Milk spectral signature of transition success or failure

A successful transition to lactation is of high importance in dairy production as this period affects the entire productive life of a dairy cow. Poor transition are often associated with clinical or subclinical diseases. The objective is to assess whether milk components are associated with a poor or good cow transition. Emphasis is put on milk components other than the ones routinely measured in monthly milk samples. The spectral signatures of milk from cows analyzed through infrared spectroscopy are therefore assembled. Potentially relevant features are extracted from the spectral signature and associations are determined with the Transition Cow Index as an indicator of a successful transition. This study will contribute to generate a metabolic profiling tool for cows in early lactation through routine testing using infrared spectroscopy.

Faculty Supervisor:

Roger I. Cue

Student:

Mazen Bahadi

Partner:

Valacta

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

McGill University