The Milk Producer - October 2011 - (Page 32)

RESEARCH By Natalia Binotto A novel idea P Researchers aim to create antioxidant-rich milk by supplementing dairy cows with beneficial nutrients olyphenols, chemical extract and cocoa powder compounds found in had blood levels of catechin plants, have received believed to have positive significant attention for human health benefits. their potential health benNow, researchers must efits in humans, including design a technique to accuantioxidant and anti-canrately evaluate polyphenol cer properties. levels in the milk itself, enThis finding has led Unisuring the compounds are versity of Guelph animal scitransferred efficiently from ence researchers to explore the cows’ diet. the possibility of creating a “Our challenge is to convalue-added milk product tinue to develop a rapid and containing these diseasevalid test to evaluate levels preventing compounds. of the antioxidant and disSimply adding polypheease-preventing polyphenols nols to milk at the processin milk products,” says Osing stage can be challenging. borne. Chemical compounds interFuture steps include develact with components in the oping an improved feeding milk and negatively affect its method, such as encapsulatconsistency and quality. ing the polyphenol product Graduate student Caroto protect it from rumen lyn Zadro and animal and degradation, and optimizing poultry science professors the compounds’ transfer efVern Osborne and John ficiency from feed to milk. Cant led a novel study “We’re interested in invesaimed at enriching milk tigating a way in which dairy naturally by adding polyproducers could fill a demand phenols to cows’ diets. for products that provide This method could avoid additional health benefits to the harmful chemical in- Researchers are investigating ways to enhance milk that would consumers, who are becomteraction that occurs when let dairy producers fill a demand for products that provide ing increasingly aware of adding polyphenols in milk additional health benefits to consumers. the links between diet and processing. health,” says Zadro. “The cow is a biological marvel in extract, and infused them into dairy the way she can take dietary nutrients cows’ abomasums at the Elora Dairy and package them into milk compoResearch Centre. They collected milk Natalia Binotto is a student writer with the University of Guelph’s office of nents,” says Osborne. “If these comand blood samples, as well as milk research. Collaborators include professor pounds can be incorporated into the production and feed intake data, to Brian McBride, animal and poultry scimilk at a high enough level, then it see what effects the polyphenols had ence, and professor Bill Bettger, human has the potential to create a bioavailon cow health and milk composition. health and nutritional science. Funding able, functional dairy food.” Researchers assessed the cows’ provided by Dairy Farmers of Ontario Researchers chose two compounds blood samples for catechin, a bioactive and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture known for their beneficial health proppolyphenol metabolite. They found erties, cocoa powder and green tea cows given high doses of green tea Food and Rural Affairs. 32 | October 2011 | MilkPRODUCER

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - October 2011

The Milk Producer - October 2011
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Provincial Perspectives
Dairy Update
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Cover Story
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Rearing Replacements
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - October 2011