title: Pasture feeding conventional cows removes differences between organic and conventionally produced milk.
abstract: Perceptions of production methods for organic and conventional milk are changing, with consumers prepared to pay premium prices for milk from either certified organic or conventional grass-fed cows. Our study investigated whether chemical composition differed between milk produced by these two farming systems. Sampling was conducted on two farms sets, each comprised of one organic and one conventional farm. All farms applied year-round pasture grazing. Milk samples were collected throughout the milking season and analysed for free oligosaccharides, fatty acids, major casein and whey proteins, and milk fat volatiles. Fatty acids were influenced by breed and fertilizer application. Oligosaccharides differed between farming systems, with causes presently unknown, while farm set was the dominant influence factor on protein composition. Factors identified in this study influencing milk composition are not exclusive to either farming system, and pasture feeding conventional cows will remove differences previously reported for organic and conventionally produced milk.
authors.affiliation: Food and Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand. Electronic address: Heike.Schwendel@agresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: Brigitte H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Schwendel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand. Electronic address: T.J.Wester@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wester
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand. Electronic address: P.C.Morel@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Patrick C H
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Centre, Fonterra, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand. Electronic address: Bertram.Fong@fonterra.com.
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Group, AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. Electronic address: Micheael.Tavendale@agresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tavendale
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Centre, Fonterra, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand. Electronic address: Craig.Deadman@fonterra.com.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deadman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agriculture & Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand. Electronic address: N.M.Shadbolt@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Nicola M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Shadbolt
authors.affiliation: Center for Dairy Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. Electronic address: dotter@cdr.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Don E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Otter
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic / Q000032:analysis*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D005227:Fatty Acids
keywords: Fatty acid; Grass-fed; Mass spectrometry; Milk; Oligosaccharide; Organic; Pasture; Protein