Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) conservation in Serbia is under an in situ program, but additional efforts are needed to ensure the development of this animal’s genetic resources biodiversity. This research aims to describe challenges and possible strategies for sustainable water buffalo milk production. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics of buffalo milk and buffalo dairy products (cheese, butter, and kajmak) were determined. Furthermore, amino and fatty acids composition and the related health lipid indices (atherogenic and thrombogenic) were assessed. The findings support the fact that buffalo milk is a reliable source of high-quality nutrients (dry matter: 16.10%, fat: 6.02%, protein: 4.61%). Leucine, lysine, and valine content were found to be high in buffalo milk and cheese. A substantial quantity of non-essential glutamic and aspartic amino acids was observed in milk, as well as glutamic acid and tyrosine in cheese. It was established that milk protein of buffalo cheese had a favorable proportion of essential and non-essential amino acids (61.76%/38.24%). The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in fatty acid profiles among the three dairy products for saturated short-chain, n-3, and n-6 fatty acids. Conversely, no significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in monounsaturated fatty acids content. Kajmak showed the most favorable anti-atherogenic and anti-thrombogenic properties due to lower saturated and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid content. These results confirmed that buffalo milk could be successfully used in producing high-quality traditional dairy products with added value and beneficial characteristics from the aspect of a healthy diet. Furthermore, it could actively contribute to the promotion of sustainable production of buffaloes and strengthen the agricultural production of rural areas and their heritage.

Intramammary infections change the composition of milk and increase electrical conductivity of milk and decrease milk electrical resistance. Electrical conductivity has been used to detect mastitis during last four decades. The aim of this research was to examine the reliability of the milk electrical conductivity measuring in detection of subclinical mastitis. The experiment was conducted on a dairy farm of Holstein-Friesian breed. A total of 113 quarter milk samples were examined, 55 samples from cows in first stage of lactation and 58 from cows in third stage of lactation. Electrical conductivity (EC) of milk samples was detected by Hand-held EC meter (Draminski mastitis detector). Quarter milk samples for bacteriological analysis were taken aseptically during the morning milking in sterile test tubes. Bacteria growth was not detected in 60 quarter milk samples (53.1%), while in the other 53 samples bacteria was found (46.9%). The most common isolated bacteria in first and third stage of lactation was Corynebacterium spp. (38.9%) and coagulase - negative staphylococci (3.54%). High quality and healthy milk with Draminski mastitis detector was observed in 59.29% of the samples (67/113). Cows with mastitis may not always show an increased EC of milk from the infected quarter. Electrical conductivity of milk can give useful informations about udder health status, but hand-held EC meters, such as Draminski mastitis detector, cannot be used alone in diagnosis of subclinical mastitis. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31034]

One of the most important problems in milk production, causing great economic loses is certainly mastitis. In order to minimize economic losses from mastitis dairy farms introduce different mastitis management programs. These programs include mastitis therapy and prevention. In mastitis control prevention is most important and when mastitis occurs cost of therapy and milk discharge is very important. In our study we examined cost of mastitis treatment and milk loss in different mastitis management programs. We concluded that most costly are mastitis caused by specific pathogens. Cost of milk loss is 2.4 times bigger than cost of drug consumption. Applying of tit-dipping has great importance in reduction of mastitis caused by specific pathogens and less importance for conditional saprophytes. In total, cost of mastitis treatment on whole farm was almost the same for all mastitis management programs, while the effect of the program on farm C was the most expensive in the cows with the finding of specific pathogens.

This study presents the results of a survey conducted in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia to investigate consumers’ attitudes towards goat milk and goat milk products. Furthermore, the factors affecting consumer perception and subjective norms with respect to purchase were examined. The quantitative random survey was conducted and the data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The findings from this study revealed significantly lower acceptance of goat milk and dairy products compared to bovine milk and dairy products. Of total 440 respondents, 24.2 % had never consumed goat milk with significant positive impact (p&lt;0.05) of age on consumption was found. Among, respondents, mostly the young population (18-25 years) does not consume goat milk. The study identified the odour (42.3 %) and taste (22.5 %) as the main barriers for consuming goat milk. In regard to purchasing, more than half of interviewed respondents do not buy goat milk and dairy products (67 % and 70.5 %, respectively) while the rest respondents expressed very low purchasing frequency. Health benefits represent the most important reason for potential consuming goat milk and dairy products (66.5 %). On the other hand, the main motives for purchasing bovine milk and dairy products are taste and quality (55.5 %). In particular, the oldest surveyed population (40-55 years) seemed to be the most positive group toward goat milk and the most interested in the product’s nutritional value and its health impact. The main category of goat dairy products purchased among surveyed respondents was cheese. These findings suggest that for better positioning on the market and for producing price-competitive products goat milk and dairy products should be more clarified as either quality products or products with added value or as products with unique health benefits.

