Invited review: A 2020 perspective on pasture-based dairy systems and products

摘要

Grazing pasture is the basis for dairy productionsystems in regions with temperate climates, such as inIreland, New Zealand, parts of Australia, the UnitedStates, and Europe. Milk and dairy products from cowson pasture-based farms predominantly consuming freshgrazed grass (typically classified as “grass-fed” milk)have been previously shown to possess a different nutrientprofile, with potential nutritional benefits, comparedwith conventional milk derived from total mixed ration.Moreover, pasture-based production systems are consideredmore environmentally and animal welfare friendlyby consumers. As such, there is significant potentialfor market capitalization on grass-fed dairy products.As competition in this space increases, the regulationsof what constitutes as grass-fed vary between differentregions of the world. With this in mind, there is aneed for clear and independently accredited grass-fedstandards, defining the grass-fed criteria for labeling ofproducts as such, subsequently increasing the clarityand confidence for the consumer. This review outlinesthe numerous effects of pasture production systemson dairy product composition, nutritional profile, andsustainability, and highlights potential future methodsfor authentication.