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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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

Objective: To prevent some illegal companies driven by interests from arbitrarily labeling "organic" to deceive consumers using ways such as counterfeiting, forgery, and shoddy food. Methods: This study investigated differential components between organic and regular milk by stable isotope ratio and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-based metabolomics. Organic milk with different lactation stages was also analyzed. Results: There was a significant difference between organic and ordinary milk for single factor ANOVA P

IntroductionThis 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.MethodsMethodologically, 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.ResultsEconometric 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.DiscussionProspective 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.

Increasing demand for camel’s milk worldwide occurred in the context of the development of the organic sector in agriculture. The implementation of an organic label for camel milk has never been established. However, the creation of such a label faces to important challenges that are investigated in the present paper. Indeed, although camel milk conveys the image of a “natural product” issued from remote places, the risk of being produced in contaminated areas (mining activities, oil extraction) cannot be neglected for grazing animals. Moreover, the management of veterinary drugs for prevention or curative treatment can lead to the presence of residues in milk, especially in camel species with different pharmacokinetics, although similar instructions than for cow milk are used. Moreover, the lack of international standards regarding both composition and hygienic rules, the risks of adulteration, and the necessity to use specific indicators or analytical procedures adapted to the behavior of camel milk, have to be taken in account in the establishment of the specifications for the camel milk producers through the world.

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]

ABSTRACT: Several studies have reported gross composition differences between organic and conventional milk; however, most studies have not considered other factors such as breed and diet ingredients, which are known to influence milk composition. Thus, this study aimed to provide a detailed characterization of Holstein-Friesian cow milk from organic (ORG) and conventional (CONV) herds with similar diet ingredients and in the same geographic area. Bulk milk samples (n = 225) of 12 ORG and 12 CONV farms were collected from September 2019 to August 2020. Farms were located in Northern Italy, included corn (meal, silage, or both) in the lactating diets, and had similar management conditions, but ORG herds spent a period on pasture. Factors affecting milk composition were tested using a linear mixed model, which included calendar month, farming system (ORG and CONV), and their interactions as fixed effects, and farm nested within farming system as random effect. Results showed that total fat, lactose, vitamin E, and AA did not significantly differ between farming systems. Total protein and casein contents were significantly lower in ORG than CONV herds, and somatic cell score (SCS) was greater in ORG than CONV. Among minerals, differences were observed for Fe, K, Mg, and S in some months, being lower in ORG than CONV for K, Mg, and S and greater or lower for Fe depending on the month. Among fatty acid (FA) groups, index, and ratios, only polyunsaturated FA and n-3 FA tended to be greater in ORG than CONV, and cis-FA were greater in ORG than CONV during October. Among the most abundant individual FA, only C16:1n-9 differed, being lower in ORG than CONV. The calendar month (and hence seasonal feed ration) was significant for milk gross composition, SCS, vitamin E, mineral profile (except for Mo, Sr, and Zn), AA profile, FA groups (except for medium-chain FA), FA index and ratios, and individual FA (except C16:0). We conclude that the overall milk composition was quite similar between the 2 farming systems. This could be related to the similarity of the selected farms, the Holstein-Friesian breed, and generally high level of intensity in both farming systems.

Tuxpan region is characterized by strong oil activity and organic food production. Oil activities are a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted into the atmosphere, contaminating soils and farm pastures through atmospheric deposition. This study was aimed at determining the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in raw milk from two organic production units. Analyses were carried out by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection, according to US EPA methodology. The presence of PAHs was detected in fresh milk, where mean concentrations of PAH ranged from 0.08-0.86 µg/kg of fresh milk (fm). Fluoranthene (FLT), benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) compounds presented a frequency of occurrence above 90 %, prevailing 4-6 ring PAHs. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean concentration of BaP and the sum of the 4 PAHs (BaA, BaP, benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) and chrysene (CHR)) in the milk from the two farms near the thermoelectric plant and the oil drilling plant. The mean concentration of BaP was below the EU regulation (1 µg/kg). However, the sum of the mean concentrations of the 4 PAHs presented values of 1.58 µg/kg fresh milk (fm) (farm A) and 1.99 µg/kg fm (farm B) above the permitted value. The results corroborated that organic productions are also susceptible to PAH contamination. This finding alerts regulatory agencies the need to establish monitoring programs for these contaminants in organic milk intended for human consumption. [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]

