Invited review: A 2020 perspective on pasture-based dairy systems and products

peer-reviewedGrazing pasture is the basis for dairy production systems in regions with temperate climates, such as in Ireland, New Zealand, parts of Australia, the United States, and Europe. Milk and dairy products from cows on pasture-based farms predominantly consuming fresh grazed grass (typically classified as “grass-fed” milk) have been previously shown to possess a different nutrient profile, with potential nutritional benefits, compared with conventional milk derived from total mixed ration. Moreover, pasture-based production systems are considered more environmentally and animal welfare friendly by consumers. As such, there is significant potential for market capitalization on grass-fed dairy products. As competition in this space increases, the regulations of what constitutes as grass-fed vary between different regions of the world. With this in mind, there is a need for clear and independently accredited grass-fed standards, defining the grass-fed criteria for labeling of products as such, subsequently increasing the clarity and confidence for the consumer. This review outlines the numerous effects of pasture production systems on dairy product composition, nutritional profile, and sustainability, and highlights potential future methods for authentication

The impact of the Maillard reaction on the in vitro proteolytic breakdown of bovine lactoferrin in adults and infants

The Maillard reaction has been proposed as a natural pathway to functionalize proteins and modulate their proteolysis. Nevertheless, gaps in understanding the digestive fate of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) still exist, especially regarding bioactive proteins such as lactoferrin (LF). UV absorbance and SDS-PAGE were used to monitor reaction progression under mild thermal processing (60 °C, 79% RH). Dynamic light scatteringshowed that MRPs had increased colloidal size and turbidity at 3 < pH < 10. FRAP analysis and in vitro digestion experiments demonstrated that MRPs possessed improved antioxidant capacity and higher susceptibility to proteolysis to varying extents under adult conditions compared to infant conditions. Proteomic analyses of MRP digesta revealed altered enzymatic cleavage patterns with no pronounced changes in the formation of known bioactive peptides. These also indicated that MRPs may breakdown in the gastro-intestinal tract to potentially form novel bioactive peptides. Overall, this work highlights that the Maillard reaction could be harnessed to modify the extent of proteolysis and bioactivity of proteins