identified five potentials viz., economic, environmental, technical, production and yield-related. The results also showed that seven basic requisites for organic milk production are social, economic, research, regulatory, institutional, education and awareness and policy implications. According to the results, Ardabil province has substantial potential for organic livestock production, including organic milk, which requires the creation of basic infrastructure in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the effect of intensification of feeding strategies on the environmental impacts of different animal-handling scenarios of buffalo milk production. Methods: Seven scenarios suitable for buffalo milk production were considered—baseline system (BS), S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6—differing from one another in the management system, diet used, and productivity. An attributional cradle-to-farm gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed in a buffalo milk farm with a herd of 691 animals. The functional unit was 1 kg of fat (4%) and protein (3.3%) corrected milk (FPCM). The product system comprised four unit processes: mineral salt production, homeopathic medicine production, animal breeding, and milking and milk cooling. The impact assessment considered six categories from the ReCiPe 2016 midpoint method using the software SimaPro® as a supporting tool for the modeling and impact assessment of scenarios. Results and discussion: The BS was the most impactful among the other scenarios in the categories "climate change (CC)," "land use (LU)," and "water consumption (WC)." S5 and S6 were the most impactful in the categories "terrestrial acidification (TA)," "freshwater eutrophication (FE)," and "fossil resource scarcity (FRS)." Conclusions: This study can help in choosing feed resources and the handling system and analyzing the consequences on the categories considering their impacts. However, the intensification of production should be achieved by improving both the quality of animal feeding and the management of cropping practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in organic farming, which involves a significant percentage of "green grass" and hay in the animal diet and increasing the output of milk labeled "100% grass-fed," induces an urgent necessity for authentication such value-added products. The aim of this study was to develop the integrated approach for discrimination of organic milk from farms with silage-haylage and grass-hay cow diet. The research was based on the characterization of fatty acid composition and carbon stable isotopes ratios (d13C), and included data processing with chemometric approach. It has been shown that absolute value ranges of most fatty acids didn't allow to discriminate the milk from different organic farms, although the difference in certain fatty acids content between separate seasons has been proven to be statistically significant. This integrated approach with application of the principal components analysis envisaged that the analyzed parameters were normalized by the maximum value and the data matrix consisted of not only absolute values of the fatty acids content, but also additional derivative parameters (the sum of cis-, trans-isomers etc.). The approach proved the significance of content values of C16:1 trans-9, C18:1 trans-11, C18:3 cis- 9,12,15, C18:2 trans-9,12 and conjugates of linoleic acid for milk samples discrimination. Thus, the analysis of the total data set of absolute and derivative normalized parameters by the method of principal components analysis allows to distinguish completely the organic milk with different share of green grass and hay in cows diet both the stalling and pasture periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in organic farming, which involves a significant percentage of "green grass" and hay in the animal diet and increasing the output of milk labeled "100% grass-fed," induces an urgent necessity for authentication such value-added products. The aim of this study was to develop the integrated approach for discrimination of organic milk from farms with silage-haylage and grass-hay cow diet. The research was based on the characterization of fatty acid composition and carbon stable isotopes ratios (d13C), and included data processing with chemometric approach. It has been shown that absolute value ranges of most fatty acids didn't allow to discriminate the milk from different organic farms, although the difference in certain fatty acids content between separate seasons has been proven to be statistically significant. This integrated approach with application of the principal components analysis envisaged that the analyzed parameters were normalized by the maximum value and the data matrix consisted of not only absolute values of the fatty acids content, but also additional derivative parameters (the sum of cis-, trans-isomers etc.). The approach proved the significance of content values of C16:1 trans-9, C18:1 trans-11, C18:3 cis-9,12,15, C18:2 trans-9,12 and conjugates of linoleic acid for milk samples discrimination. Thus, the analysis of the total data set of absolute and derivative normalized parameters by the method of principal components analysis allows to distinguish completely the organic milk with different share of green grass and hay in cows diet both the stalling and pasture periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We contribute to the existing literature on factors influencing sustainable product consumption behavior by (a) employing actual supermarket sales data from over 300 outlets in England covering up to 18 million customers, and by (b) examining two products that can both be labeled as sustainable but have very different market positions: organic milk as a typical niche product, and free‐range eggs which (based on market share) can be seen as a mainstream product. Our study has looked into the influence of factors such