Over the past decade, a growing interest of consumers in the consumption of organic milk has been recognized, mostly because of its positive effect on human health, besides other various positive effects. The main goal of organic milk production is to bring agricultural production in close alignment with the requirements of a sustainable system. Human capital in organic farming is an important factor as it significantly influences production and financial results. As an important factor in the production, socio-economic characteristics of producers considerably determine possibilities of the future development of this system of production in a certain country. Focusing on the aspect of human capital, this paper examines the possibilities of the development of organic agricultural production in the Republic of Serbia. The research has been conducted on the territory of Serbia on individual farms which are certified for organic farming. Following the findings, the authors conclude that human capital in organic milk production of the Republic of Serbia does not represent a limiting factor in the future development of this system and that human capital in terms of learning and education, experience and expertise, innovation and creativity, and sources of knowledge has a positive relationship with the business performance.

ABSTRACT The goal of this research was to compare the effect of the following products on dairy cattle, parasitized by Rhipicephalus microplus: organosynthetics - Clorfenvinfós and Ivermectina (OG); phytotherapics - Eucalyptus oil (EG) and Neem cake (NG); Homeopathy (HG); The control group (CG) received no treatment. Infestation was by R. microplus (MIC) and weight gain (GP) were evaluated. The study included 60 animals (5 groups) from – Dutch / Zebu, aged between 25-44 months and initial weight between 211-477kg. EG and NG showed MIC 84.9% and 14.0% greater than CG, respectively (P

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]

Over the past decade, a growing interest of consumers in the consumption of organic milk has been recognized, mostly because of its positive effect on human health, besides other various positive effects. The main goal of organic milk production is to bring agricultural production in close alignment with the requirements of a sustainable system. Human capital in organic farming is an important factor as it significantly influences production and financial results. As an important factor in the production, socio-economic characteristics of producers considerably determine possibilities of the future development of this system of production in a certain country. Focusing on the aspect of human capital, this paper examines the possibilities of the development of organic agricultural production in the Republic of Serbia. The research has been conducted on the territory of Serbia on individual farms which are certified for organic farming. Following the findings, the authors conclude that human capital in organic milk production of the Republic of Serbia does not represent a limiting factor in the future development of this system and that human capital in terms of learning and education, experience and expertise, innovation and creativity, and sources of knowledge has a positive relationship with the business performance. [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]

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This study aimed to determine and compare aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) levels in conventional and organic milk, white cheese, and butter samples which are sold in the markets of Turkey. Within the scope of the study, totally 72 samples (36 for organic, and 36 for conventional) were collected, and analyzed between March 2010 and February 2011. After the samples were burned by microwave burning, element measurements were performed on atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) device. As a result of the study, on the 49 samples (29 conventional, 20 organic) of the 72 collected product, element levels were determined above the limit of detection (LOD) (0.02 ppm). Pb and Al were the most common elements above the LOD. However, milk samples with a Pb level above the LOD still remained below the limit reported by the Turkish Food Codex Regulation for Contaminants. Since Turkish Food Codex Regulation does not have legal limits for Al, As, Cd and Pb for dairy products (cheese and butter), it was accepted as safe in terms of Al, As, Cd and Pb according to food limits in Turkish Food Codex and ADI values of FAO / WHO.

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.Highlights 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.

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]

Iodine is a milk micronutrient whose concentration is highly variable and depends on several factors. The aim of this work was to monitor the prevailing concentration of iodine in raw goat (n = 71) and sheep (n = 68) milk from farms in the Czech Republic, to assess the variation in iodine levels and evaluate them with farming practices, herd size, breed and season. Iodine was determined by a spectrophotometric method according to Sandell-Kolthoff. The mean prevailing iodine concentration in goat and sheep milk was 249.73 and 264.21 µg/L, respectively. In addition to inter-species variability, we found statistically significant differences depending on the both sheep and goat herd size. The differences between conventional and organic farming were relatively minor and without statistical significance. [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.

