Udder characteristics and effects of pulsation rate on milking machine efficiency in donkeys

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Gabriella D‘Alessandro ◽  
Michele Mariano ◽  
Giovanni Martemucci
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
The Third ◽  
Pulsation Rate ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Internal Structures ◽  
Milking Machine

Very little is known about the udder characteristics, partitioning of milk in the mammary gland and efficiency of machine milking in donkeys. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the udder and teats, milk yield in relation to pulsation rates (90, 120 and 150 cycles/min), milk partitioning in the mammary gland, composition of the spontaneously removed and residual milk fractions and milking efficiency. Forty-one healthy Martina Franca jennies in the third month of lactation and routinely milked twice daily were used in three studies. Udder characteristics were evaluated by direct measurements and ultrasonographic scanning. Residual milk was obtained by milking after an oxytocin administration (40 IU i.m.). The prevalent shapes were ‘bowl’ for udders and ‘conical’ for teats. After milking the udder characteristics decreased within a range from −11·6% (udder depth) to −25·7% (diameter of teat at the base). The internal structures of the udder resulted as several pockets of ducts empting directly into the teat. The pulsation rate of 120 cycles/min improved (P<0·05) the milk yield in comparison to the 90 and 150 cycles/min, reduced the residual milk fraction, thus improved (P<0·05) milking efficiency. Residual milk composition had higher (P<0·05) fat content and somatic cell count than the spontaneously removed milk fraction. The udders revealed several pockets of ducts empting into the teat instead of a single cisternal cavity and showed a certain compliance. The use of 120 cycles/min pulsation rate improved milking efficiency.

scholarly journals The effect of milking frequency on milk yield and milk composition in ewes

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 41-50
Author(s):  
Lucia Mačuhová ◽  
Vladimír Tančin ◽  
Juliana Mačuhová
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
The Other ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
The Right ◽  
Main Factor

Milking frequency is the main factor regulating milk yield and milk quality if feeding, welfare, health, and environmental conditions are adequate. Milk yield and composition are substantially influenced by breed, and consequently the breed has an impact on both factors at a different frequency of milking. Further, the size of cisternal compartment plays an important role in accommodating secreted milk between milkings. Thus, ewes with large cisterns (i.e. large cisternal area, high cisternal milk percentage, and delayed tight junction opening during milk stasis) adapt themselves better to longer milking intervals than ewes with a small cistern. The increase of milking frequency from two to three times a day can lead to an increase of milk yield in the range of 3 to 36%. On the other hand, the reduction of milking frequency from twice to once a day can decrease milk yield from 9 to 67%. Two milkings per week could be omitted with no negative effects on milk yield, milk composition, and somatic cell count in ewes with large cisterns. However, besides the breed and cistern storage capacity, the results in literature show that the effects of milking frequency on milk yield and milk composition can vary according to the stage of lactation, individual animal, production level, practice of stripping, and duration of changed frequency. The right use of different milking frequency strategies can result in increased milk yield or in significant savings in labour and time spent in the milking parlour with negligible or no negative effects on milk yield and composition.

scholarly journals Effect of ewes entry order into milking parlour on milkability and milk composition

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 392-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mačuhová ◽  
V. Tančin ◽  
J. Mačuhová ◽  
M. Uhrinčať ◽  
L. Hasoňová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Latency Time ◽  
Peak Flow Rate ◽  
Order Of Entry ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Total Milk ◽  
The Individual

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate how the order in which the ewes in a milking group enter the milking parlour affects their milkability and milk composition. Therefore, the order of entry into the milking parlour was evaluated in ewes of one flock (n = 353) during six evening milkings. In all, the sheep were milked in 15 milking groups. The sheep entering the milking parlour in the first milking group achieved 15 points and the sheep of each next milking group one point less, i.e. the sheep of the last group achieved 1 point. In the analysis, only the ewes with the highest and the lowest average number of points were included and assigned to the first (FG, n = 19) and the last group (LG, n = 29), respectively. After the last milking, the individual milk samples were collected from the jar to analyze the composition and somatic cell count. Machine milk yield in 30 s (0.15 ± 0.09 and 0.11 ± 0.05 l) and 60 s (0.26 ± 0.16 and 0.19 ± 0.10 l), peak flow rate (1.04 ± 0.39 and 0.77 ± 0.29 l/min), and latency time (14 ± 3 and 20 ± 13 s) significantly differed (P &lt; 0.05) between FG and LG, respectively. Total milk yield (0.41 ± 0.17 and 0.35 ± 0.14 l) and machine milk yield (0.27 ± 0.15 and 0.22 ± 0.10 l) tended to be higher (P = 0.05 and P = 0.09) in FG than in LG, respectively. No significant differences were observed in milk composition between FG and LG. It seems that ewes which enter the milking parlour in early milking groups have better parameters of milkability than those milked in later groups.