as deprivation and race, which have not previously been looked into. The results partially confirm previous research, which is mostly based on self‐reported behavior, identifying both price and deprived catchment areas as barriers but green attitudes as a facilitator while more affluent people purchase organic milk. What is new from our work is that convenience stores have a negative influence and for organic milk, older families and those aged 25–44 years have a positive influence. Crucially, we identify clear differences between purchasing behaviors regarding niche and mainstream products in our analysis: while purchases of organic milk can be predicted by a wide range of sociodemographic factors, this is not the case for free‐range eggs. Here, besides price and green attitudes, there are no other influences on behavior. The results of our study can therefore provide fresh insight into the debate around recent attempts to mainstream sustainable product consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The sunflower family of plants (Compositae = Asteraceae) is currently the most allergenic plant family worldwide, according to the number of sensitizing species. Secondary plant metabolites, including the allergenic sesquiterpene lactones present in Compositae plants, may occur in food items either through their presence in, or through contamination of, plant‐based raw materials, or through their occurrence in products of non‐plant origin. Objective: To analyse biodynamic, organic and conventional milk for the presence of the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide. Methods: The content of parthenolide in the milk samples was investigated in dichloromethane extracts obtained by liquid‐liquid extraction, followed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analyses. Results: The concentration of parthenolide was 0.07 ±0.004 ppm in biodynamic milk, 0.05 ±0.002 ppm in organic milk, and not detectable (<0.002 ppm) in conventional milk. Conclusions: This is the first report of a potent contact allergen in milk. There seems to be an association between the time that the dairy cattle spend grazing and the amount of parthenolide detected. Although the concentration is low, it is estimated to be high enough to elicit dermatitis in the most sensitive persons by direct contact with the milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the sociodemographic factors that affect Turkish consumers’ decision to purchase organic milk. It is also of interest to derive the demand curve for organic milk based on the consumers’ stated preferences.Design/methodology/approach The data used in this search are based on a face-to-face consumer survey that asked the respondents about how much they are willing to pay for organic milk and what factors affect their purchasing decision. A variant approach is applied where the determinants selected include both product/market characteristics and household-specific demographic factors. The data are analyzed by means of tabular analysis, summary tables, contingent valuation, stepwise regression, χ2 tests and logistic discrete-choice modeling.Findings The tabular analysis suggests that price, packaging and brand image are the primary milk characteristics that affect consumers’ decision. According to the contingent valuation analysis, consumers are willing to pay substantial premiums for milk products. The stepwise regression, χ2 tests and logistic regression results unanimously suggest that educational attainment is the only significant indicator. Households with university education are twice more likely to purchase organic milk.Research limitations/implications The data used in this research are based on stated preferences which might be different than actual shopping behavior.Originality/value This paper presents a pioneer study on the characteristics of Turkish organic milk consumers and represents a credible, empirical case study to complement existing literature. It also lays the framework for follow-up research work that can be conducted in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer demand for milk and meat from grass-fed cattle is growing, driven mostly by perceived health benefits and concerns about animal welfare. In a U. S.-wide study of 1,163 milk samples collected over 3 years, we quantified the fatty acid profile in milk from cows fed a nearly 100% forage-based diet (grassmilk) and compared it to profiles from a similar nationwide study of milk from cows under conventional and organic management. We also explored how much the observed differences might help reverse the large changes in fatty acid intakes that have occurred in the United States over the last century. Key features of the fatty acid profile of milk fat include its omega-6/omega-3 ratio (lower is desirable), and amounts of total omega-3, conjugated linoleic acid, and long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. For each, we find that grassmilk is markedly different than both organic and conventional milk. The omega-6/omega-3 ratios were, respectively, 0.95, 2.28, and 5.77 in grassmilk, organic, and conventional milk; total omega-3 levels were 0.049, 0.032, and 0.020 g/100 g milk; total conjugated linoleic acid levels were 0.043, 0.023, and 0.019 g/100 g milk; and eicosapentaenoic acid levels were 0.0036, 0.0033, and 0.0025 g/100 g milk. Because of often high per-capita dairy consumption relative to most other sources of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, these differences in grassmilk can help restore a historical balance of fatty acids and potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases. Although oily fish have superior concentrations of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, most fish have low levels of α-linolenic acid (the major omega-3), and an omega-6/omega-3 ratio near 7. Moreover, fish is not consumed regularly, or at all, by ~70% of the U. S. population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of