In this study, milk fat content and milk fatty acid profile of 3 Indian dairy cattle breeds, viz. Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Gir was studied under organic and conventional feeding system. Milk fat content differed significantly among the breeds and varied from 3.74 to 4.57% across the breeds, however the feeding system did not influence the milk fat contents. Fatty acids contents were similar among breeds and feeding systems, however, the unsaturated fatty acids were comparatively higher in organic feeding system.

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]

Agricultural practises such as conventional and organic farming can potentially affect the microbial communities in milk. In the present study, the bacterial diversity of milk was investigated using high-throughput sequencing on ten organic and ten conventional farms in the Azores, a region where milk production is largely based on year-round grazing systems. The microbiota of milk from both production systems was dominated by Bacillota , Pseudomonadota , Actinomycetota and Bacteroidota. The organic milk showed greater heterogeneity between farms, as reflected in the dispersion of diversity indices and the large variation in the relative abundances of the dominant genera. In contrast, conventionally produced milk showed a high degree of similarity within each season. In the conventional production system, the season also had a strong influence on the bacterial community, but this effect was not observed in the organic milk. The LEfSe analysis identified the genus Iamia as significantly (p < 0.05) more abundant in organic milk, but depending on the season, several other genera were identified that distinguished organic milk from conventionally produced milk. Of these, Bacillus , Iamia and Nocardioides were associated with the soil microbiota in organic farming. • High-throughput sequencing was used to study the microbial communities of organic milk compared to conventional milk. • Organic milk showed greater variation in the relative abundances of the dominant genera. • The season had no influence on the bacterial community of organic milk in contrast to conventional milk. • The LEfSe analysis identified Iamia as characteristic of the organic production system. • Bacillus, Iamia and Nocardioides were associated with organic milk and the soil microbiota in organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic diseases progress slowly and generally cause symptoms in middle age onward. It is widely known that there is a close link between diets and chronic diseases in human. Foods which have specific target functions and preventive impacts on human health as well as their basic nutritional effects are defined as functional foods. These foods may decrease risk for chronic diseases due to having health preventive impacts on human health. Milk is an useful baverage for during childhood and adolescence because of its macro and micro nutrients. Milk composition is affected by mainly genetic, nutrition, season, lactation stage etc. Therefore, there are some differences in milk components between organic and conventional milk because of especially heredities of herds and nutrition. Seasonal variations in pasture, amount of grains and forages (fresh or conserved) cause changes in milk fatty acid composition of organic and conventional milk. Furthermore, organic production regulations limit the use of starch-based concentrates and supplements; therefore, some nutrients’ concentrations (protein, thiamine, vitamin B1 and B2, I etc) in organic milk may be expected to be lower than those of conventional milk. In this paper, organic and conventional milk components have been reviewed in term of functional milk.

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]

