Explore the Milk Microbiome: Nutritional Strategies to Enhance Dairy Production and Milk Quality

The dairy industry plays a pivotal role in the global agri-food system, with producers facing increasing demands for high-quality, safe, and sustainable products. Central to dairy production is the understanding of the gastrointestinal and ruminal microbiota, which are now recognized for their impact on host health, milk composition, and production efficiency. Current research highlights the significance of these microbial communities in various physiological processes directly tied to milk production and quality.

This Research Topic aims to explore the potential of microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions in dairy production systems. Specifically, it seeks to delve into how innovative nutritional strategies, such as the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and other functional feed additives, can be leveraged to enhance milk fat and protein synthesis, improve micronutrient bioavailability, and promote animal welfare. The goal is to uncover the extent to which these interventions can reduce antimicrobial usage, thus addressing the risk of antimicrobial resistance and contamination while maintaining or enhancing milk quality.

In terms of scope, this research will focus on the development and validation of practical nutritional strategies to improve dairy production through microbiome modulation. To gather further insights in this domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o The impact of precision feeding strategies on the gut and rumen microbiota and their subsequent effects on milk yield and compositional quality.
o Development, characterization, and in vivo validation of probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic feed additives for ruminants.
o On-farm trials and field studies demonstrating the practical implications of microbiome modulation for enhanced milk quality, improved animal health, and reduced antimicrobial dependence.

We encourage researchers to contribute to this dynamic Research Topic, championing advancements in microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions that promise to revolutionize dairy production worldwide. Join us in shaping the future of dairy science and ensuring sustainability in food systems!

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Dairy production, Animal nutrition, Milk microbiome, Gastrointestinal microbiota, Rumen microbiota, Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics, Functional feed additives, Milk composition, Antimicrobial stewardship, Sustainable dairy farming

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.