Journal Article

Mineral Concentrations in Bovine Milk from Farms with Contrasting Grazing Management

Beauclercq, Stephane, Gunnlaugsdóttir, Helga, Angelidis, Angelos E., Pétursdóttir, Ásta H., Faludi, Gergely, Pitt, Joe, Qin, Nanbing, Desnica, Natasa, Newton, Eric E., Juniper, Darren T., Givens, Ian, Stergiadis, Sokratis, Humphries, David J.

2021

Overview

Thirty conventional and twenty-four organic dairy farms were divided into equal numbers within system groups: high-pasture, standard-pasture, and low-pasture groups. Milk samples were collected monthly for 12 consecutive months. Milk from high-pasture organic farms contained less fat and protein than standard- and low-pasture organic farms, but more lactose than low-pasture organic farms. Grazing, concentrate feed intake and the contribution of non-Holstein breeds were the key drivers for these changes. Milk Ca and P concentrations were lower in standard-pasture conventional farms than the other conventional groups. Milk from low-pasture organic farms contained less Ca than high- and standard-pasture organic farms, while high-pasture organic farms produced milk with the highest Sn concentration. Differences in mineral concentrations were driven by the contribution of non-Holstein breeds, feeding practices, and grazing activity; but due to their relatively low numerical differences between groups, the subsequent impact on consumers’ dietary mineral intakes would be minor.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Antioxidants / Carotenoids / Cow's milk / dairy cow / Dairy farming / Dairy farms / Diet / Dietary minerals / Farms / Fatty acids / feed intake / Food science / Fourier transforms / Grazing / heavy metals / Laboratories / Lactose / macrominerals / Milk / organic / Organic farming / Pasture / Pasture management / Proteins