This ongoing multi-year project aims to characterize the spatial and temporal dynamics linking soil properties, herbage productivity and composition, rumen and milk microbiomes, and the metabolomic profile of milk and yogurt produced under regenerative and conventional dairy production systems. Results from the first year of data collection have be enevaluated and published.
Preliminary findings indicate that the conventional system produced a higher forage yield and a slightly higher forage crude protein concentration, which was reflected in increased milk urea nitrogen (MUN). However, no significant differences were observed in overall milk protein content or milk composition between systems. In contrast, mil kfrom the regenerative system demonstrated a more favorable fatty acid profile,with higher concentrations of α-linolenic acid, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA),and eicosatrienoic acid, compounds associated with anti-inflammatory properties and reduced cardiovascular risk. Metabolites including hydroxyhippuric acid,hydroxytyrosol, salicylic acid, and resorcinol were also more abundant in regenerative milk, contributing to an enhanced antioxidant profile. In yogurt produced from regenerative milk, metabolites such as salicylic acid and luteoloside/luteolin-7-glucoside were identified at greater abundance, both of which have been associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Overall, the regenerative dairy system exhibited lower environmental impact while maintaining comparable production performance and milk compositional quality to the conventional system. Moreover, milk and yogurt derived from the regenerative system demonstrated a more favorable nutraceutical profile, characterized by higher concentrations of bioactive compounds with potential benefits for human health.
