Prospective life cycle assessment of climate and biodiversity impacts of meat-based and plant-forward meals: A case study of Indonesian and German meal options.

The emerging field of prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) offers opportunities for evaluating the environmental impacts of possible future consumption shifts. One such shift involves a transition from meat-based to plant-forward diets, acknowledged to mitigate environmental impacts of the food system under present day conditions. Current diets are often meat intensive ("meat-based"), whilst "plant-forward" diets include mainly plant-based foods, encompassing flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets.

Effects of lysine and methionine on mRNA expression of candidate transcription factors by primary bovine mammary epithelial cells.

It has been established that essential amino acids (EAA) regulate protein synthesis in mammary epithelial cells by rapidly altering the phosphorylation state of translation factors. However, the long-term transcriptional response to EAA supply has been investigated much less. Eight transcription factors were selected as candidate mediators of EAA effects on mammary cell function via the amino acid response (ATF4, ATF6), mitogen-activated protein kinase (JUN, FOS, EGR1), and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (MYC, HIF1A, SREBF1).

Longitudinal characterization of the muscle metabolome in dairy cows during the transition from lactation cessation to lactation resumption.

Skeletal muscle is vital in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and adapting to the physiological needs of pregnancy and lactation. Despite advancements in understanding metabolic changes in dairy cows around calving and early lactation, there are still gaps in our knowledge, especially concerning muscle metabolism and the changes associated with drying off. This study aimed to characterize the skeletal muscle metabolome in the context of the dietary and metabolic changes occurring during the transition from the cessation of lactation to the resumption of lactation in dairy cows.

Feed restriction of lactating cows triggers acute downregulation of mammary mammalian target of rapamycin signaling and chronic reduction of mammary epithelial mass.

While there is generally no consensus about how nutrients determine milk synthesis in the mammary gland, it is likely that the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) plays a role as a key integrator of nutritional and mitogenic signals that can influence a multitude of catabolic and anabolic pathways. The objectives of this study were to evaluate acute changes (<24 h) in translational signaling, in addition to chronic changes (14 d) in mammary gland structure and composition, in response to a severe feed restriction. Fourteen lactating Holstein dairy cows were assigned to either ad libitum feeding (n = 7) or a restricted feeding program (n = 7).

Longitudinal characterization of the metabolome of dairy cows transitioning from one lactation to the next: Investigations in the liver.

This study aimed to investigate the metabolic changes in the livers of dairy cows from 1 wk before dry off to 1 wk after calving. Twelve high-yielding Holstein cows were included in a longitudinal study and housed in a tiestall barn. The cows were dried off at 6 wk before the expected calving date (dry period length = 42 d).