scholarly journals Endocrine control of energy metabolism in the cow: the effect on milk yield and levels of some blood constituents of injecting growth hormone and growth hormone fragments

1980 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Bines ◽  
I. C. Hart ◽  
S. V. Morant
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Endocrine Control ◽  
N Retention ◽  
Blood Constituents

1. Circulating concentrations of some hormones and metabolites and nitrogen balance were measured in lactating beef and dairy cows given daily injections of growth hormone (GH) and were compared to values before injection. Changes in milk yield and composition were recorded in these cows and in additional cows injected with GH fragments.2. GH, but not GH fragments, raised milk yield while milk composition did not change. GH injection caused a large, rapid increase in the level of the hormone in blood and slower, smaller increases in the concentrations of insulin, prolactin and thyroxine. Blood metabolite levels were unaltered except for a rise in glucose concentration in beef cows during GH injection and a fall in 3-hydroxybutyrate concentration in the same cows after the injections ceased. An increase in N output in milk was partly balanced by a reduction in urinary N so that N retention did not change significantly.3. GH caused a reduction in food intake in the beef cows.4. The results are discussed in relation to control of partition of nutrients in the lactating cow, where GH is considered to play an important role. It was concluded that this role may be in increasing the supply of energy metabolites for milk synthesis, rather than a direct effect on the activity of the mammary gland.

Effect of different milking routines on milking-related release of the hormones oxytocin, prolactin and cortisol, and on milk yield and milking performance in Murrah buffaloes

2005 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chirathalattu S Thomas ◽  
Rupert M Bruckmaier ◽  
Karin Östensson ◽  
Kerstin Svennersten-Sjaunja
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Direct Application ◽  
Concentration Increase ◽  
Milk Ejection ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Murrah Buffaloes ◽  
Cortisol Release

Milking-related release of oxytocin, prolactin, and cortisol was studied following three pre-milking treatments. Six Murrah buffaloes were treated with direct application of milking cluster (O), a 1-min pre-stimulation (M), and combined feeding and pre-stimulation (MF). Machine milk yield, stripping yield and milk composition were recorded. Milk ejection occurred significantly earlier with MF than M and O (P<0·05; 2·50, 5·10 and 6·33 min, respectively). In all treatments, milk ejection occurred with small increases >3–5 ng/l in oxytocin concentration. Increase in oxytocin concentration over a threshold level and milk ejection occurred simultaneously and were closely correlated (r=0·83, P<0·05). There was a positive correlation between total time oxytocin concentration remained elevated over threshold levels and machine yield (r=0·86, P<0·05). For treatment O, milk ejection was inhibited during machine milking, while a marked increase in oxytocin occurred during hand stripping (6 and 16 ng/l, respectively). For treatment M, mean oxytocin concentrations remained unchanged during pre-stimulation but increased during subsequent machine milking and hand stripping (6·38, 18·06 and 12·36 ng/l, respectively). For treatment MF, although there was a 3·6-fold increase during pre-stimulation, oxytocin increased by 10-fold and 3-fold during machine milking and hand stripping, and was significant for machine milking (P<0·05, 17·32, 47·86, 18·13 ng/l, respectively). Milk-ejection-related cortisol release was visible only in treatment MF. For treatments O and M, prolactin concentration increased prior to the increase in oxytocin. The stripping yield was higher, and fat content in the stripping yield significantly lower, for treatment O indicating incomplete milking. Thus buffaloes are easily disturbed even by small changes in milking routines.