organic milk is increasing rapidly. However, the behaviour of organic milk consumers is still not enough investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine variables which influence the attitude towards organic milk consumption, as well as variables which influence the buying intention of organic milk in Republic of Macedonia. Thereat, factors such as positive opinion toward organic milk and food related lifestyle, as well as level of trust in organic food label, objective knowledge and gender of respondents showed to have a significant influence on organic milk buying intention. More precisely, a significant and positive influence on buying intention of organic milk was observed considering the belief in positive aspects of organic milk, subjective knowledge, objective knowledge, and attitude towards buying organic milk. According to the results of this study recommendations for marketing practice and especially for communication policy might be created. Communication directed to female population should use classic advertising based on functional information, while the one directed to male population should use more emotional advertising. By using classic advertising education of consumers should be performed in order to promote benefits of organic milk in regards to conventional milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional value of organic milk in Poland, investigate the influence of diet on antioxidant capacity and degree of antioxidant protection (DAP), and to examine the effect of season on the bioactive properties of milk from organic farms. From 2014 to 2015, 820 milk samples were collected from 6 organic farms during indoor feeding season (IDS) and pasture feeding season (PS). Pasture feeding season + corn grain (PSCG) cows' daily ration during pasture feeding season was enriched with 4 kg a day of corn to improve dietary energy balance. Milk obtained during PS was found to have a higher fat content, slight but significantly lower protein content compared with milk from IDS. The study showed that the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in milk fat was strongly linked to the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and, to a lesser extent, on the supply of MUFA. The IDS data (concentration of vitamin E, A, and β-carotene) showed the lowest values compared with the PS and PSCG groups. Total antioxidant status (TAS) and DAP showed an increasing trend in organic milk. PSCG was associated with highest level of DAP (9% higher than PS and 79% higher than IDS) and TAS (37% higher than PS and 79% higher than IDS). The results obtained show that supplementation of the basic ration with corn grain improved both TAS and DAP. The higher DAP and TAS value is responsible for product stability, considering the risk factor related to levels of cholesterol-oxide intake in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, 58 samples of milk were analyzed for the presence of aflatoxin M (AFM). The samples were purchased during the period April-May 2013 in a random manner from local stores (supermarkets, small retail shops, small groceries, and specialized suppliers) located in the surrounding of Bologna (Italy). The commercial samples of milk were either organic ( n = 22) or conventional ( n = 36); fresh milk samples and UHT milk samples, whole milk samples, and partially skim milk samples were present in both the two considered categories. For the quantification of AFM in milk, the extraction-purification technique based on the use of immunoaffinity columns was adopted and analyses were performed using HPLC-FD. AFM was detected in 35 samples, 11 from organic production and 24 from conventional production. No statistically ( P > 0.05) significant differences were observed in the concentration of AFM in the two categories of product. The levels of contamination found in the positive samples ranged between 0.009 and 0.026 ng mL. No sample exceeded the limit defined at community level for AFM in milk (0.05 μg kg). This demonstrates the effectiveness of the checks before the placing on the market of these food products. Thus, the 'aflatoxins' problem that characterized the summer of 2012 does not seem to have had effect on the contamination level of the considered milk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Chinese consumers’ acceptance and price willingness to pay for organic fluid milk. We used questionnaire data gathered in 2014 to analyze the impact of price and milk knowledge, as well as consumer age, gender, education and income on organic milk choice. The results indicate that: 1) young females with a strong educational background have shown the strongest consumption desire for organic milk; 2) those who shop for the family tend to support organic milk and are willing to pay more for the milk; 3) shoppers with more disposable income are willing to pay a premium price for organic milk. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry is the property of Institute for Animal Husbandry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A study of two adjacent dairy farms, one using conventional confined herd management and the other organic management, revealed significant differences in the fatty acid composition of the milk. Compared with conventional milk, organic milk had higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid ( CLA) and α-linolenic acid (the major omega-3 fatty acid in milk), and less stearic and linoleic acid (the major omega-6 fatty acid in milk) during the spring-summer grazing season. When discarding geography and weather as variables, organic milk appears to yield more CLA and α-linolenic acid, which should be beneficial to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim to find protein sources that are free of genetically modified organisms, the effects of legume grain based concentrates, used as alternatives of a mixed concentrate feed containing soybean, were evaluated on