Journal of Dairy Science最新文献

{"title":"Genome-wide association and functional genomic analyses for udder conformation traits derived from data recorded by robotic milking systems in American Holstein cattle.","authors":"Gabriel C Medeiros, Jose Bento S Ferraz, Luis Paulo B Sousa, Shi-Yi Chen, Aroa Suárez-Vega, Victor B Pedrosa, Hinayah R Oliveira, Luiz F Brito","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-26906","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-26906","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The implementation of automatic milking systems (AMS) in modern dairy farming has significantly facilitated genetic evaluation of udder conformation traits in dairy cattle. As AMS-based udder conformation traits are highly heritable in Holstein cattle, this study aimed to identify genomic regions, QTL, and genes significantly associated with 3 udder conformation traits derived from Cartesian coordinates recorded by AMS in American Holstein cows. The traits evaluated included udder depth (UD), udder balance (UB), and distance front-rear (DFR). Phenotypic data consisted of 4,232,026 visit records to 36 Lely Astronaut A5 AMS robots for 4,280 American Holstein cows. A total of 4,118 cows also had genomic information for 57,598 SNPs. The SNP effects, together with their approximate P-values and proportion of the total additive genetic variance explained by them, were back solved from the GEBV using the POSTGSF90 software. Multiple testing correction was applied using a modified Bonferroni method based on the number of independent chromosomal segments, and functional enrichment analyses were performed for the candidate positional genes and QTL. We identified 5 (BTA4, BTA22, and BTA29), 15 (BTA2, BTA8, BTA9, BTA15, BTA18, BTA23, and BTA26), and 19 (BTA1, BTA4, BTA6, BTA9, BTA10, BTA14, BTA17, BTA18, BTA23, and BTA25) genome-wide SNPs significantly associated with UB, DFR, and UD, respectively. There were no significant SNPs capturing more than 0.5% of the total additive genetic variance, highlighting the highly polygenic nature of these traits. The candidate genes overlapping with these genomic regions were previously reported to have biological functions that included but were not limited to transcription regulation, DNA repair mechanisms, inflammatory responses, epithelial differentiation processes, nutrient transport, extracellular matrix stabilization, cell division, and immune regulation. The strongest candidate genes associated with udder conformation traits are AFM, AFP, CREBBP, NLRP12, SP3, EBF2, B4GALT1, HDAC9, CDK13, and KDM2A. Furthermore, many QTL known to be associated with various milk production, reproduction, and health traits overlapped with the significant SNPs identified in this study. In summary, we identified significant genetic markers, candidate genes, and genomic regions associated with these traits, offering insights into the genetic architecture underlying udder conformation in Holstein cattle and its implications for dairy production.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the effect of total and differential somatic cell traits on the mineral profile of milk from individual dairy cows.","authors":"Davide Valoppi, Giorgia Stocco, Andrea Summer, Giovanni Niero, Mauro Penasa, Michela Ablondi, Claudio Cipolat-Gotet","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-27303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-27303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite the routine use of SCS and differential somatic cell count (DSCC) as indirect udder health indicators, few studies explored how these 2 traits and their interaction can affect milk quality, especially in terms of mineral elements. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of SCS, DSCC, and their interaction on the concentration and daily excretion of major minerals (Ca, Mg, K, S, P, Cl, and Na) in bovine milk. A total of 1,060 Brown Swiss cows from 53 commercial herds in northern Italy were individually sampled over a 14-mo period. Milk samples were analyzed for composition using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, for SCC and DSCC using flow cytometry, and for mineral concentrations using wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence. Daily mineral quantities (dMQ, g/d) were calculated by multiplying mineral concentration by milk yield (MY). Two mixed linear models were applied: The first assessed mineral concentrations and included MY among the fixed effects; the second model, applied to dMQ traits, excluded MY because it was already integrated into the dependent variable. Results showed that both SCS and DSCC significantly influenced milk mineral concentrations, with Na and P being the most affected. An increase in SCS was associated with an increase of Na, Cl, and P, and a decrease of K concentration. Differential somatic cell count had a larger mineral-specific effect, significantly influencing Na and P concentrations, but not dMQ. The most consistent response was observed for Na, whose concentration increased with SCS, especially in cows with low DSCC. This interaction suggests a potential chronic inflammatory condition and a loss of blood-milk barrier integrity, leading to altered ions transport. Daily mineral outputs were negatively associated with increasing SCS, with Ca, P, K, Mg, and S showing reduced secretion, mainly due to decreased MY in inflamed animals. These findings highlight that, beyond dilution effects, high SCS in milk may reflect a compromised mineral secretion efficiency. The interaction between SCS and DSCC significantly affected the concentrations of Na and Cl, although less pronounced in terms of dMQ, revealing a synergistic effect of SCS and DSCC on milk mineral composition. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that milk mineral profile is significantly influenced by SCS, DSCC, and their interaction, suggesting their valuable use as indicators of udder health and as potential contributors to variations in milk quality traits relevant to dairy processing. These results support the integration of DSCC alongside SCC in routine herd health monitoring and milk quality assessment programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of lactic acid bacteria coculture on the quality characteristics of goat cheese during ripening.","authors":"Zhihong Chen, Wenjing Xie, Zili Wei, Bulei Sheng, Xiuheng Xue, Sihan Chen","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-26760","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-26760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Goat cheese is a nutritionally rich product, but it is often associated with a distinctive \"goaty\" flavor due to volatile compounds such as short-chain fatty acids. Traditional fermentation agents have limited efficacy in enhancing both texture and flavor. In this study, a mixed starter culture composed of the indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SY6 and Latilactobacillus curvatus GC1, both with verified probiotic characteristics, was developed from fresh goat cheese to enhance overall quality. The coculture significantly improved curd formation, texture, and flavor profiles. It promoted protein hydrolysis and increased levels of free amino acids, particularly those responsible for umami flavors, such as glutamic acid. Additionally, it regulated the formation of volatile compounds, reducing undesirable acids such as butyric and caproic acids while promoting beneficial esters and alcohols, such as ethyl octanoate. Volatile component analysis during cheese ripening showed an improved flavor profile in cheeses produced with the GC1SY6(+) mixed LAB starter. This study concluded that a mixed LAB starter with confirmed probiotic functions can effectively enhance the physicochemical properties, texture, and flavor of goat cheese, presenting a promising approach for enhancing local dairy products.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An effective way to incorporate temperature-humidity index to study effect of heat stress on milk yield by an XGBoost machine learning model.","authors":"M F Hasan, N Celik, Y Williams, S R O Williams, L C Marett","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-27193","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-27193","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Commercial dairy farms face major challenges in safeguarding animal welfare and overall farm sustainability from environmental heat stressors. As climate change drives increased temperatures in many places, it is essential to predict the potential effects of heat stress on dairy cows to mitigate the adverse impact. This study aimed to develop an eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) machine learning model to predict the daily milk production of 3,369 lactating dairy cows under different climatic conditions across 10 different commercial dairy farms in Australia. The duration of the data set covered early 2019 to mid-2023, with seasonal variations. The model considered a total of 8 input parameters combining the physiological properties of cows as well as temporal and climate variables. In this study, the temperature-humidity index (THI) was incorporated, using a novel approach in which THI mean values of 5 accumulating days were considered. The model considered a mean daily THI ≥55 as a threshold point to identify a potential heat stress day (THI ≥60) and then combined the THI mean of 2 d before and 2 d after to incorporate the before- and after-effects of a potential heat stress day, defined as THI composite. The model was evaluated using combined farm data, regional farm data, and leave-one-farm-out validations, achieving high predictive accuracy (R² up to 0.73; Lin's concordance correlation coefficient up to 0.84). The THI composite metric improved prediction accuracy by up to 21% compared with conventional rolling THI averages, demonstrating its value in forecasting milk yield under heat stress conditions. The model from this study offers a foundation for strategic planning using projected climate data to mitigate future heat-related impacts on dairy productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between time budget of primiparous cows and their adaptation to an automatic milking system following parturition.","authors":"L M Stewart, J E Brasier, T J DeVries","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-27348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-27348","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this study was to identify the differences in the transition period time budget of first-lactation cows that adapt quickly to a free-traffic automatic milking system (AMS) versus those that require more chronic fetching during the adaptation period following calving. A total of 22 primiparous Holstein cows were observed from ∼21 d before calving to 23 DIM, following their adaptation to an AMS. During the prepartum period, heifer time budgets were monitored for rumination, feeding activities, lying behavior, and standing behavior. These same behaviors were monitored in the postpartum period, in addition to various milking metrics, standing at the AMS, and quantification of fetching behavior. Using frequency of individual fetching to the AMS, cows were retrospectively designated as either high fetch (HF; n = 11) or low fetch (LF; n = 11). These categorizations were used to assess differences in the time budget between cows that adapted quickly to the AMS and those that required chronic fetching. A tendency was detected for HF cows to have a slower feeding rate in both the pre- and postpartum periods, and fewer feed bin visits postpartum, which was associated with differences observed in feeding time. A tendency was observed across the transition period for HF cows to ruminate for less time than LF cows, despite similar DMI. An interaction between fetch categorization and DIM was present for milkings and visits to the AMS, where on certain days HF cows had fewer milkings and visits than LF cows. High-fetch cows had lesser milk yield. Overall, the results indicate differences in transition period