The microbiota of ensiled forages and of bulk tank milk on dairy cattle farms in northern Sweden.

Factors contributing to variations in the quality and microbiota of ensiled forages and in bulk tank microbiota in milk from cows fed different forages were investigated. Nutritional quality, fermentation parameters and hygiene quality of forage samples and corresponding bulk tank milk samples collected in 3 periods from 18 commercial farms located in northern Sweden were compared. Principal coordinates analysis revealed that the microbiota in forage and bulk milk, analyzed using 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing, were significantly different.

Associations between the Bacterial Composition of Farm Bulk Milk and the Microbiota in the Resulting Swedish Long-Ripened Cheese.

The maturation of a traditional Swedish long-ripened cheese has shown increasing variation in recent years and the ripening time is now generally longer than in the past. While the cheese is reliant on non-starter lactic acid bacteria for the development of its characteristic flavour, we hypothesised that the observed changes could be due to variations in the microbiota composition and number of bacteria in the raw milk used for production of the cheese. To evaluate associations between microbiota in the raw milk and the resulting cheese, three clusters of commercial farms were created to increase variation in the microbiota of dairy silo milk used for cheese production.

Milking system and premilking routines have a strong effect on the microbial community in bulk tank milk.

In this study, we investigated the variation in the microbial community present in bulk tank milk samples and the potential effect of different farm management factors. Bulk tank milk samples were collected repeatedly over one year from 42 farms located in northern Sweden. Total and thermoresistant bacteria counts and 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing were used to characterize microbial community composition.

Composition and properties of bovine milk: A study from dairy farms in northern Sweden; Part II. Effect of monthly variation.

This study investigated the influence of monthly variation on the composition and properties of raw farm milk collected as part of a full-scale cheese-making trial in a region in northern Sweden. In our companion paper, the contribution of on-farm factors to the variation in milk quality attributes is described. In total, 42 dairy farms were recruited for the study, and farm milk samples were collected monthly over 1 yr and characterized for quality attributes of importance for cheese making.

Composition and properties of bovine milk: A study from dairy farms in northern Sweden; Part I. Effect of dairy farming system.

This study was part of a larger project that aimed to understand the causes for increasing variation in cheese ripening in a cheese-producing region in northern Sweden. The influence of different on-farm factors on raw milk composition and properties was investigated and is described in this paper, whereas the monthly variation in the milk quality traits during 1 yr is described in our companion paper. The dairy farming systems on a total of 42 dairy farms were characterized through a questionnaire and farm visits.