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In order to provide an up-to-date perspective on farm management techniques, a survey was conducted in a dairy cattle farm to study the relationships between management practices, milk yield and quality. A number of 310 Holstein Friesian cows reared for milk production in a semintensive farming condition were taken into study. Over the course of a year, individual milk analyses were performed on CombiScope FTIR milk analyzer (Delta Instruments, Netherlands). Milk yield per milking session was recorded daily using the AfiMilk system (Kibbutz, Israel). The analysis and interpretation of the results were correlated with the numerous observations made directly on the farm. The average calculated content, per normal lactation, was 8887.79 kg of milk, 369.05 kg fat, and 306.06 kg protein. A strong, positive relationship between milk yield and fat content, which means that an increase or decrease in milk production results in a corresponding change in the amount of fat contained. The yearly average percent of fat was 3.99 %, protein 3.32 %, casein 27.75 %, lactose 4.9 %, SCC 195,900 cells/ml were obtained in the studied farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to present the findings of a welfare assessment conducted on dairy cows reared in an intensive farming system, in a farm from the north-east of Romania. The assessment utilized well-being indices outlined in the TIERWOHL-CHECK programe, which was designed for German farmers. The results of the assessment, particularly focusing on the body condition score (BCS) of RM and late-gestation period female cows, indicate elevated percentages of overweight cows, ranging from 30.77% to 37.5%. Additionally, the prevalence of lame animals was notably high (28%, surpassing the recommended threshold of 10%). These welfare indices serve as indicators of the extent to which optimal rearing conditions are maintained, and the findings underscore the necessity for prompt interventions to enhance various aspects such as the comfort of lying spaces, the quality of bedding, and certain housing conditions. These measures are imperative for improving the overall welfare of the animals in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to carry out a short statistical analysis on the fat content of milk from two breeds of cattle from a farm in the Moldavian area. 30 milk samples were analysed, more precisely 23 from the Holstein breed and 7 from the Simmental breed in two periods, such as the cold season (autumn-winter) and the warm season (spring-summer). It is known that these breeds are among the best breeds of cows for milk, the first being considered the most productive in the world, and the second the best breed of cows for farms in Romania. The Holstein breed is a highly specialized breed for milk production, while the Simmental breed is a dual-purpose breed selected for both meat and milk production. Following the statistical analysis, it can be seen that there were significant differences between the two breeds of cattle studied and also between the milk fat content recorded in the cold season compared to the fat content recorded in the warm season. The value of P was less than 0.0001, confirming the heterogeneity of the data recorded in the two seasons. The main conclusion is that for the total experiment, the data are significant (alpha=5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a new type of cow's milk, called "A2 milk," has been introduced to the market. This type of milk was first marketed in New Zealand and has since gained a presence in the markets of several countries. It mainly contains two types of ß-casein: the A1 and A2 variants. In recent years, researchers have studied the possible implications of the composition of the ß-casein protein fraction for the manifestation of a new intolerance: milk protein intolerance. Casein is the main component of milk proteins, of which approximately 30-35% is beta-casein. A2 beta-casein has proline at position 67 of the protein amino acid chain, while A1 beta-casein has histidine at that position; this is associated with a possibility of gastrointestinal discomfort due to ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) released during gastrointestinal digestion. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the impact of A2 milk on human health as well as on its many technological qualities for the production of dairy products with improved health benefits for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine mastitis, defined as the inflammation of the mammary gland, is the most important diseases of the mammary gland in cows due to the considerable losses in milk production and the danger that milk from ill cows poses to public health. The number of somatic cells in milk is the most important indicator used for directly evaluating the condition of the mammary gland and the quality of the milk. The development of inflammatory disease in the mammary gland is indicated by somatic cell counts above 200 000 cells per millilitre. Differences in the composition of milk, such as its lactose content, are related to variations in the number of somatic cells. The present paper summarizes the current knowledge regarding the correlations between lactose content and milk somatic cell count, and the potential of this parameters as a biomarker for assessing udder health status in modern dairy cow health prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammary gland's secretion, called colostrum, is synthesized throughout the last weeks of pregnancy and the first few days following calving. It is meant to give the calf the necessary nutrients and physiologically active substances. High immunoglobulin concentration and low pathogen load define high-quality colostrum. The amount and quality of colostrum that is available and the timing of the first feeding after birth both have an impact on the level of immunity. Heifers produce substantially less colostrum than cows do, and the breed has a big impact as well. Colostrum handling and storage techniques, as well as milking procedures are essential steps toward quality colostrum management on dairy farms. This review focuses on colostrum management, methods, and techniques for assessing colostrum quality and the factors that influence bovine colostrum quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the research was to carry out some analyses in order to establish the physico-chemical composition and the fungal load of the plant substrates used for raising animals, in a