"Edited by the Director General of the International Dairy Federation, Dr Nico van Belzen, there can be little doubt regarding the scientific quality and likely impact of these volumes... I hope that the books/chapters will find a large audience and, by doing so, help to achieve the sustainability of milk production that the title promises" Journal of Dairy Research Milk is one of the world's most important agricultural food products. In meeting rising demand, more intensive dairying systems face a range of challenges such as maintaining high standards of safety whilst optimising nutritional and sensory quality. At the same time farms need to become more sustainable as well as meet higher standards of animal health and welfare. Smallholder systems in developing countries face problems such as low productivity and vulnerability to disease which also impact on safety, quality, sustainability and animal welfare. Drawing on an international range of expertise, this book reviews research addressing these challenges. It begins by discussing the composition of milk including proteins and bioactive components, the wide range of ingredients produced from milk, as well as aspects sensory quality. It also reviews current understanding of genetic factors affecting protein and other aspects of milk composition, other desirable traits such as fertility and advances in breeding to achieve improvements in quality and productivity in dairy farming. Achieving sustainable production of milk Volume 1: Milk composition, genetics and breeding will be a standard reference for animal and dairy scientists in universities, government and other research centres and companies involved in milk production. It is accompanied by two further volumes which review safety, quality and sustainability issues as well as dairy herd management and welfare.

"The book contains many contributions informed by recent research. These will be of value to nutritionists, dairy scientists and technologists working in research, industrial and teaching roles...the editors have achieved their aim of producing a reference work that addresses the nutritional and functional properties of milk and its contribution to human nutrition. It is a valuable reference source for dairy professionals." (International Journal of Dairy Technology) The dairy sector is under increasing scrutiny on environmental and health grounds. Optimising the nutritional and functional properties of milk as part of a balanced diet offers one solution to these challenges. This book draws on a wealth of knowledge from a team of internationally-renowned dairy experts to show how this can be achieved. Understanding and improving the functional and nutritional properties of milk reviews the latest research on the remarkable range of functional and nutritional properties of milk that make it both a key food source and ingredient in a wide range of dairy products. The collection discusses proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and other components of milk, as well as how our understanding can be used to optimise the quality of milk and dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt.