Archaeologists Find Ancient Cheese Makers Used Tree Leaves to Boost Milk Production

Nov 13, 2024

By Doris Fleischer

A study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution sheds light on the innovative practices of Central Europe's early cheese makers.

Researchers at German Archaeological Institute (Berlin), University of Bristol, Museum National d'historie Naturelle (Paris) and Kiel University conducted and collated over 2,000 stable isotopic measurements of cattle teeth, bones, and pottery fats, revealing how pioneer farmers adapted their cattle herding techniques to the rich forested landscape of Central Europe.

Led by Dr. Rosalind Gillis from the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin, the study highlights an intriguing early practice: feeding cattle with leaves collected from trees during the summer to sustain them through the winter.

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Video: 2026 T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science - Dan Weary

T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science: "Using science to assess and improve the welfare of dairy cattle"

Dan Weary is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. Dan did his BSc and MSc at McGill and Doctorate at Oxford before co-founding UBC’s Animal Welfare Program where he now co-directs this active research group. His research focuses on understanding the perspectives of animals and applying these insights to develop methods of assessing animal welfare and improving the lives of animals. His work has helped drive changes in practices (including the adoption of higher milk rations for calves and pain management for disbudding) and housing methods (including the adoption of social housing for pre-weaned calves). He also studies cow comfort and lameness, social interactions among cows, and interactions between cows, human handlers and technologies like automated millking systems that are increasingly used on farms. His presentation will outline key questions in cattle welfare, highlight recent UBC research addressing them, and showcase innovative methods for improving the lives of cattle and their caretakers.