time budget characteristics between cows who adapt quickly to the AMS and those who require chronic fetching during the adaptation period. Specifically, there may be features of a cow's prepartum time budget that relate to their subsequent ease of adaptation to the AMS, and that in the postpartum period both HF and LF cows adapt their time budget to account for added time inputs of fetch pen time and additional visits to the AMS, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Farmer attitudes and motivation affect their health-seeking behavior in relation to mastitis in dairy cows-A survey on Swedish dairy farms with automatic milking systems.","authors":"Lisa Ekman, Nils Fall, Ulf Emanuelson, Nina Lind","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-27187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-27187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Farmers play a key role in mastitis management, particularly in deciding whether and when to contact a veterinarian or initiate treatment. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate how herd udder health status (measured as average herd SCC), relates to farmers' health-seeking behavior, and how this behavior is influenced by farmers' herd-level udder health perception, perceived control, motivational values, and production system (organic vs. conventional). A survey was distributed to 697 Swedish dairy farmers using automatic milking systems, with 244 complete responses and 164 included in the final analysis. Farmers were presented with 3 mastitis scenarios and categorized into 4 groups based on their treatment intentions. With the self-regulation model of illness as a theoretical framework, we applied a serial multiple mediator model to explore the relationships between objective herd health, psychological constructs, and treatment behavior. Results showed that average herd SCC was not directly associated with farmers' treatment decisions. Instead, herd-level udder health perception, perceived control, and both economic and noneconomic motivation significantly influenced health-seeking behavior. Among organic farmers, perceived control and economic values had a direct effect, although no significant pathway was found among conventional farmers. These findings highlight the importance of addressing farmers' subjective perceptions and motivations in advisory strategies to improve mastitis management and animal welfare outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of increasing dietary palmitic and stearic acid on melting properties of milk fat from Holstein cows.","authors":"A N Homan, G Ziegler, K E Kaylegian, K J Harvatine","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-26837","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-26837","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Palmitic and stearic acid are commonly fed to dairy cows but limited data are available on their effects on thermal properties of milk fat, especially when fed at different levels. Recently, some consumers voiced concerns about butter being harder at room temperature and questioned if it was caused by palmitic acid supplementation of dairy cows. Our hypothesis was that increasing palmitic acid intake would linearly increase palmitic acid in milk fat and, therefore, increase the solid fat content (SFC) of milk fat at 20°C, whereas increasing stearic acid intake would increase both stearic and oleic acid in milk fat and not change the SFC of milk fat at 20°C. A total of 12 second-lactation Holstein cows (106 ± 31 DIM) were arranged in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with a dose escalation design within period and ≥10 d washouts between periods. Treatments included a no-supplement fat control (CON), a fatty acid (FA) supplement high in palmitic acid (PA; 88% palmitic and 8% oleic), and a FA supplement high in stearic acid (SA; 81% stearic and 10% oleic). The FA supplements were fed at increasing doses every 4 d, targeting 150, 300, 500, and 750 g/d. Milk samples were collected on d 3 and 4 of each dose, composited, and milk fat extracted from the fat cake by centrifugation. The FA profile of whole milk was analyzed using GC, and the melting properties of milk fat were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA with preplanned contrasts testing CON versus PA and CON versus SA at each dose level. Increasing PA progressively increased palmitic acid in milk fat, whereas increasing SA progressively increased both stearic and oleic acid. At 750 g/d, PA increased palmitic and palmitoleic acid in milk fat 5.7 and 0.25 percentage units compared with CON, whereas SA increased stearic and oleic acid in milk fat by 2.4 units and 3.0 units compared with CON. The SFC of milk fat at 20°C was linearly increased by PA but was decreased by SA. At the 750 g/d dose, PA increased SFC by 5.3 percentage units, whereas SA decreased it 3.2 percentage units compared with CON. In conclusion, increasing palmitic acid intake increases the SFC of milk fat at room temperature, whereas increasing stearic acid modestly decreases it, likely due to differences in the rates of desaturation of these FA by the stearoyl-CoA desaturase enzyme.