1. Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk Øst Løken) Hanne.Sickel@bioforsk.no Possible effects of species rich mountain pastures on milk quality Seminar 10 Desember 2009, Nordic Genetic Resource Centre

2. Alpine summer farming/transhumance in Norway A very old traditional production system, still practised Has created unique cultural landscapes with high biodiversity Now also used as a basis for development of ecotourism and local food products Approximately 1300 summer farms with milk production today. Large decline of summer farms during the 20 th century

3. Biodiversity Characteristic landscapes Special vegetationtypes High biodiversity: lowland meadow plants meet alpine meadow plants ”In situ”- conservation of genes Foto: Ann Norderhaug

4. Meadow/pasture plants Light demanding Week competitors.. Many species on the Red List Reduced biotopes

5. Effects of vegetation and grazing preferences on the quality of alpine dairy products? Preliminary studies in Norway and studies in Switzerland: Effects of grazing on milk quality in different regions: variations among districts in fatty acid composition (Harstad, UMB 2004) Milk products from summer farms may have a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants considered as beneficial for human health (Wetlesen, UMB) Collomb, M., Bütikofer, U., Sieber, R., Jeangros, B. and Bosset, J. O. 2002. Correlations between fatty acids in cows‘ milk fat produced in the lowlands, mountains and highlands of Switzerland and botanical composition of the fodder. International Dairy Journal 12: 661-666.

6. Added values/terroir effects- the main motivations for the research on this topic ”Diversification based on scientific evidence between niche mountain and mass industrial products is a way to promote pastoral exploitation of marginal grazing lands and to overcome the structural difficulties of mountain farming systems.” (Lombardi et al. 2008). ”In regions where production costs are high, agriculture needs to produce food of superior quality. The resulting products can then be labeled (i.e. PDO) according to the specific conditions that characterize their origin and manufacture.” (Mariaca et al. 1997)

7. On this background a PhD- study (2007-2011) started as a part of a more comprehensive project: ”Farming systems for high quality food products and sustainable agriculture in mountainous areas” Supervisors: – Ann. Norderhaug, Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk) – Mikael Ohlson and Roger Abrahamsen, Norwegian University of Life Science (UMB)

8. Main goals in the PhD-study Investigate the quality of milk produced from outfield grazing in the mountains Investigate area use and grazing preferences of dairy cattle in the mountainous areas Investigate relationships among vegetation composition, grazing preferences and quality of dairy products

9. Study areas  The summer farm ”Buodden” in Valdres: - 12 dairy cattle in 2007 - 950 m a.s.l. in north boreal vegetation zone The summer farm ”Hamarsbøen” in Geilo: - 18 dairy cattle in 2007 - 1040 m a.s.l. in the transection between north boreal and low alpine vegetation zones Bedrocks giving rise to soils of intermediate or good nutritional quality for plants Outfield grazing in 2 months, July to September

10. Methods regarding milk quality Milk samples from 10 individuals in each herd, once in July and once in August on both study sites. All the individuals belong to the breed Norwegian Red (NR) and most of them calved during the winter/early spring Milk amounts (kg), concentrate (type and amounts), calving date and health history for each of the cows. Standard quality parameters as fat content, protein content, flavour and urea levels. In addition, fatty acid composition, colour, vitamin content (A, E) and oxidation stability of the milk

11. Methods on grazing preferences and area use GPS studies Field observations of cows Microhistological analysis of faecal samples Aerial photo interpretation of the vegetation (vegetation maps) The composition of the grazed vegetation is also documented by pin-point and plot analysis, and the antioxidant level (vitamin E) of important grazing plant species is analysed

12. SFA 2007 (g/100g FA)

13. SFA in July and August in percentage of the March levels, Buodden (2007) (mean values)

14. UFA (2007) (g/100g FA)

15. UFA in July and August in percentage of the March levels, Buodden (2007)

16. Ratio between omega-3 and omega-6 (g/100g FA) C18:3 Alpha Linolenic acid (ω3) C20:5 (EPA) (ω3) C22:6 (DHA) (ω3) Sum (ω3) C18:2 Linoleic acid (ω6) C20:4 ARA (ω6) Sum (ω6)(ω3)/(ω6) Buodden (n=10), Jul 070,700,060,010,771,560,081,630,47 Buodden (n=9), Aug 070,680,070,010,761,330,071,400,54 Hamarsbøen (n=10), Jul 070.770.060.010.851.660.091.750.48 Hamarsbøen (n=10), Aug 070,860,070,010,941,560,091,640,57 Buodden (n=2) tank, Mar 070,430,060,010,501,220,091,310,39

