Consequences of walking or transport by truck on milk yield and quality, as well as blood metabolites, in Holstein, Montbéliarde, and Valdostana dairy cows

Abstract

In the mountains, the traditional practice of transhumance is common in dairy production systems to make use of the high-altitude summer pastures. Although the effects of highland grazing have been intensively studied with respect to cow performance and milk and cheese quality, the actual moving of the animals to the highlands and the consequences of this stressor for performance and milk quality in the days immediately following transhumance has not been investigated in detail. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of a 6-km walk (lasting 1.5 h) to those of a truck transport of 10.5 km (lasting 1 h), simulating cow movement in transhumance systems, as well as a control treatment in which cows were not moved. The experiment included 12 late-lactating Valdostana Red Pied, 12 Montbéliarde, and 12 Holstein cows (i.e., breeds contrasting in genetic merit for milk production). Each cow was subjected to each treatment in a 3-wk Latin square design. Milk yield was measured, and milk and blood samples were taken around the transhumance simulation events. Cows of the 3 breeds responded similarly to both movement treatments. Walking decreased milk yield by 1 kg/milking, but truck transport did not affect milk yield. Both treatments led to an increase in plasma nonesterified fatty acids and milk somatic cell count compared with controls, and truck transport increased milk fat content. Milk coagulation properties were better for Valdostana Red Pied and Montbéliarde cows than for Holstein cows but were not affected by walking or truck transport. Further studies aiming to compare the 3 breeds should include a wider range of response variables over a longer term, including reproduction performance and repeated transhumance.

A comparison of animal-related figures in milk and meat production and economic revenues from milk and animal sales of five dairy cattle breeds reared in Alps region

“…Transhumance is traditionally practiced in South Tyrol which is confirmed by the fact that in 2018 about 44.236 out of 128.329 total cattle were brought to alpine pastures (Province 2018). Local breeds were shown to cope better with the stressful period during transhumance and to exploit alpine pastures more efficiently as they showed fewer negative alterations regarding milk production and physiology than specialised breeds (Faccioni et al 2016;Niero et al 2018;Koczura et al 2019Koczura et al , 2020. Further, Figure 1 displays a sharp decrease of BS cows and a strong increase in SI cows that could indicate a substitution of BS by SI breed.…”

Fatty acid composition of drinking cow's milk trade networks of Kyiv

“…); technologies for obtaining drinking milk. Some researchers believe that the behaviour, exercise, and grazing intensity and duration of lactating animals can also affect the composition and quality of the milk obtained (1,2).…”

Quality Profile of Single-Breed Alpine Grey and Pinzgauer Bulk Milk

“…Dairy farming in the alpine area is characterized by small, family-run units often facing mechanical and structural limits [1], resulting in higher production costs compared to lowland farms [2]. Moreover, summer pasturing (transhumance) is a relevant production factor because of the additional forage sources required and the higher revenues for milk transformation into high-value dairy products like cheese [3,4]. Further, the cultivation of mountain pastures using livestock is crucial for preserving marginal areas and land fragmentation and thus preventing succession and simplification of the landscape [5].…”