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Consumer perception of milk with different fat content: Integrating check-all-that-apply, quantitative descriptive analysis, rate-all-that-apply, and facial emotion analysis.","authors":"Xuelu Chi, Jianfeng Wang, Jian He, Weizhe Wang, Yanmei Xi, Lunaike Zhao, Yufang Su, Aoyi An, Baoguo Sun, Nasi Ai","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-26895","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-26895","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As public concern over the potential health risks associated with high-fat diets intensifies, the market for low-fat dairy is experiencing a surge in demand. However, sensory characteristics, including flavor and mouthfeel, significantly influence consumer preferences, underscoring the importance of understanding how these attributes affect overall acceptance of milk. This study employs check-all-that-apply, quantitative descriptive analysis, rate-all-that-apply, and facial emotion intensity to dissect the sensory attributes of skimmed, low-fat, and whole milk and their influence on consumer satisfaction. The findings indicate that whole milk is rated higher in terms of mouthfeel thickness, milkiness, creaminess, and overall preference, whereas skimmed and low-fat milks are perceived as less favorable. Consumers can recognize differences in milk fat content by selecting descriptive terms, with 12 sensory terms serving as key discriminators. Facial emotion analysis reveals significant emotional responses from consumers before and after swallowing different milk types, with whole milk provoking more pronounced positive emotions. Positive sensory attributes of milk are positively correlated with consumers' pleasurable emotional responses. Five pivotal indicators, including happy emotions before swallowing, serve as potential markers for distinguishing milk with varying fat content. Our findings provide new insights into flavor design and marketing strategies for low-fat dairy products.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maillard conjugates of casein and isomaltooligosaccharides enhance solubility and emulsifying properties for clean-label dairy applications.","authors":"Xueling Liu, Xiaobao Qiu, Caiwen Wu, Wenjie Sui, Hongbo Li, Guilian Sun, Kewen Li, Yongqiang Cao, Hongjuan Li, Jinghua Yu","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-27258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-27258","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To enhance the performance of CN as a natural emulsifier in complex food systems, this study prepared CN-isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) conjugates via Maillard reaction under wet-heat conditions, systematically investigating their structural and functional changes. With increasing CN-IMO ratio, the grafting degree first increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum of 36.39% in the CI53 sample. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy indicated covalent bonding between CN and IMO, accompanied by significant protein conformational rearrangement. The Maillard reaction reduced the micelle size to 207.57 nm and made the ζ potential more negative (-30.38 mV), thereby enhancing colloidal stability. Compared with CN, CI53 exhibited improvements of 21.02% in emulsifying stability, 10.24% in solubility, and 139.06% in oil-holding capacity. Reductions in contact angle and surface hydrophobicity implied improved surface hydrophilicity due to hydroxyl group introduction. This study provides theoretical and technical support for developing clean-label casein-oligosaccharide natural emulsifiers.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Invited review: Lung ultrasonography-Improving our understanding and management of respiratory disease in young calves.","authors":"Sébastien Buczinski, Terri L Ollivett, Bart Pardon","doi":"10.3168/jds.2025-26764","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-26764","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lung ultrasonography (LUS) has emerged as an on-farm tool that can rapidly characterize pulmonary abnormalities in young cattle. This tool is particularly useful for detecting the lung consolidation associated with bronchopneumonia following bacterial infection of the lower airway. The aim of this review is to discuss on-farm LUS techniques, the contributions of LUS to bovine respiratory disease research, and potential applications in cattle practice. Lung ultrasonography studies consistently demonstrate associations between lung consolidation and negative economic outcomes, including (among others): reduced growth, lower future carcass weights in veal calves, premature culling, and lower future milk production in dairy cattle. Within the context of subclinical pneumonia (presence of lung lesions in the absence of abnormal clinical signs), the dynamics of respiratory tract infections and the presence of specific risk factors could be better characterized. Given its higher diagnostic sensitivity (ranging from 66% to 94%) and specificity (from 66% to 100%) for detecting calves affected with lung disease, LUS is a better reference test for randomized clinical trials evaluating therapy and vaccine efficacy compared with clinical scoring. In the handful of vaccination studies available, LUS results were significantly different between experimental groups despite no effect on clinical scores, demonstrating the added value of using this ancillary test as an outcome. On-farm applications of LUS include pneumonia detection for the purposes of monitoring patterns of disease, evaluating of clinical detection accuracy, initiating treatment, evaluating treatment efficacy, cure definition or determining duration of treatment, conducting pre-purchase examinations, and making culling decisions. Two LUS scoring systems that are based on quantifying lung consolidation, and therefore are best for characterizing bronchopneumonia, are commonly in use. Currently, there is no LUS scoring system for quantifying the severity of diffuse airway injury from viral infections or interstitial disease in dairy or veal calves. There is a need for a core outcome set for studies on respiratory-focused research that include LUS parameters as case definitions or treatment responses, in addition to key performance indicators (production and health outcomes), in order to motivate the dairy, dairy beef, and veal calf industries toward more sustainable production. Fortunately, momentum for implementing on-farm LUS is growing, but more work needs to be done to increase producer awareness and expand veterinary, research, or technical training. Certificate programs to document well-trained and highly qualified-professionals may prove useful for promoting on-farm implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":354,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dairy Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}