Development of a regional-scale library of near infrared reflectance soil spectra for alternative assessment of soil characteristics in Southern Belgium

In Walloon Region (Southern Belgium), five routine soil laboratories are grouped within a network promoting a better quality in analysis (www.requasud.be). The harmonization of protocols as well as methodological or technical prospective are realized under scientifically supervision of our research laboratory. In this context, a study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the NIRS to predict some soil properties: CEC, TOC, TN and clay content. The initial models were elaborated upon local PLS regression on set of 1 300 soil samples. The local PLS calibration used allows an accurate prediction of the soil properties and precision of NIRS technique is comparable to reference analytical metho

Espectroscopía: Desarrollo en instrumentación y análisis

This review presents the characteristics, advantages, limits and potential of three spectroscopic techniques: near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The theoretical aspects related with these techniques, the information that can supplied and the main features of the instrumentation are presented and briefly discussed. The last part of the review concerns the application of the spectroscopy to food analysis, with special emphasis on the lipid analysis. The illustrations and examples have been chosen to demonstrate the importance of spectroscopic techniques both in process (on-line) control and in laboratories for the analysis of major or minor compounds.Este artículo de revisión presenta las características, ventajas, límites y potencial de tres técnicas espectroscópicas: las espectroscopias del infrarrojo cercano, del medio infrarrojo y Raman. Se presentan, y discuten brevemente, los aspectos teóricos relacionados con estas técnicas, la información que pueden suministrar, y las principales características de la instrumentación. La última parte de la revisión esta dedicada a las aplicaciones de la espectroscopia en análisis de alimentos, con especial énfasis en análisis de lípidos. La ilustraciones y los ejemplos se han elegido para demostrar la importancia de las técnicas espectroscópicas en los procesos en-línea y en los laboratorios en el análisis de componentes mayoritarios y minoritarios

Overview of possibilities and challenges of the use of infrared spectrometry in cattle breeding

peer reviewedNear or mid-infrared (NIR or MIR) spectrometry is a versatile and cost-efficient technology used in cattle production to trace the chemical composition of gases, liquids and solid matters. Recent research showed the potential of MIR spectrometry in milk to predict many different milk components but also status and well-being of the cows, quality of their products, their efficiency and their environmental impact. Under changing socio-economic circumstances, novels traits could help to select for enlarged breeding objectives. But the following challenges need to be overcome: (1) access to and harmonization of MIR data; (2) availability of reference values representing the variability to be described, also highlighting the importance of international collaborations; (3) difficulties to obtain, but also to transfer prediction equations between instruments; (4) modeling of the massive longitudinal data generated; (5) estimation of parameters to assess phenotypic and genetic variability and links with other traits leading to the; (6) assessment of the position of novel traits in breeding objectives. Recent research reported how to address these issues for traits close to routine use including fatty acids and methane. Expected future developments include direct use of MIR data and multivariate modeling of novel traits. Similarly, genomic prediction for novel traits, which are limited by the availability of phenotyped reference populations, will also benefit from the use of correlated, MIR predicted, traits. Currently, MIR instruments can only be used in the frame of milk recording and not on-farm. But recent research showed that NIR is closing the gap thereby allowing advances in precise on-farm phenotyping and giving new opportunities for breeding, but also management. Possibilities for the use of infrared technologies for other trait groups such as meat composition and quality should allow cross-fostering of developments

Variability of major fatty acid contents in Luxembourg dairy cattle

Common human health concerns and imminent needs for more sustainable nutrition patterns require from dairy industry and farmers a. o. a closer look at milk fatty acid (FA) profile. Therefore up to date calibration equations using mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometry were developed permitting the estimation of FA contents in bovine milk. The aim of this study was to estimate the variability of the major FA from data collected during the Luxembourg routine milk recording. A total of 148,296 milk samples with MIR-spectra were collected from October 2007 to January 2009 on 36,522 cows belonging to 5 breeds in 718 herds and scanned by Foss MilkoScan FT6000. The contents of saturated FA, monounsaturated FA, omega-9, short chain FA, medium chain FA, and long chain FA were obtained using Belgian MIR calibration equations. Analyzes were done by a multi-trait multi-lactation animal mixed models. Fixed effects were herd*test date, lactation stage lactation number, age*lactation number, and breed effect. Random effects were herd*year of calving, permanent environment within and across lactation, animal effect, and residual effect. Breed differences as well as lactation effects were observed. Our results showed moderate heritability values suggesting the existence of a FA genetic variability. The variability of the first Luxembourg breeding values was large enough to develop selection tools for improving the nutritional quality of bovine milk fat.Peer reviewe

Genetic variability of lactoferrin content estimated by mid-infrared spectrometry in bovine milk

The effects of lactoferrin (LF) on the immune system have already been shown by many studies. Unfortunately, the current methods used to measure LF levels in milk do not permit the study of the genetic variability of lactoferrin or the performance of routine genetic evaluations. The first aim of this research was to derive a calibration equation permitting the prediction of LF in milk by mid-infrared spectrometry (MIR). The calibration with partial least squares on 69 samples showed a ratio of standard error of cross-validation to standard deviation equal to 1.98. Based on this value, the calibration equation was used to establish an LF indicator trait (predicted LF; pLF) on a large number of milk samples (n = 7,690). A subsequent study of its variability was conducted, which confirmed that stage of lactation and lactation number influence the overall pLF level. Small differences in mean pLF among 7 dairy breeds were also observed. The pLF content of Jersey milk was significantly higher than that in Holstein milk. Therefore, the choice of breed could change the expected LF level. Heritability estimated for pLF was 19.7%. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between somatic cell score and pLF were 0.04 and 0.26, respectively. As somatic cell score increases in presence of mastitis, this observation seems to indicate that pLF, or a function of observed pLF, compared with expected LF might have potential as an indicator of mastitis. The negative genetic correlation (−0.36) between milk yield and pLF could indicate an undesirable effect of selection for high milk production on the overall LF level

Mid-infrared predictions of cheese yield from bovine milk

audience: researcher, professiona