Effect of Intensification Practices, Lambing Period and Environmental Parameters on Animal Health, and Milk Yield and Quality in Dairy Sheep Production Systems on Crete

Abstract

Due to increasing demand, many traditional, grazing-based Mediterranean sheep production systems have introduced intensified feeding regimes, increased investments in infrastructure and drug use to increase milk yields. However, compared to bovine milk production systems, there is limited knowledge about the impact of these intensification practices on animal welfare and health and on the quality of dairy products. The aim of this study was therefore to quantify the effects of management practices and environmental conditions background on udder health, parasitism and milk quantity and quality in Cretan traditional production systems. Milk yields were higher in semi-intensive production systems while concentrations of several nutritionally desirable compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids were found to be higher in milk from extensive systems. Antibiotic and anthelmintic use was relatively low in both extensive and semi-intensive production systems. There was no substantial difference in parasitic burden, somatic cell counts, and microbiological parameters assessed in milk. Recording of flock health parameters showed that animal health and welfare was high in both extensive and semi-intensively managed flocks, and that overall, the health status of extensively managed ewes was slightly better. In contrast, environmental conditions (temperature and rainfall) had a substantial effect on parasitism and milk quality.

Integrated Soil and Crop Management in Organic Agriculture: A Logical Framework to Ensure Food Quality and Human Health?

“…It is important to consider that there is also increasing evidence that the intensification of conventional livestock production had negative effects on the nutritional composition of both milk and meat [222,[241][242][243][244][245][246][247][248][249][250][251]. For example, studies which compared low-input and/or organic with intensive conventional livestock production systems have shown that the increased use of (i) cereal and grain/legume-based concentrate feeds, (ii) indoor production, (iii) high-yield potential dairy breeds, (iv) selection for high milk yield within breeds, and/or (iv) robotic milking systems in conventional systems may:…”

“…Reduce concentrations of nutritionally desirable omega-3 fatty acids in milk and meat, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), carotenoids and vitamin E in milk; • Increase levels of nutritionally undesirable saturated fatty acids (e.g., myristic and palmitic acid) in meat [222,[241][242][243][244][245][246][247][248][249][250][251].…”

Dairy Processing: The Soft Spreadable Cheese Xygalo Siteias

“…It's not actually a surprise that within the evaluation of the substantial expected benefits coming from the European protection regulations and of other costs related to the PDO/PGI, there may be more factors across the supply chains (i.e., the austerity of certification procedures), that producers have to evaluate in order to continue or not, to comply to a PDO/PGI scheme [26]. Furthermore, we express our opinion that the actual milk quality (http://www.minagric.gr/images/stories/ docs/agrotis/POP-PGE/prodiagr_xygalo_siteias.pdf, accessed on 25 November 2021) in the Siteia area has to be monitored in more detail [27] concerning chemical/biochemical and cell count parameters, seasonal fluctuation etc. ; beyond the basic microbiological and adulteration tests carried out by the laboratories of the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food.…”

Diet, but not food type, significantly affects micronutrient and toxic metal profiles in urine and/or plasma; a randomized, controlled intervention trial

“…Mediterranean diets are well documented to change dietary fatty acid intake (e.g. increase oleic acid intake due to higher olive oil consumption) with the Med Diet was substantially lower than with the habitual Western Diets and (c) most of the dairy and meat products consumed were from organic and conventional small ruminant production systems in Crete, which use similar extensive or semi-intensive grazing based feeding regimes and therefore produce products with similar fatty acid profiles (39).…”