MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Effect of Diet on CPFAs Used as Markers in Milk for the Detection of Silage in the Ration of Dairy Cows


    Fava, Federico, Martini-Lösch, Demian, Peratoner, Giovanni, Robatscher, Peter, Matteazzi, Aldo, Soini, Evelyn, Österreicher, Andreas, Volgger, Simon, de Andrade Moral, Rafael, Scampicchio, Matteo Mario, Eisenstecken, Daniela and Venir, Elena (2025) Effect of Diet on CPFAs Used as Markers in Milk for the Detection of Silage in the Ration of Dairy Cows. Foods, 14 (3). p. 476. ISSN 2304-8158

    Abstract

    In hay milk production, fermented feed, like silage, is forbidden. This study aims to reveal the presence of silages made from maize or grass in the diet of dairy cows through the detection of cyclopropane fatty acids (CPFAs) in their milk. It also investigates how CPFAs in their milk declines when the diets of the cows are transitioned from one containing silage to one that does not include silage. CPFAs were quantified in silages collected on the farm, and the relationship between the dietary intake of CPFAs from silages and the marker concentration in milk was investigated. Except for one sample (below LOQ), CPFAs were never detected in hay milk, while they were found in 98% and 85% of milk samples obtained from cows whose diet included maize or grass silage as the only fermented component, respectively. CPFAs were found to still be detectable in milk 56 days after the removal of maize silage from the diet, while they were no longer detectable about three weeks after removing grass silage from the ration. A quantitative positive relationship was detected between CPFAs content in the milk and the dietary intake of CPFAs from silages. CPFAs can be regarded as reliable markers to detect the occurrence of silages in the ration, but it is more effective for maize than for grass silage.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: hay milk; grass silage; maize silage; dihydrosterculic acid; lactobacillic acid; food authentication;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Mathematics and Statistics
    Item ID: 21364
    Identification Number: 10.3390/foods14030476
    Depositing User: Rafael de Andrade Moral
    Date Deposited: 30 Mar 2026 13:23
    Journal or Publication Title: Foods
    Publisher: MDPI
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads

    Altmetric Badge

    Repository Staff Only (login required)

    Item control page
    Item control page