Essential oil blends (EOBs) have been increasingly studied for their multifunctional benefits in animal nutrition and food science. This study evaluates the impact of an EOB composed of eucalyptus and peppermint oil on the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of dairy products—milk, cream, and colonial cheese. Forty lactating cows were assigned to two groups: control and EOB addition (3.6 mL/cow/day) on the diet. Sensory analysis showed that the addition of EOB does not significantly alter milk or cream characteristics but enhances cheese texture perception. Fatty acid analysis revealed a higher proportion of SFA and lower UFA in cheese produced from the EOB group. Additionally, the EOB reduced lipid oxidation throughout the ripening process, with significantly lower TBARS values at 45 days of maturation (0.1300), compared to those from cows without supplementation of EOB (0.1585), suggesting improved oxidative stability. Microbiome analysis indicated that the bacterial community composition remained stable, with a slight reduction in Streptococcus spp. in EOB cheeses. No drastic shifts in microbial diversity were detected, and a lower overall abundance of bacterial taxa was observed in the EOB group. Results suggest that EOBs in dairy cow diets may positively modulate dairy product characteristics and alter the microbiota without compromising sensory quality. This study highlights the technological potential of EOB supplementation in dairy production.

Colonial cheese production represents a valuable cultural and economic activity in southern Brazil. This study evaluated the effect of oral supplementation of dairy cows with an essential oil blend (EOB)—a combination of eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, and menthol crystals—on the chemical composition and quality parameters of Colonial cheese during 21 days of ripening. Nine dairy cows were randomly assigned to three groups: control, EOB3.6 (3.6 g/cow/day), and EOB7.2 (7.2 g/cow/day). Milk from each treatment was used to produce Colonial cheeses, which were analyzed for physicochemical composition, texture, color, lipid profile, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and microbiological quality at different ripening stages. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS^® software, following verification of normality and homogeneity of variances. When assumptions were met, repeated-measures ANOVA was applied, and means were compared using Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). Sensory data were evaluated by ANOVA using XLSTAT^® (Addinsoft, Paris, France). EOB supplementation maintained the physicochemical integrity of the cheeses, with a gradual increase in fat content during maturation (40 g/100 g at 21 days, p < 0.05). At seven days, the EOB7.2 treatment showed lower lipid oxidation (TBARS = 0.063, p < 0.05), indicating antioxidant potential. Significant interactions between treatment and maturation were observed for color parameters and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (p < 0.05). Cheeses from EOB7.2 presented higher saturated fatty acids (SFA) and lower unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) compared with the control (p < 0.05). No Salmonella spp. or Staphylococcal enterotoxins were detected. Counts of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, molds, and yeasts remained stable, while Escherichia coli counts were lower in EOB-supplemented cheeses throughout ripening. Overall, EOB supplementation improved oxidative stability and microbiological safety without compromising the technological or compositional quality of Colonial cheese.

Os ruminantes quando criados em sistemas intensivos e submetidos à presença de variáveis que potencializam o estresse, podem desenvolver estereotipias comportamentais. Além disso, dietas fornecidas em confinamento apresentam menos volumoso em comparação a dietas forrageiras que os bovinos consomem enquanto estão ao pasto. Essas alterações da dieta afetam o tempo de ingestão e quando submetidos a sistemas confinados, os animais utilizam menos tempo engajados em comportamentos alimentares, fatores esses que podem contribuir para aparecimento de comportamentos anormais. Ainda, é escasso o número de informações sobre essas situações, sendo assim o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar se a inclusão de um produto homeopático poderia minimizar os comportamentos anormais, considerando dois sistemas de criação (confinamento e semiconfinamento) e análises pré e pós-alimentação. Diante disso, foram utilizadas 14 novilhas da raça Jersey com 12 meses de idade, divididas em dois grupos de sete animais cada. O estudo teve duração de 60 dias, sendo que os primeiros 30 dias em sistema de semiconfinamento (acesso à pastagem) e os últimos 30 dias em confinamento. Por um observador, três vezes na semana (segundas, quartas e sextas-feiras) foram feitas coletas de dados comportamentais antes e após alimentação vespertina. Ao final de cada etapa (dias 28, 29 e 30; e dias 58, 59 e 60) foi observado o comportamento das novilhas, três vezes ao dia, com duração de 50min cada, por até três avaliadores. Dentre os resultados obtidos, a vocalização apresentou 66% menos chance de ocorrência para grupo tratamento. O tipo de sistema de criação afetou o perfil comportamental das novilhas, principalmente quando observado a estereotipia oral de enrolar a língua nos animais alojados em sistemas confinados. O sistema de criação também teve influência sob a ruminação, apresentando 77% menos chance de ocorrência para animais confinados. Outros comportamentos (em repouso e lambendo outros animais) também foram influenciados pelo sistema de criação. Com exceção do enrolar a língua, todos os outros comportamentos animais tiveram efeito do momento de observação, antes ou depois da alimentação. A partir desses resultados constata-se influência do sistema semiconfinado sobre a maior ocorrência de comportamentos naturais como a ruminação e repouso, sugerindo que nesse sistema os animais estão submetidos a maiores condições de conforto, e por consequência, apresentam menos estereotipias. Ruminants, when raised in intensive systems and presented with variables that potentiate stress, can develop behavioral stereotypes. In addition, the diets present less bulky confinement compared to forage diets while cattle consume pasture. These dietary changes, or behavioral factors, can contribute to more confined behavior behavior and when animals use fewer behaviors or factors that can contribute to more reliable behavior behavior. Still, the amount of information on these situations is scarce, so the objective was to evaluate whether a study of inclusion of an animal, in the diet of non-inclusion of a history of animal behavior, can reduce the risk of abnormal behavior, considering two to reduce abnormal behavior patterns rearing system (confinement and semi-confinement) and pre- and post-feeding exams. Fourteen were used in the Face of this, the Jersey breed with 12 months of age, fortresses in two groups of seven each. The study lasted 60 days, with the first 30 days in a semi-confinement system (Jersey with access to pasture) and the last 30 days in confinement. By an observer, three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) behavioral data were collected before and after the afternoon feeding. At the end of each stage (days 28, 29 and 30; and days 58, 59 and 60), two or three observers collected heifer behavior three times a day, with each observation lasting 50 minutes. Among the results obtained, vocalization was 66% less likely to occur for the treatment group. The influence system to curl the tongue, being this abnormal behavior more present in the confined system during the experimental period. The system also had under rumination, presenting 77% less chance of occurrence for confined animals. Other behaviors (on sandbanks and licking other animals) were also influenced by the breeding system. With the exception of tongue curl, all other animals kept from the moment, that is, effect before and after feeding. From an observation of the influence of the semi-confined system on the occurrence of natural behavior and as a result of the restriction, suggesting that this system is protected by greater conditions of less comfort, it presents stereotypic results. Los rumiantes, cuando son criados en sistemas intensivos y sometidos a la presencia de variables que aumentan el estrés, pueden desarrollar estereotipos de comportamiento. Además, las dietas alimentadas en confinamiento contienen menos fibra en comparación con las dietas forrajeras que el ganado consume mientras está en pasto. Estos cambios en la dieta afectan el tiempo de ingestión y cuando se los somete a sistemas confinados, los animales pasan menos tiempo dedicados a conductas alimentarias, factores que pueden contribuir a la aparición de conductas anormales. Además, existe poca información sobre estas situaciones, por lo que el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si la inclusión de un producto homeopático podría minimizar comportamientos anormales, considerando dos sistemas de cría (confinamiento y semiconfinamiento) y análisis pre y post alimentación. . Para ello...