Cow nutrition and dairy product manufacture - Implications of seasonal pasture-based milk production systems

Dairy products manufactured from predominantly pasture-based milk production systems exhibit marked seasonal fluctuations in the yield, flavour quality, storage stability and functionality. Features of pasture-based production systems in Ireland, New Zealand and southern Australia are summarised, and underlying reasons for the current patterns of milk production identified. Examples are given of the variation in product quality that can arise when milk from seasonal pasture-based systems is processed. The effects of cow nutrition and stage of lactation as primary determinants of the concentrations and compositional characteristics of milk protein and fat produced in seasonal pasture-based systems are reviewed and the implications for processing discussed. It is concluded that seasonal product defects associated with milk produced from predominantly pasture-based systems can be significantly reduced by improved cow nutrition based on appropriate supplementary feeding. This is likely to become more economically important as additional milk is directed towards the manufacture of products for specific market requirements, in particular high-value products. In the global economy, the economic circumstances facing the dairy industries in these countries is changing rapidly. Each of these industries would benefit from a comprehensive analysis of the full overall costs, including those encountered on farms, in processing and product storage, of producing a tonne of particular commodities or high-value products from the current pasture-based systems. These milk production systems are production-d riven rather than market-led.