Somatic cell count and total bacterial count increased under the CBDB system. No differences were found for other milk variables between the two systems. Milk was of a higher quality in winter and spring compared with summer and autumn.

The aim of the present study was to monitor cow milk quality and composition in two farms in the Noroeste Rio-grandense mesoregion, located in the municipalities of Palmeira das Missões and Pinhal - RS. Both herds were mixed, with animals of the Holstein (70%) and Jersey (30%) breeds. The following overall parameters were evaluated: body condition score (BCS), udder dirtiness, and calving order, and the following milk composition factors were measured: total dry extract (TDE), defatted dry extract (DDE), milk lactose, fat, and protein contents, casein, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), and somatic cell count (SCC). Multivariate statistical analysis was performed, and four factors were identified representing combinations of the measured variables. The first factor comprised negative relationships between milk production and cow breed, milk fat content, and milk protein content. The second factor comprised the positive relationships between lactation days and body condition score and milk protein content. The third factor represented the negative relationships between milk lactose content and SCC score, calving order, and BCS. The fourth factor was composed of the positive relationship between delivery order and udder dirtiness. Cluster analysis revealed that individual cows could be categorized into three groups. Monitoring the breed, calving order, body condition score, lactation days, milk production, fat, protein, and lactose contents, somatic cell counts, and udder dirtiness in cows allows greater control of the herd, allowing potential shortcomings to be rectified quickly and economic losses to production to be minimized.

This longitudinal retrospective study evaluated production and composition of milk from dairy cows according to season on a rural property in Palmeira das Missões, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between January 2009 and December 2016. Milk yield per hectare per month was the primary variable measured, along with chemical composition (total dry extract, defatted dry extract, fat, protein, and lactose), somatic cell count, and total bacterial count of milk. Production in summer (513.53 kg/ha/month) did not differ (p > 0.05) from that in fall (504.69 kg/ha/month) or spring (564.63 kg/ha/month), but production in winter (639.20 kg/ha/month) was significantly higher than in summer (p < 0.0057). The real price of milk did not differ (p > 0.05) among seasons. The total dry extract content differed (p < 0.0059) between seasons. However, the cooler fall and winter seasons favored the production of total solids. The defatted dry extract content was higher (p < 0.0001) in winter (8.65%), compared to the other seasons of the year. Fat content did not differ (p > 0.05) among seasons. Protein content differed (p < 0.0200) between summer (3.01%) and winter (3.16%), but both seasons did not differ (p > 0.05) from fall (3.13%) or spring (3.05%). Winter lactose levels (4.52%) were higher (p < 0.0011) than during other seasons. The somatic cell count did not differ (p > 0.05) among seasons, demonstrating that the evaluated herd possesses standard mammary gland health. The total bacterial count did not differ (p > 0.05) among the seasons, demonstrating that the hygiene of the facilities remains constant. As expected, the temperature and humidity index varied (p < 0.0001) with the seasons, and the deleterious effects were more pronounced in summer and spring, as they are the hottest seasons in humid subtropical environments. The results emphasize that the organized management of milk production reduces the variation in milk composition, making it easier to maintain a consistent high milk quality and also generating extra revenue.

Pastures are a primary source of feed for ruminants, which convert fibrous plants into nutritionally valuable foods for humans, such as meat and milk. However, it is important to understand the nutrient content of different fodder crops for ruminants and its effect on meat, milk, and milk products. We aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer doses in topdressing on nutrient production in pastures of Triticale BRS Saturno. The experimental design was a randomized block with five replications. Descriptive statistics of yields per hectare were determined, and a simple linear regression was carried out at the level of 5% significance. The different nitrogen topdressing rates (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha-1) influenced the production (P < 0.05) of dry matter, total carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, crude protein, soluble protein, insoluble protein in neutral and acid detergent, protein degradability, ether extract, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids, neutral detergent fiber digestibility after incubation for 24, 30, and 48 h, and the neutral detergent fiber degradation rate. The different doses of nitrogen fertilizer in topdressing in the form of urea increased nutrient production in pastures of Triticale BRS Saturno, mainly in relation to total carbohydrates and neutral and acid detergent fiber. To a lesser extent, it also significantly interfered with the production of nitrogenous constituents and fatty acids.