The work aims to analyze the motivations that led family farmers to undertake the transition from the modernized to the organic production system and to understand the types and effects of the novelties built along their trajectory in the activity of organic milk. The investigation was carried out with nine family farmers and eight technicians from different institutions and organizations that accompany and assist the families, totaling 17 semi-structured interviews (with qualitative and quantitative data collection), covering nine municipalities, all belonging to the Far West Region of Santa Catarina (REOC). To achieve this objective, the theoretical perspective mobilized was the Multilevel and Co-Evolutionary (PMN) and the notion of novelties in rural and regional development. As relevant results and conclusions, the investigation points out that the main motivations of farmers to make the transition from the modernized to the organic system are the frequent problems with contamination with pesticides, the low income earned and the environmental unsustainability of the production processes. As for the types of novelties, the research showed that in the trajectory of development of the Organic Milk Productive System (SPLO), three interconnected sets of novelties were built, the productive, technological and environmental. The main effects of these three types of novelties in SPLO are the increase in economic income from the experiences and the levels of environmental sustainability of the farmers production and work process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, new formula milk (FM) products based on milk from farms that strictly adhere to the "organic farming" practices became available. However, little is known about the differences in nutritional profile of these organic formulae with respect to traditional ones. We comprehensively evaluated the metabolite profiles of FM with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomic analysis. Five commercial brands of organic and nonorganic formula liquid milk for infants (0–12 months) and toddlers (1–3 years) were analyzed, together with human milk (HM) samples. Proton NMR (1H NMR) spectroscopy mapped molecular characteristics of FM linked to different production techniques, and identified differences between FM and HM samples. We performed a metabolic fingerprint analysis using multivariate and univariate statistical techniques. A clear distinction is found among different commercial brands of the FM samples. In addition, several differences in metabolomic profiles of FM have been found in comparison with HM for the first time. Notably, it was possible to identify, both in the formulations for toddlers and for infants, metabolites that vary in concentration between the formulae produced with milk obtained according to organic farming techniques, and those produced using nonorganic milk. In particular, organic and nonorganic formulations are differentiated by the levels of glucose, methionine, o-phosphocholine, butyrate, hippurate, creatine, and dimethyl sulfone. Importantly, the HM appeared to differ from both organic and nonorganic brands in a context of metabolites. These findings inform efforts to design FM in ways that closely mimic HM, and guide research to differentiate organic and traditional FM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of feed efficiency (FE; calculated as energy-corrected milk yield/dry matter intake) and milk nitrogen efficiency (MNE; calculated as milk N yield/N intake) is needed to help farmers make decisions regarding the economic and environmental sustainability of dairy farms. Our primary objective was to compare FE and MNE data obtained from studies conducted with organic versus conventional dairy cows. Specifically, 3 data sets were constructed to meet this goal: (1) the organic Jersey data set (ORG-JE) built with studies (n = 11) done at the University of New Hampshire Burley-Demeritt Organic Dairy Research Farm (Lee, NH), (2) the conventional Jersey data set (CON-JE) constructed using 19 experiments reported in the literature, and (3) the organic non-Jersey-breed (mostly Holstein, Swedish Red, and Norwegian Red) data set (ORG-NJE) created with 11 published studies. Comparisons were made between ORG-JE and CON-JE and between ORG-JE and ORG-NJE. A second objective was to compare the enteric methane (CH 4) emission data set from studies using organic Jerseys (n = 5) with those using conventional Jerseys (n = 4). Cows used in the ORG-JE data set had lower FE (−16%) and MNE (−15.5%) than cows used in the CON-JE counterpart, possibly because dry matter intake increased by an average of 10.4% in organic cows. Feed efficiency and MNE computed from cows belonging to the ORG-NJE data set were intermediate between ORG-JE and CON-JE. Measured CH 4 intensity (g/kg of energy-corrected milk) from cows in the ORG-JE CH 4 data set increased by 71% compared with that from cows in the CON-JE CH 4 data set. Estimated FE and enteric CH 4 emissions revealed that Wisconsin organic dairies with the heaviest reliance on forage sources and longest grazing time during the summer were the least feed efficient and emitted the greatest amount of CH 4 per kilogram of energy-corrected milk at the animal and whole-farm levels. Overall, the comparisons of FE, MNE, and enteric CH 4 emissions between organic and conventional dairies and within organic systems made in this symposium review should be interpreted cautiously because they are based on study means and small data sets. Research is needed to better characterize the performance, efficiency, profitability, and carbon emissions of forage-based organic dairies in the United States, including the fast-growing "grass-fed" segment, which relies exclusively on forage diets. The effect of large organic dairies on the economic and social sustainability of small and mid-size organic dairy operations nationwide also deserves further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of farming type (conventional or organic) and production system (low-and high-input) on various quality characteristics of milk have been in the focus of studies over the last decade. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of different dairy management and production systems on carbon stable isotopes ratio (δ13C) and milk urea content. The samples of raw milk were collected each two weeks at certified organic high-input and low-input farms, conventional high-input and low-input farms in late indoor period and outdoor period. Data analysis showed clear difference between milk from organic high- and low-input farms with non-overlapping range between -22.90 ‰ and -24.70‰ for δ13С in protein fraction (equal 1.80‰) and between -25.90‰ and -28.20‰ (equal 2.30‰) for δ13С in fat fraction independently from season factor, as for Δδ13С (protein-fat) values in milk from high-input (1.50-3.00‰) and low-input (3.20-6.30‰) organic farms. Analysis of correlation between δ13С in protein fraction and milk urea content values showed that during late indoor period the most significant difference was detected between milk from organic low-input and conventional high-input farms (5.85‰ for δ13С in protein fraction and 4.65 mg/100 g of milk urea content). During outdoor period, the non-overlapping range was established for low-input and high-input organic farms (3.40‰ for δ13С in protein fraction and 10.77 mg/100 g of milk urea content). Results of δ13С values in fat and protein milk fractions, as combination of δ13С in protein fraction and milk urea content could be a potential tool for the distinguish of milk from different farming types, based on different feed composition.

