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Biodynamic dairy production is based on a land-related animal production without the additional input of N-fertilizers. The concentrate level per cow is low. This affects the yield level of animals and product quality outcomes. We examined the milk fatty acid (FA) composition of European biodynamic farms in relation to the ecological region of production and the farm's climate conditions. Climate data were derived from existing maps describing ecological vegetation zones within Europe. Additionally, biodynamic shop milk was compared to conventional shop milk, based on a regional comparison. The largest differences in the FA composition were between biodynamic summer and winter milk. We found increased proportions of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA-n3), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) in the summer milk. A principal component analysis expressed the structure that was present in the biodynamic farm milk samples, based on clusters of a single FA within four components. The components could be correlated with the season of production, the amount of precipitation, the elevation of the farm above sea level, and the length of the grazing season. Biodynamic shop milk in the summer had a lower n6/n3 PUFA ratio compared to the conventional shop milk in all regions of production. Mean values were 1.37 and 1.89, respectively. The differentiation of biodynamic milk FA composition is consistent with the existing knowledge about the effects of fresh grass, fodder, and ratio composition on the milk's FA composition. Based on the n6/n3 PUFA ratio, the average biodynamic dairy cow had a high intake (>82%) of fresh grass and conserved roughage (hay and grass silage), especially in the summer.
Ton Baars; Jenifer Wohlers; Carsten Rohrer; Stefan Lorkowski; Gerhard Jahreis. Patterns of Biodynamic Milk Fatty Acid Composition Explained by A Climate-Geographical Approach. Animals 2019, 9, 111 .
AMA StyleTon Baars, Jenifer Wohlers, Carsten Rohrer, Stefan Lorkowski, Gerhard Jahreis. Patterns of Biodynamic Milk Fatty Acid Composition Explained by A Climate-Geographical Approach. Animals. 2019; 9 (3):111.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTon Baars; Jenifer Wohlers; Carsten Rohrer; Stefan Lorkowski; Gerhard Jahreis. 2019. "Patterns of Biodynamic Milk Fatty Acid Composition Explained by A Climate-Geographical Approach." Animals 9, no. 3: 111.
This study evaluated the ability of fluorescence excitation spectroscopy (FES) to differentiate milk samples from different origins. Three different farming systems were chosen: D-samples originating from low-input biodynamic farms (cows fed on hay or pasture); O-samples from intermediate-input organic farms (cows fed mainly on grass silage); and C-samples from high-input conventional farms (indoor housing, cows fed on maize and grass silage). Milk samples were collected every second month between July 2015 and June 2016 from 12 farms (four farms per system), and a total of 70 samples were obtained. Fat-, protein- and urea-concentrations, somatic-cell count and fatty acid levels (FA) were determined. FES-measurements were performed by exciting the sample with light of different wavelengths and detecting delayed luminescence. Differences between farming systems in each season were checked by ANOVA. Factors of season, system and breed were evaluated in a linear regression model. By linear-discriminant analysis, variables contributing to correct classification were analysed. Milk FAs, especially the concentration of omega-3 (n3) and omega-6 (n6) FAs, were different between farming systems, while conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and C18:1t11 (tVA)-concentration was mainly influenced by season (pasture). FES-parameters showed slight seasonal variations, but strong farming-system impacts. Differentiation between the three farming systems was possible for 81% of the samples by using FAs as variables. FES-parameters discriminated up to 86% of the samples, and, in combination, 93% of the samples were classified correctly. These results indicated that FES-results contributed to correct discrimination and that FES-results may be linked with qualities different to the FA profile.
Jenifer Wohlers; Peter Stolz. Differentiation between milk from low-input biodynamic, intermediate-input organic and high-input conventional farming systems using fluorescence excitation spectroscopy (FES) and fatty acids. Biological Agriculture & Horticulture 2019, 35, 172 -186.
AMA StyleJenifer Wohlers, Peter Stolz. Differentiation between milk from low-input biodynamic, intermediate-input organic and high-input conventional farming systems using fluorescence excitation spectroscopy (FES) and fatty acids. Biological Agriculture & Horticulture. 2019; 35 (3):172-186.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJenifer Wohlers; Peter Stolz. 2019. "Differentiation between milk from low-input biodynamic, intermediate-input organic and high-input conventional farming systems using fluorescence excitation spectroscopy (FES) and fatty acids." Biological Agriculture & Horticulture 35, no. 3: 172-186.