cattle farm in the Moldova area in 2022. There were five categories of samples (75 determinations in total) - alfalfa hay, corn silage, mixed feed ration, concentrates, corn grains and were analysed randomly from the farm. The results of the physico-chemical composition of the feed by the FT-NIRS technique were in accordance with the regulations in force and no significant differences were found between the samples, it is certain that the humidity had a higher percentage, hence the fact that there were developed species of fungi speaking from the point of view of mycotic contamination. The highest fungal load was recorded in corn grains and corn silage, and the lowest value was recorded in alfalfa hay. The number of colony-forming units per gram of sample was determined by the serial dilution technique in a double agar layer. The results obtained during the analysed period highlighted the presence of the genus Penicillium to the greatest extent (28%), and the lowest percentage was recorded for the genus Cladosporium (5.3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The branch of public health has always faced a rather big problem - the presence of mycotoxins. The most feared are the carcinogenic ones, which should be excluded from the food sector. Due to the fact that the population has no way to be totally safe from the effect of mycotoxins, certain levels of tolerance have been established by the official bodies, thus, at the global level, regulations have been implemented regarding the maximum allowed limits of mycotoxins, having consumer protection centre. The epidemiological risk due to the contamination of feed, food with compounds of a mycotoxin nature has involved international bodies such as: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Organization (UNO) through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) . In order to ensure a high level of protection of human health, the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) was created within the European Community. These regulations were the basis for the development of national and international programs, with the aim of preventing the multiplication of fungi in plant substrates that end up in human and animal food, as well as the control of their contamination with mycotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine mastitis is considered the leading cause of economic losses in dairy farms worldwide due to the associated treatment costs, reduced cow performance, milk quantity, and quality decline, as well as early culling. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC), and physicochemical milk parameters in Romanian Black and White spotted dairy cows. In the study conducted between March and September of 2022, on a farm from the Northeast Romania, a total of 62 cows, with ages ranging from 3 to 5 years, average days in milk (DIM) 75 +/- 35 days, and milk production 22+/- 1.8 kg (mean +/- SEM and clinical signs of mastitis were enrolled. Cows were clinically examined and milk samples were collected in order to evaluate milk SCC and physicochemical parameters such as fat, protein, lactose, casein, dry matter percentage, and density using the fluorooptic method (Combiscope, Delta Instruments). Statistical analysis was carried out using Graphpad Prism software. A correlation matrix was computed to establish the relationship between the number of somatic cells, and the physicochemical parameters of milk. A very small significant negative relationship was observed between somatic cell score and lactose percentage (r= -0.56), as well as milk fat (r= -0.39) and protein (r= -0.37). In conclusion, bovine mastitis has a negative impact on both milk production and composition, however further studies involving both healthy and cows with mastitis are needed for a more robust evaluation of clinical mastitis effect on milk parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colostrum is a mammary gland fluid that is produced and secreted throughout the last trimester of pregnancy and the first few days following calving. Colostrum aids in the growth, development, and protection of the new-born calves' immune system. In order for the immunoglobulins to be effective, colostrum it must be given to the new-born within the first few hours of life. Lab tests for IgG levels may be quite precise, but they are time-consuming and not always accessible to farmers. Colostrometer and refractometers could be foreseen as promising tools in the estimation of IgG for distinguishing colostrum of high quality. This paper describes quick methods for evaluating colostrum quality and prospective uses of colostrum in the dairy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the end of the teat is smooth and undamaged, and the skin is soft and elastic, the teat can ensure its function, as a natural barrier against the intrusion of microorganisms that cause mastitis. Any type of stress applied to a teat, even for a very short period of time can cause the teat's inherent ability to withstand bacterial stress to decrease. Teat skin dryness may favour the development of teat-end hyperkeratosis, a condition that, in turn, increases the likelihood of new intra-mammary infections in dairy cows. This condition also causes pain and discomfort for the cows, thus leading to a decline in milk production. Monitoring the level of teat end hyperkeratosis using a four-point system as well as other types of teat lesions in a dairy herd, on a consistent basis, may be an extremely helpful management tool for determining whether or not the milking routine is appropriate and the risk of mastitis is controllable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the optimal optimization of feed ration, it is crucial to assess the quality of the forage feed to dairy cows. To have a good production of milk and meat on a cattle farm, the farmers must collaborate with the nutrition and feed control laboratories in order to formulate in a timely manner feed that is nutritionally sound Non-destructive procedures provide benefits such as high sensitivity and minimal sample preparation. The portable instruments of near infrared spectroscopy can be utilized in "on line" and" modes, removing the need for lengthy response times and allowing for fast intervention in the prevention and/or correction of disorders. When determining the feed ratio for dairy cows, one of the physical parameters that are considered is nitrogen, and implicitly the protein level, which can also be readily measured using the Dumas analysis method. The paper presents the