sheep milk production. Twelve lactating ewes were divided into four groups, fed hay and, according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, supplied with 800 g/day of a commercial mixed concentrate feed (MCF) containing maize and soybean, or the same amount of isoprotein concentrates consisting of chickpea (CH), faba bean (FB), or pea (PE) mixed with barley. The ewes ingested more of the concentrates with legume grains than the MCF (702, 702, 678 vs 587 g/day DM for CH, FB, PE and MCF; P ≤ 0.001). Compared with CH, FB and PE resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) milk yield (710, 718 vs 654 g/day for FB, PE and CH, respectively), and led to a greater (P≤0.05) efficiency of dietary protein utilisation for milk casein synthesis (94, 97 vs 87 g casein/kg crude protein intake for FB, PE and CH, respectively), whereas MCF resulted in intermediate levels of milk yield (677 g/day) and milk casein/crude protein intake (88 g/kg). Chickpea increased the milk content of trans-vaccenic and rumenic acids in comparison with FB and PE and, similarly to MCF, increased the milk content of linoleic acid, as well as total unsaturated fatty acids (24.3, 23.9 vs 17.2, 16.8 g/100 g fatty acid methyl esters for MCF, CH, FB and PE; P ≤ 0.001), thereby improving the potential health-promoting index. Legume grains can replace soybean in diets of dairy ewes, as they do not adversely affect milk yield and composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the breeding of dairy cows in organic farming systems in the Czech Republic in the years 2010-2014, an evaluation of the organic milk production and a comparison of the production economy of organic milk and milk produced in the conventional manner. The growing popularity of organic milk is reflected in the increasing number of organic dairy farmers and thereby also in increasing production of organic milk. The sad fact is that the growth of this industry is currently driven mainly by an interest occurring in foreign countries, where organic milk can be marketed as an organic product and simultaneously it is possible to achieve a better evaluation. Although the number of businesses breeding cows and the organic milk production are growing, with regards to both scale of production and economic importance, the production of organic milk can be characterised as less important. The increase of interest in producing organic milk is primarily a matter of the production economy, which is unfavourable. The market price of milk even with aid has not covered production costs. In 2014, as estimated, the production economy of organic milk improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pasture-based dairy production is used widely on family dairy farms in Southern Brazil. This study investigates conventional high input (C-HI), conventional low input (C-LI), and organic low input (O-LI) pasture-based systems and their effects on quantity and quality of the milk produced. We conducted technical site visits and interviews monthly over one year on 24 family farms (n = 8 per type). C-HI farms had the greatest total area (28.9 ha), greatest percentage of area with annual pasture (38.7%), largest number of lactating animals (26.2) and greatest milk yield per cow (22.8 kg·day1). O-LI farms had the largest perennial pasture area (52.3%), with the greatest botanical richness during all seasons. Area of perennial pasture was positively correlated with number of species consumed by the animals (R2 = 0.74). Milk from O-LI farms had higher levels of fat and total solids only during the winter. Hygienic and microbiological quality of the milk was poor for all farms and need to be improved. C-HI farms had high milk yield related to high input, C-LI had intermediate characteristics and O-LI utilized a year round perennial pasture as a strategy to diminish the use of supplements in animal diets, which is an important aspect in ensuring production sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy farming is the largest agricultural contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. In this study, the carbon footprint of organic dairying was evaluated by means of a life cycle assessment, based on real farm data from six European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy and United Kingdom. A total of 34 farms were analysed. The assessment was carried out using an attributional approach with system boundaries from cradle to farm gate. In relation to dairy production, a functional unit of 1 kg of energy corrected milk was used. The results gave an average of 1.32 kg CO equivalents per kilogramme of energy-corrected milk with standard deviation of 0.22, which is consistent with recent studies. The main contributor to this is enteric fermentation from producing animals, resulting in 45 % of total GHG emissions, which is also consistent with previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Intensification of organic dairy production leads to the question of whether the implementation of intensive feeding incorporating maize silage and concentrates is altering milk quality. Therefore the fatty acid (FA) and antioxidant (AO) profiles of milk on 24 farms divided into four system groups in three replications (n=71) during the outdoor period were analyzed. In this system comparison, a differentiation of the system groups and the effects of the main system factors 'intensification level' (high-input versus low-input) and 'origin' (organic versus conventional) were evaluated in a multivariate statistical approach. RESULTS: Consistent differentiation of milk from the system groups due to feeding-related impacts was possible in general and on the basis of 15 markers. The prediction of the main system factors was based on four or five markers. The prediction of 'intensification level' was based mainly on CLA c9, t11 and C18:1 t11, whereas that of 'origin' was based on n-3 PUFA. CONCLUSION: It was possible to demonstrate consistent differences in the FA and AO profiles of organic and standard conventional milk samples. Highest concentrations of nutritionally beneficial compounds were found in the low-input organic system. Adapted grass-based feeding strategies including pasture offer the potential to produce a distinguishable organicmilk product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal disease, which is caused by consumption of contaminated food with enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus (SEs). Milk and its products are known sources of food borne diseases. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus strains in organic milk and cheese in Tabriz - Iran. Materials and Methods: Atotal of 200 samples (100 milk samples and 100 cheese samples) were collected from farms and milk collection points in Tabriz - Iran. The samples were cultured and identified by standard bacteriological methods, then PCR was performed to detect sea gene. Results and Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus was found in 27% of all samples (milk and cheese). Results of PCR showed that 12.96% of S. aureus isolates possessed sea gene. It suggested the potential public health threat of S. aureus resulting from contamination of dairy products. So, efforts are required to improve safety standards for preventing staphylococcal food poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ambiente y Desarrollo is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Organic agriculture and livestock farming is claimed to promote animal welfare and can offer animal products with better hygienic-sanitary quality, based on principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care. However, no clear advantages of organic milk (OM) versus conventional milk (CM) from tropical conditions are available. The aims of the study were to determine fatty acid profile, health-promoting (HPI) and thrombogenic (TI) indices, physicochemical composition, and somatic cell counts (SCC) of OM and CM in tropical south-eastern Mexico. Female cross-breed cows (400-600 kg) were employed. CM had larger values of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (63.6 %; 4.57 %) than OM (61.48 %; 4.22 %), while OM resulted in a larger value of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (34.3 %) than CM (31.7 %). HPI and TI showed that OM was more favorable than CM. Milk production and physicochemical composition (PC) as well as density had no significant difference, while SCC was significantly lower in OM than in CM on a monthly basis. These results showed that OM promotes a healthful and balanced diet, and is already produced by sustainable ecologic technologies employing traditional agrosilvopastoral management, which is more environmentally friendly and promotes ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pasture-raised (PR) milk is a specialty product that could feasibly be produced by economically challenged dairy farms. Our goal was to profile the milk market using an internet survey to identify potential future consumers of PR milk. There were 611 U.S. respondents that were divided into three categories as types of milk consumers: those who only purchased conventional milk in the past year (CONV), those who only purchased non-conventional milk (such as organic, PR, or natural milk) in the past year (NONCONV), and those who purchased both conventional and non-conventional milk in the past year (MIXED). MIXED and NONCONV agreed or strongly agreed with PR milk benefits substantially more than CONV. PR milk was also valued by NONCONV and MIXED in purchasing intentions, but not nearly as much as organic milk. In addition, CONV valued PR milk in purchasing intentions more than organic milk. Results suggest that PR milk can be successfully positioned to appeal to MIXED and perhaps some CONV, potentially increasing sales or market share. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Semestre Económico is the property of Sello Editorial de la Universidad de Medellin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Mundo Agrario is the property of Universidad Nacional de La Plata and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The organic dairy category is one of the fastest growing categories of organic foods in the US. Organic milk consumers generally cite perceived health benefits and lower risk of food contamination, as well as perceived superior quality and environmental sustainability of organic farming methods, as the major motivations for preference of organic over conventional milk. While the attributes of organic milk that are valued by consumers are fairly well-known, more ambiguity exists regarding the demographic characteristics of the typical organic milk consumer. This research makes use of experimental data from 148 adult participants and use a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis, a nonparametric modelling approach, to identify how Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) for organic milk varies with the demographic profile of experiment participants. The study finds that perceived taste of organic milk, concern for the risk of consuming conventional milk, being a primary shopper, and the quantity of milk consumed are the major factors that separate experiment participants into groups with high and low WTP for organic milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using household scanner data and a discrete choice modeling approach, we estimate demand for milk products at the micro-level and compute the distribution of welfare effects from introducing organic milk across households with different characteristics within the partial equilibrium framework. The price effects of introducing organic milk are larger for low-income households than for high-income households, and the differences in the variety effects of introducing organic milk to groups with various levels of education are larger than the differences in the variety effects among groups with different income levels. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate bioactive whey protein concentrations in cow's milk collected in late pasture (LP) and early indoor feeding (EIF) season from conventional and organic farms in Poland. RESULTS: Results showed that in the LP somatic cell count (SCC) was higher under organic farming conditions. However, percentages of protein and fat were higher under conventional farming conditions. In EIF, milk from conventional dairy farms had a higher percentage of fat and lactose and a lower concentration of protein and SCC in comparison to milk from organic farms. Organic milk in LP had higher concentrations of beneficial whey proteins than conventional milk, including β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg, 4.12 vs. 2.68 g L−1), lactoferrin (Lf, 334.99 vs. 188.02 mg L−1), and lysozyme (Lz, 15.68 vs. 12.56 µg L−1). However, conventional milk in EIF had higher concentrations of bovine serum albumin (146.47 vs. 118.65 mg L−1), Lf (49 vs. 185.27 mg L−1), and Lz (16.63 vs. 13.22 µg L−1). CONCLUSIONS: The results show significant differences in the investigated parameters between organic milk and milk from conventional system during EIF and LP. Moreover, extending the pasture season during EIF in organic farms decreases concentration of bioactive compounds of milk. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty six samples of bovine milk were collected from Chiapas State, Mexico between January 2011 and December 2011 with the intention of identifying and quantifying organochlorine pesticide residues in organic farms. The analyses were done using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (Ni). In general the values found in raw milk were lower than the permissible limit proposed by FAO/WHO/Codex Alimentarius 2006. Average concentrations for alpha + beta HCH were 3.62 ng/g, gamma HCH 0.34 ng/g, heptachlor + epoxide 0.67 ng/g, DDT and isomers 1.53 ng/g, aldrin + dieldrin 0.77 ng/g, and endrin 0.66 ng/g (only present in samples from farm 2). The organic milk from Chiapas has shown low concentrations of pesticide residues in recent years and satisfies international and national regulations for commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytanic acid content in milk correlates with the amount of green items in the cows' feed. For this reason, the four-fold methyl-branched fatty acid has been suggested as a potential marker for the authentication of organic milk. In this study, we attempted to provide further support for this idea by studying the progression of the phytanic acid level and diastereomer ratio in milk fat by transition of the diets from high proportions of concentrate (typical 'conventional' feed) to hay (typical 'organic' feed in winter) and back to 'conventional' feed. Milk samples taken from three cows were analyzed on both the phytanic acid concentration and diastereomer distribution. The cows were initially fed with 'conventional' feed (ground feed with high portions (30-45 %) of concentrate), then the feed was changed within 1 week to 100 % hay ('organic' feed), and after ~6 weeks, the feed of two cows was changed back to the initial feed with concentrate (phase C). During the 'conventional' feeding at the beginning of the experiment, the phytanic acid concentration was low (100-130 mg/100 g milk fat). When the feed was changed to hay ('organic' feed), the phytanic acid concentration immediately increased to a stable level of about 160 mg/100 g lipids. Changing back the feed to 'conventional' feed, the phytanic acid concentration dropped immediately back below the value measured in the initial phase. Likewise, the SRR/RRR-diastereomer distribution of phytanic acid in the milk was an excellent indicator for the changes in the cows' feed. While the SRR/RRR-diastereomer ratio was >1.5 during 'conventional' feeding, it immediately decreased to equal amounts of both diastereomers when hay was supplied as feed. Abandonment of concentrate in conventional feeding increased the phytanic acid content but the SRR-diastereomer was still dominant and thus the SRR/RRR-diastereomer ratio was different to organic milk. Our results indicate that both parameters, i.e., the phytanic acid content and SRR/RRR-diastereomer ratio need to be measured for authentication of organic milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk quality has an important role in organic farming due to the obligation to a maximum use of pasturage for herbivores. Markers should be identified to confirm the authenticity of organic milk production. The concentration and SRR/RRR diastereomer ratio of phytanic acid were investigated as potential markers to discriminate different feeding strategies. In a two-factorial design, 80 farm milk samples were compared for their 'origin' and 'level of intensification', both during the grazing season and the indoor season. In all groups the concentration of phytanic acid in winter was about 50 % lower than in summer. A strong negative correlation was found between the sum amount of concentrates plus maize silage in the cow's diet and the phytanic acid level. In winter, cows fed with hay had lower phytanic acid levels than cows fed grass silage. The differentiation of low-input and high-input systems was more consistent than the differentiation between biodynamic and conventional samples based on the combination of phytanic acid and SRR/RRR ratio. The SRR/RRR ratio was an indication for the factor 'intensification', whereas the concentration of phytanic acid reflected the factor 'origin'. The SRR/RRR ratio is therefore a marker for the grazing policy in summer and the differentiation between hay versus grass plus maize silage in winter diets. Organic farming could lose its characteristic features reflected in several aspects of milk fat quality if grazing during summer is reduced and replaced by larger amounts of concentrate and maize silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]