17. 2007 and 2008

18. Abstract Fatty Acids 2007 &2008 (g/100g FA) C18:3 (ALA, ω3)CLAUFASFAC16:0 Palmitic acid Buodden Mar 07 (n=2)0.43 ± 0.000.58 ± 0.0327.75 ± 0.9664.68 ± 1.0726.45 ± 0.30 Buodden Jul 07 (n=10)0.70 ± 0.081.03 ± 0.3137.20 ± 4.5953.59 ± 4.9120.67 ± 1.16 Buodden Jul 08 (n=10)0.73 ± 0.100.93 ± 0.1831.62 ± 2.5661.26 ± 2.7722.26 ± 0.97 Hamarsbøen Jul 07 (n=10)0.77 ± 0.081.00 ± 0.2032.92 ± 2.8159.05 ± 3.3121.39 ± 1.26 Hamarsbøen Jul 08 (n=10)0.86 ± 0.061.10 ± 0.1532.46 ± 0.9060.21 ± 0.9322.41 ± 1.66 Buodden Aug 07 (n=9)0.68 ± 0.041.13 ± 0.2836.89 ± 3.8253.78 ± 4.0920.59 ± 1.13 Buodden Aug 08 (n=10)0.71 ± 0.091.10 ± 0.1930.49 ± 3.4762.37 ± 2.8224.00 ± 1.17 Hamarsbøen Aug 07 (n=10)0.86 ± 0.111.22 ± 0.1931.72 ± 1.9158.13 ± 2.6920.42 ± 1.48 Hamarsbøen Aug 08 (n=10)0.72 ± 0.110.92 ± 0.1232.07 ± 2.2461.40 ± 1.8322.99 ± 1.33 Buodden Sep 07 (n=1)0,810.9631.4859.8924.15

19. Antioxidants 2007 and 2008

20. Antioxidants (2007&2008) Lutein (µM) Zeaxanthin (µM ) β-carotene (µM ) α-tocopherol (mg/L ) C-vitamin (mg/L) Buodden (N=2), Mar 070.017 ± 0.001ND0.259 ± 0.0130.509 ± 0.0090.703 ± 0.223 Buodden (n=10), Jul 070.084 ± 0.0240.011 ± 0.0070.268 ± 0.0840.700 ± 0.1810.797 ± 0.244 Buodden (n=10), Jul 080.173 ± 0.1260.000 ± 0.0120.426 ± 0.2330.30 ± 0.117.62 ± 1.94 Buodden (n=9), Aug 070.136 ± 0.0270.024 ± 0.0050.373 ± 0.1561.026 ± 0.1850.943 ± 0.280 Buodden (n=7), Aug 080.030 ± 0.0420.000 ± 0.0000.250 ± 0.1880.24 ± 0.0410.29 ± 2.81 Hamarsbøen (n=10), Jul 070.090 ± 0.0480.017 ± 0.0100.494 ± 0.2541.592 ± 0.8951.991 ± 0.928 Hamarsbøen (n=10), Jul 080.049 ± 0.0600.000 ± 0.0000.433 ± 0.2190.27 ± 0.138.25 ± 2.95 Hamarsbøen (n=10), Aug 070.140 ± 0.0420.028 ± 0.0090.517 ± 0.1261.110 ± 0.3230.577 ± 0.337 Hamarsbøen (n=10), Aug 080.041 ± 0.0330.000 ± 0.0000.287 ± 0.1100.40 ± 0.117.69 ± 2.44 Buodden (n=1), Sep 07 0.0750.0100.3721.590.92

21. Milk produced on species-rich alpine pastures seem to have special qualities compared to milk produced on silage and concentrates (during the winter) Such milk production maintain high biodiversity in the Norwegian mountain summer farming landscape Landscape qualities and added values are a potential for local farmers to get a higher price in the market and should be more utilized in Norwegian alpine agriculture Other related and co-operating projects in Bioforsk: Studies on products from Budalen (includes products from native breeds) by Bolette Bele and Ann Norderhaug Summing up preliminary results Foto: Bolette Bele

22. Thank you for your attention!