SummaryThe influence of diet quality and stage of lactation on Cheddar cheese moisture and yield were segregated and the effects of other potential variables (cow breed, milk protein genotype, age and level of mastitis) were minimized. An experiment was conducted using milk of cows in mid lactation or late lactation fed on high or low quality diets. Increased moisture in cheese was largely due to the influence of cow diet. Milk from cows given high quality diets produced lower moisture cheese. Cheese yield was influenced by diet and stage of lactation. Cows in late lactation fed on high quality diets always gave milks yielding the most cheese. Fat and protein recovery in cheese was not influenced by diet or stage of lactation. The results suggest that low quality diets may induce changes in the complex interactions of milk proteins and other components that affect cheesemaking.

The effects of supplementing a basal diet of silage and hay with increasing amounts of harvested spring pasture, or with lupin and wheat, on the composition of milk and the consequent effects on cheese composition and yield were investigated in an indoor feeding study. Milk was collected from five groups of eight cows in mid lactation offered different diets and manufactured into Cheddar cheese on a pilot scale. Milk from cows given the lupin–wheat (LW) and the high pasture level (HP) diets produced low moisture cheese. Cheese produced with milk from cows given the control diet was high in moisture content compared with that made with milk from cows offered the LW diet. Cheese yields from the milk of cows offered the HP and LW diets were greater than from the milk of cows on the control diet, and were associated with the higher casein concentrations of these milks. Casein number was higher in milk from diets supplemented with pasture but was not an indicator of the functional properties of milk that affected cheese moisture. The proportion of β-casein in milk from cows offered the HP diet was higher and that of γ-casein lower than in milk from cows given the LW supplement, although cheese moisture content was similar with both diets. Milk from cows offered the HP diet had a greater inorganic P concentration than that from cows given the LW diet, although the dietary intake of P was higher for the LW diet. The significance of the effect of dietary P intake on the concentration of inorganic P in milk and hence its suitability for cheesemaking was apparent when dietary P intake was low, as shown in milk produced by cows offered the control diet.

The effects of supplementing cows' diets with protein and energy on milk composition and the composition and yield of Cheddar cheese were investigated. This research addresses the problems of seasonal reduction in the capacity of cheese curds to expel moisture as observed in parts of south-eastern Australia. Milk was collected from cows offered a basal diet of silage and hay supplemented with different sources and levels of dietary protein and energy. The protein supplements were sunflower, canola, cottonseed meal and lupin, and the energy supplements were maize grain, oats, wheat and barley. This milk was used to manufacture Cheddar cheese on a pilot scale. Cheese moisture content was dependent on the source and level of dietary protein and energy. Milk from cows offered the lupin protein supplements and wheat energy supplements consistently produced cheese with a lower moisture content and moisture in fat-free matter. Milk from these supplemented diets had increased casein concentrations and higher proportions of αs2-casein than milk from the poor quality control diet. Cheese yield was directly related to the total casein concentration of milk, but was not influenced by differences in casein composition. Supplementing the cows' diets increased the inorganic P, Mg and Ca concentrations in milk. A low inorganic P concentration in milk from cows offered the control diet was caused by a low intake of dietary P. These findings showed that changes in the mineral and casein composition of milk, associated with diet, could influence the composition of Cheddar cheese.

Objective: Research studies have shown that early intensive behaviour intervention is an effective treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However a research-to-practice gap exists, whereby the interventions effective in universitybased studies are not implemented effectively in community settings. The current study is an audit of outcomes achieved by children with ASD who have completed a community-based early intensive behaviour intervention program in Australia. Method: The educational placement of 45 participants, following an average 20 hr of intervention per week for 24 months is reported. Standardised assessment results at entry and exit from intervention are reported for a subset of 32 participants. Results: On average the 32 participants demonstrated statistically significant increases in receptive and expressive language, cognitive, and adaptive behaviour skills. Three outcome groups emerged; a 'substantial gain' group (45%), 'moderate gain' group (27.5%), and a 'minimal gain' group (27.5%). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that by implementing 'best practice' early intensive behaviour intervention in a not-for-profit, community-based setting, children with ASD can achieve outcomes comparable to those reported in university-based research.