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Milk yield and mammary function in dairy cows milked four times daily

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

J. Eric Hillerton ,
Christopher H. Knight ,
Alan Turvey ,
Stephen D. Wheatley  and
Colin J. Wilde
J. Eric Hillerton
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute for Animal Health, Compton, Berks, RG16 0NN, UK
Christopher H. Knight
Affiliation:
Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, KA6 5HL, UK
Alan Turvey
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Hurley, Berks, SL6 5LR, UK
Stephen D. Wheatley
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Hurley, Berks, SL6 5LR, UK
Colin J. Wilde
Affiliation:
Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, KA6 5HL, UK
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Summary

Groups of lactating cows and heifers were milked four times daily in two diagonally opposed glands for 4 weeks, and the effects on milk yield studied relative to twice-daily milked glands as controls. Mammary enzyme activities, in vitro synthesis rates of milk constituents and histological scoring were determined in mammary biopsy samples obtained at the end of this period. These were used for assessment of mammary function. Frequent milking increased milk yield only in the treated glands, the contralateral control glands continuing to decline in yield at ~ 2%/week. There was no significant difference in response between cows and heifers; the mean increase in yield was 10·4%. The rate of decline in milk yield tended to decrease with frequent milking, to ~ 1%/week. Consequently the yield of the treated glands continued to be elevated above that of the controls for some time after reversion to overall twice daily milking. Milk protein content was increased slightly by frequent milking. Mammary enzyme activities were ~ 18% higher in the treated glands than in the controls. Synthesis rates of lactose, casein and total protein were unaffected by milking frequency, but were all lower in the gland selected for the second biopsy, reflecting the reduction in milk yield caused by the first biopsy. DNA synthesis was increased by milking frequency, as were the size and number of epithelial cells in histological sections.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 57 , Issue 3 , August 1990 , pp. 285 - 294
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1990

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