During recent years, animal organic productions have been of interest to producers, policy makers and consumers around the world. The aim of the present study is identification of organic milk production difficulties in the Ardabil province by using the cross – correlation method. The population under study included 200 livestock experts and consultancy company staff of this province and the effective sample size used was 120 that was obtained by Cochran statistics. The sampling and selection technique used for choosing the sample society was the stratified random sampling technique. The main tool of data collection was a questionnaire whose validity was not only confirmed by experts but its Cronbach alpha coefficient was 95%. The results showed that the 9 main difficulties were inefficiencies of institutional infrastructure, research infrastructure, market infrastructure, development and implementation of guidelines, cultural and psychological inadequacy of infrastructure, existence of production risk, and ineffectiveness of the services offered to producers, inadequacy of knowledge and information ranchers and inefficiency of management of animal units. These items covered 69.75% of the total variation related to the difficulties of organic milk production in this province.

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]

Products with added value are all those products which, in addition to requirements set by laws of food safety and quality, meet the additional requirements. The added value of products resulting from its higher nutritional and commercial value and very often involve products originating from organic production or products with geographical indications. Consumer knowledge of production values has increased exponentially and has fuelled a demand for healthy, quality products such as goats’ milk and cheeses. The single most important factor affecting cheese quality and yield is the composition of the milk, particularly the concentrations of fat and casein. Nutritional value of goat cheese derives from its energy value, content of essential fatty and amino acids, the content of vitamins, minerals and its digestibility. In this paper, organic goat milk and hard goat cheese were analyzed for fatty and amino acids profile. In addition, cheese was assayed for fat, protein, moisture, total solids, Ca, P, Mg and pH. The evaluation of the cheeses was performed to establish the relationship between quality and composition of milk and cheese. Obtained values for saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content in cheese were on average 42.0, 54.4, and 3.60 %, respectively. Levels of glutamic, aspartic acid, lysine and leucine significantly increased in cheese comparing with milk samples. Mean values for fat in dry matter in cheese was 47.1 %, while for pH this value amounted 5:55.

Holistic methods, such as biocrystallization and capillary dynamolysis, can be used to confirm differences in chemical composition between organic and conventionally produced milk. The utilization of such methods is complementary to other quality assurance methods and demonstrates a complex aspect of food quality. In this study, biocrystallization was used as a method for distinguishing between organic and conventionally produced pasteurized milk, demonstrating how the differences in the dairy cow feeding regime can affect milk properties. The biocrystallization was performed by means of copper (II) chloride dihydrate (CuCl2*2H2O). The biocrystallization patterns obtained from the conventional and organic milk samples were readily distinguished. A significant indication of differences was the emergence of degradation features in the biocrystallization patterns. While degradation features do not appear in organic milk, conventional milk showed clear indications of degradation, although the compound analysis of the two milks indicated no differences. From the morphological perspective, the biocrystallization patterns of organic milk have fared better according to all criteria. The results of the fatty acid analysis in milk from conventional and certified organic farms showed a greater content of beneficial fatty acids in organic milk: oleic (P