Effect of suckling during early lactation and changeover to machine milking on plasma oxytocin and cortisol levels and milking characteristics in Holstein cows

1995 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Tančin ◽  
L'Ubomír Harcek ◽  
Ján Brouček ◽  
Michal Uhrinčať ◽  
Štefan Mihina
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
The Other ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
The Third ◽  
Oxytocin Release

SUMMARYPlasma concentrations of oxytocin and cortisol, and milk yield and flow rates, were compared in three primiparous cows and two cows in their second lactation during suckling and subsequent machine milking. After calving, cows suckled their calves for 3–4 weeks and then the experiment was carried out over 4 d. Blood samples were taken prior to, during and after suckling or evening machine milking (EMM) on day 1 of the experiment (the last day of suckling), day 2 (first EMM) and day 4 (third EMM). After weaning and rehousing, cows were machine milked twice daily. During the first EMM, average milk yield and flow rate in the second minute of milking were significantly lower (P < 0·05) than corresponding values for the other 2 d. Plasma oxytocin concentrations were lower during the first than during the third EMM (P < 0·001) and suckling (P < 0·001), and more oxytocin was released during the third EMM than during suckling (P < 0·01). Cortisol concentrations were higher during and after the first EMM than during the third EMM. Thus in cows sucked for several weeks after calving and then separated from their calves and rehoused we found a transient decrease in oxytocin release, milk yield and flow rates during the first machine milking.

scholarly journals Interruption of machine milking in dairy cows: effects on intramammary pressure and milking characteristics

1995 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Ulrich Pfeilsticker ◽  
Rupert M. Bruckmaier ◽  
Jürg W. Blum
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Ejection Rate ◽  
Milk Flow ◽  
Total Milk ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Milking Machine

SUMMARYExperiments were designed to test the hypothesis that milk ejection rate decreases during milking, thereby causing insufficient refill of the cistern and decreasing milk flow rate towards the end of milking. In a first series of experiments machine milking of the left front quarters of 11 cows was interrupted for 2 min after removal of 25, 50 or 75% of expected total milk yield, while milking was continued in the other three quarters. Milk flow was recorded during machine-on times. Intramammary pressure (IMP) was recorded during premilking teat stimulation and during interruption of milking. IMP during interruption of milking decreased with decreasing amounts of milk remaining in the udder. The IMP did not change during these interruptions when they occurred after 25 and 50% of expected total milk yield was removed. Thus, the ejection rate could keep up with the milk flow or removal rate. However, IMP increased during interruption of milking following removal of 75% of total yield, although significantly so only in cows with a high milk flow rate. Obviously, more milk was removed than was transported to the cisternal cavity. It is likely that a reduced ejection rate caused the decreased milk flow rate. In a second series of experiments the pulsation ratio of the milking machine was changed from the usual 70:30 to 50:50 with the aim of reducing the milk flow rate and thus adapting to the ejection rate at the end of milking. The changed pulsation ratio caused a reduced peak flow rate and a prolonged high milk flow period, whereas the main flow rate did not change significantly.

scholarly journals The effect of carprofen on fresh dairy cows health

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielė Lošytė ◽  
Ieva Navalinskaitė ◽  
Žyginta Prokopavičiūtė ◽  
Ernesta Pocevičienė ◽  
Ramūnas Antanaitis
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Stress Indicator ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of stress on the health of fresh-lactation cows and the effect of NSAIDs on the stress indicator cortisol, rumination time (RT) and somatic cell count (SCC). The treatment group of cows (TG) (n = 15) were given a subcutaneous injection of Rimadyl Cattle® (50 mg/ml of carprofen), 1.4 mg per 1 kg BW dose, up to 1 hour after calving. At the same time, the control group of cows (CG) (n = 15) were given an injection of 0.9% NaCl. The whole study looked at the health of cows by recording cases that occurred during the period after calving. Blood cortisol examination was performed within 2, 24 and 48 h after the use of the mentioned drugs. Rumination time was registered with the Lely T4C management program for analysis. Milk composition (SCC) was determined using the Lely T4C management program for analysis. NSAIDs (carprofen 50 mg/ml) statistically significantly reduced cortisol plasma concentrations within 48 h from the use of the drug and did not have an impact on SCC. The use of NSAID increased the average ruminating time from the third to the eleventh day after calving.

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