Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality

Causes of welfare reduction in dairy sheep flocks are presented and their impact on ovine milk and cheese quality is discussed. Attention is focused on climatic extremes, poor housing and milking hygiene, and nutritional imbalance: mechanisms are outlined through which stress-induced reduction of im...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: A. Sevi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2010-04-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
Online Access:http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/1577
_version_ 1818515197836394496
author A. Sevi
author_facet A. Sevi
author_sort A. Sevi
collection DOAJ
description Causes of welfare reduction in dairy sheep flocks are presented and their impact on ovine milk and cheese quality is discussed. Attention is focused on climatic extremes, poor housing and milking hygiene, and nutritional imbalance: mechanisms are outlined through which stress-induced reduction of immune function can result in poor milk composition, deteriorated renneting ability of milk and altered proteolysis in cheese during ripening. In particular, the impact is brought out of exposure to high ambient temperature on the nutritional properties of ewe milk, in terms of increased short-chain and saturated fatty acids, and decreased unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio. As well, the relationship is highlighted between ewe welfare and udder health. Especially under poor hygiene conditions the risk of mastitis markedly increases due to reduction of the natural defense mechanisms of the teat and mammary gland and increased number and pathogenicity of the micro-organisms in contact with the entrance of the teat canal. Evidence is provided that rise in milk somatic cell count, in response to bacteria penetration into the udder, can lead to decreased milk yield and altered composition of milk and cheese, due to extensive epithelium secretory cell damage.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T00:25:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1b9270ab8f72410c8a0154031f6e757d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1594-4077
1828-051X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T00:25:56Z
publishDate 2010-04-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Italian Journal of Animal Science
spelling doaj.art-1b9270ab8f72410c8a0154031f6e757d2022-12-22T01:27:34ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2010-04-0161s52152610.4081/ijas.2007.1s.521Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese qualityA. SeviCauses of welfare reduction in dairy sheep flocks are presented and their impact on ovine milk and cheese quality is discussed. Attention is focused on climatic extremes, poor housing and milking hygiene, and nutritional imbalance: mechanisms are outlined through which stress-induced reduction of immune function can result in poor milk composition, deteriorated renneting ability of milk and altered proteolysis in cheese during ripening. In particular, the impact is brought out of exposure to high ambient temperature on the nutritional properties of ewe milk, in terms of increased short-chain and saturated fatty acids, and decreased unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio. As well, the relationship is highlighted between ewe welfare and udder health. Especially under poor hygiene conditions the risk of mastitis markedly increases due to reduction of the natural defense mechanisms of the teat and mammary gland and increased number and pathogenicity of the micro-organisms in contact with the entrance of the teat canal. Evidence is provided that rise in milk somatic cell count, in response to bacteria penetration into the udder, can lead to decreased milk yield and altered composition of milk and cheese, due to extensive epithelium secretory cell damage.http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/1577
spellingShingle A. Sevi
Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality
Italian Journal of Animal Science
title Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality
title_full Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality
title_fullStr Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality
title_full_unstemmed Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality
title_short Ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality
title_sort ewe welfare and ovine milk and cheese quality
url http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/1577
work_keys_str_mv AT asevi ewewelfareandovinemilkandcheesequality