analysis of the protein content of various vegetable substrates with that are fed to dairy cows, results obtained by applying both destructive and nondestructive techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behaviour of dairy cattle changes when they are exposed to settings that cause heat stress. As a result, the analysis of changes in behaviour may serve as an indicator of abnormalities in either the environment or the body itself. In addition, precision livestock farming tools enable the individual and ongoing monitoring of animal behaviour, which might serve as a method for determining whether or not animals are treated properly. The goal of this study was to assess the effect that heat stress has on the behaviour of dairy cows. The research was conducted during the summer of 2022, in a dairy farm located in the north-east of Romania. A total 40 cows, with ages ranging from 3 to 5 years, average days in milk (DIM) and milk production of 85 +/- 35 days, respectively 21 +/- 2.2 kg (mean +/- SD) were included in the study. Temperature and Heat Index (THI) were computed each day, for the entire period of the study. Data regarding the individual activity pattern of each animal were provided by the AfiFarm software. The findings indicated that heat stress impacted animal behaviour, a significant correlation being observed between heat stressed and non-heat-stressed regarding the activity period (p <0.05), respectively the rest period (p <0.05). As the THI increased, the general activity and resting pattern were modified, implicitly impacting animal welfare. Precision livestock farming sensors and analysis of daily patterns may be excellent tools for monitoring animal behaviour and detecting heat stress-related changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolites are compounds of either natural or synthetic origin and have been employed successfully in a number of industries, including veterinary medicine and animal husbandry. Clinoptilolite is the form of naturally occurring zeolite that has undergone the most scientific study out of the 140 various varieties and is also used the most as a component in animal feed. Natural clay minerals and zeolites are administered with encouraging results due to their detoxifying, antioxidant, hemostatic, anti-diarrheal, and immunostimulant properties. In this paper, the characteristics and possible applications of clinoptilolite as an animal feed additive in order to prevent and/or treat particular diseases in dairy cows will be discussed. Natural and manufactured zeolites have been used as feed additives in cow nutrition, primarily to reduce the absorption of mycotoxins through the gastrointestinal tract, improve general health status, and increase overall animal performance. Clinoptilolite is marketed as a feed additive that helps maintain and improve the fertility, well-being, and productivity of cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the quality of raw cow milk is essential to maintain food safety and human health. To guarantee the quality and safety of milk, easy-to-use non-destructive analysis methods are available. Non-destructive methods have made progress, being useful for obtaining quantitative and qualitative data, destroying the sample, and offering several advantages, such as high sensitivity, adequate response time, and minimal sample preparation. Conventional methods are laborious, destructive, toxic, and time-consuming, require fully equipped laboratories and skilled personnel, extensive sample preparation, and are not suitable for real-time continuous monitoring of milk quality. The rapid development of non-destructive methods for the evaluation of milk quality consists of applications based on imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy, conductivity, biosensors, and ultrasound. This paper presents different non-destructive methods applied to determine the physicochemical parameters of raw milk (fats, proteins, lactose, casein, dry matter, acidity, density), the number of somatic cells, and the microbiological load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aubrac is a French breed of domestic beef cattle, becoming a major interest for cattle breeders in our country. Being a large breed of cattle, cows weigh is between 650-800 kilograms and bulls between 1,000-1200 kg. Body conformation is one of the main criteria for assessing bovine animals from a zootechnical and economic point of view. The notion of body conformation in cattle means the overall external appearance of the examined bovine, with reference to the development of each body region separately. The method of body measurements consists in the direct measurement, on the animal, of the different body and mass dimensions. With the help of these measurements, we can appreciate the development and connection of different body regions or segments that make up the whole body and the general development of the animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is one of the most important diseases with a multifactorial aetiology that causes high economic losses in dairy industry, having a direct negative impact on the profitability of the farm and animal welfare. Fungal mastitis is widespread in dairy cows, and in recent years, fungal agents have been frequently reported as being responsible for mastitis. The aim of this study is to identify the species of fungi in various milk samples collected from cows diagnosed with clinical mastitis, in order to monitor the number of somatic cells. A total number of 30 samples of milk collected from cows diagnosed with mastitis were studied to determine if the disease was caused by the presence of fungal species or other etiological agents. In the analysed milk samples, a number of species of fungi belonging to the genera: Fusarium, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Aspergillus were identified. The presence of fungal contamination in the environment is almost ubiquitous, thereby strategies to prevent fungal mastitis in dairy farms, have become the main goal for most farmers, in order to increase the quality of raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the difference in the average daily gain recorded in the bulls of the Aubrac breed, exploited in the conditions of our country. The database was made up of data recorded in two fattening bull farms of the Aubrac breed. The average daily gain of the animals recorded at the age of 12 months, as well as the average daily gain at the age of 18 months, were measured. A total of 30 animals (15 animals from farm 1, and 