A 2-year study on milk quality from three pasture-based dairy systems of contrasting production intensities in Wales

• Published in: The Journal of agricultural science 2015-05, Vol.153 (4), p.708-731
• Main Authors: STERGIADIS, S., LEIFERT, C., SEAL, C. J., EYRE, M. D., LARSEN, M. K., SLOTS, T., NIELSEN, J. H., BUTLER, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-tocopherol; Animal Research Papers; Antioxidants; casein; Cattle; conjugated linoleic acid; cows; crossbreds; Dairy products; Diet; Dietary minerals; herds; Jersey; lutein; manufacturing; Milk; milk consumption; milk fatty acids; milk industry; milk production; milk quality; Nutritive value; Oxidation; Pasture; pastures; polyunsaturated fatty acids; Production costs; protein content; Proteins; silage; vaccenic acid; zeaxanthin
• ISSN: 0021-8596; 1469-5146; 1469-5146
• DOI: 10.1017/S0021859614000963

There is an increasing interest in pasture-based dairy systems in Europe, mainly because of increasing production costs for intensive dairying. Milk is a matrix of compounds that influence nutritional and manufacturing properties, many dependent on husbandry linked to pasture-based systems (increase in pasture intake, forage : concentrate ratio, clover inclusion in swards/silages and use of alternative dairy breeds). The present study investigated the impact of three grazing-based dairy systems with contrasting feeding intensity or reliance on pasture intakes (conventional high-intensity, low pasture intake [CH], organic medium-intensity, medium pasture intake [OM], conventional low-intensity, high pasture intake [CL]) on milk fatty acid (FA) profiles, protein composition and α-tocopherol and antioxidants concentrations. The proportion of animals of alternative breeds (e.g. Jersey) and crossbred cows in the herd increased with decreasing production intensity (CH