Background: Lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G in milk have an important role in udder resistance to infection in the involution period. Both proteins express antimicrobial activity- lactoferrin by the binding and sequestration of iron ion; and immunoglobulin G by complement activation, bacterial opsonization and agglutination. Many factors affect lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G concentrations in bovine milk, such as the stage of lactation, milk production, and intramammary infections. The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G in milk from healthy cows and subclinical mastitic cows during the late lactation period, and to evaluate the relationship between them.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 150 quarter milk samples from 41 cows (Holstein-Friesian breed) in late lactation period were reviewed in this study. Milk samples were collected during morning milking, using aseptic techniques in sterile test tubes. From each sample, 0.1 mL of milk was plated on Columbia blood agar base with 5% defibrinated ovine blood, MacConkey agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated for 24 h - 48 h (bacteria) and 5 days (yeasts, mould) at 37oC. Milk samples for detection lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G concentration were skimmed at 1,400 g for 45 min and stored at -20°C until analysis. Lactoferrin concentration in bovine milk was determined using the Bovine Lactoferrin ELISA Quantitation Set. Milk samples were diluted at a ratio of 1:10,000. Plates were read at 450 nm absorbence values. Immunoglobulin G concentration was determined by the immunodiffusion method using radial immunodiffusion (RID) plates. Milk samples were diluted in a ratio of 1:30. Reading of results was done after incubation for 48 h by measuring the diameter of the precipitation ring. The highest mean lactoferrin concentration was observed in udder quarters infected with contagious pathogens (Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus), while the highest mean immunoglobulin G concentration was detected in milk samples where minor mastitis pathogens (coagulase-negative staphylococci and Corynebacterium spp.) were isolated. Milk samples where Staphylococcus aureus was isolated had the lowest immunoglobulin G concentration, and the lowest lactoferrin concentration was observed in samples infected with enviromental pathogens (Streptococcus dysgalactiae).Discussion: This study showed that lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G concentrations are higher in milk samples from subclinical mastitic cows than in milk from normal lactating cows. Lactoferrin concentrations in milk samples from udder quarters infected with major mastitis pathogens were significantly higher than in milk infected with minor mastitis pathogens. The lowest concentration of immunoglobulin G was detected in milk samples where Staphylococcus aureus was isolated, while the highest immunoglobulin G concentration was observed in milk samples from quarters infected with minor mastitis pathogens. Lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G concentrations were significantly and positively correlated in all milk samples. This means that cows with high lactoferrin concentrations have high immunoglobulin G concentrations. In quarter milk samples infected with Staphylococcus aureus, lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G concentrations were negatively correlated. The cause of these findings could be the suppression of local immune response of mammary gland.

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The aim of this study was to assess the expression of a toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) gene of Staphylococcus aureus in different types of milk, depending on inadequate temperature and storage conditions. Pasteurized and UHT milk were inoculated with monotoxic TSST-1 strain of S. aureus and growth kinetics was determined by the drop plate method using Baird-Parker agar medium in accordance with EN ISO 6888-1. The patterns of gene regulation were detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Relative quantification method for statistical significance testing was used to detect significant gene expression responses. The results of experiments showed the dependence of the growth rate and consequent up-regulation of TSST-1 encoding gene on storage time-temperature and type of milk. In contaminated pasteurized and UHT milk kept at both 15 °C and 22 °C S. aureus significantly increased its virulent potential over time. This effect was a bit more emphasized in UHT milk serving as a "proof of concept". Possible explanation could be a presence of lactic acid bacteria in pasteurized milk which is known to have down-regulatory effect on TSST-1 gene. Maintenance of the milk storage temperature below 8 °C and employment of microbiological control measures in hygienic practices, from milk producer through retailer and on to the consumer is of utmost importance to decrease risk of non-emetic staphylococcal poisoning.

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