15 animals from farm 2) were studied. The results were statistically interpreted, which showed that there were no significant differences between the animals from the two studied farms, but there were statistically significant differences between the average daily increase recorded at 12 months compared to the average daily increase recorded at 18 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of feed with fungi is favored by the existence of optimal environmental conditions for their development, with negative consequences on production and animal health and more. For these reasons, in the present study we proposed to carry out mycological investigations on feed samples from a farm in the area of Moldova, with the aim of determining the degree of fungal contamination. Among the objectives were the determination of the number of filamentous micromycetes, the identification of the dominant mycotic flora in the plant substrates, the highlighting of colonies and the mycotic characterization of the strains of filamentous micromycetes. The mycological screening was performed on four categories of samples, namely: alfalfa hay, corn silage, mixed fodder ration, mixed feed premix, samples that were randomly analyzed from the farm and 15 determinations were made of each, in order to establishing the fungal load during 2022. The dominant fungal flora of silage fodder and feed additives belongs to the genera Penicillium (25%), fam. Mucoraceae (21.6%), Aspergillus (15%) and Fusarium (11.6%) which obtained the highest levels of contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at using a green, rapid, and efficient method for silver nanoparticles synthesis using different types of agri-waste. Ag was reduced to Ag-NPs using the banana, apple and walnut waste extracts that served as both capping and reducing agent. Silver nitrate solution (1mM) was mixed with the vegetal extract (1:9 ratio) and sonicated in a cleaning bath, at 60C. The successful bio-reduction of silver nitrate into silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, a characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band being recorded for all the samples. Concluding, agri-waste may be harnessed to phyto-fabricate eco-friendly silver nanoparticles, with multiple applications in the agri-food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of screening methods applied in the analysis of plant products (cereal seeds, feed, hay, etc.) used in agriculture and animal husbandry. Their screening can be done both during the harvesting season aswell as during their storage for the cold season. Information regarding the physico-chemical parameters and mycotoxicological load may be obtained by applying this rapid screening techniques. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) screening techniques can provide a quick result regarding the quality of plant products. In this study, the efficiency of using the Perten FT-NIR Analyzer in determining the physico-chemical parameters was tested. The sample were scanned and the values were provided shortly after. The analyzed products were also tested from a mycotoxicological point of view by identifying the presence of different types of mycotoxins in plant products by applying thin layer chromatography (TLC). The use of fast screening methods leads to lower costs, elimination of toxicity and shortening of the time to results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Union is the world's leading cheese exporter and one of the world's top three suppliers for dairy exports (cheese, skimmed milk powder and packed milk). In milk and milk products industries, the adulteration has been reported almost all the time as a result of various risks associated with food safety hazards. Because of this, vulnerability reduction of dairy foods to adulteration is a high priority to everyone, from processors to consumers. In this context, our study analysed notifications made in E.U. dairy market through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed for the past two decades (between January 2000 and September 2019) in order to identify patterns and correlations between types of dairy products and the incidence of various hazards by dairy product category, notification type, origin of dairy products, action taken and distribution status. For the period taken into study, we identified 979 notifications, representing 1.77% from the total E.U. food notifications. The highest number of notifications was registered in 2018 (n=76, representing 2.10%) and the lowest in 2001 (n=15, representing 2.13 %). The findings of this study can be used to prioritize and target the research areas for identification of adulterants and food fraud practices in dairy products, to boost the awareness of the final customer and to promote and enhance the legislation on food safety, with emphasis on the European diary sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research was to highlight certain peculiarities of digestion in ruminants, cattle that were exploited in the specific conditions of milk production, following: rumen pH, some biochemical parameters in the blood, assessment of fecal matter score. Total mixed ration administered to dairy cows during the test period contained: 36.7% DM, 15.4% CP, 5.8% fat, 43.2% NDF, 27% ADF and 8.4% ash. Values obtained from the analysis of biochemical parameters suggest that the animals are in full health with low predispositions to hypoalbuminemia, hypoazotemia and hypoglycaemia. The values regarding the rumen pH varying between 5.91 and 6.76, being optimal. The fecal score, it was 4, the cows benefiting from a rational diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to identify the potential of some maize hybrids for silage production. The DKC5542, MIKADO, Fundulea376 and P0725 (Pioneer) hybrids were cultivated, the productivity per hectare and chemical composition of each hybrid being accordingly recorded. There were no statistical significant differences between the tested hybrids, the average dry matter production being 13,32 t per hectare. Regarding the chemical characteristics, a higher percentage of DM was observed at Fundulea376 hybrid, 42% as compared to 39.8%, 37.10% respectively 34.70% recorded in the other hybrids. The average value for CP was 6.29%, the NDF content of the silo ranged between 45.60 and 49.05%, while the ADF content ranged from 16.80 to 21.2%. In light of these results, it may be concluded that the hybrids taken into study are recommended for use in silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]