Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T18:16:29.586Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reduced claw vacuum and b-phase during low milk flow does not impact oxytocin release and milking performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 September 2017

Anna-Lena Neuheuser ,
Ann-Catherine Schwinn ,
Olga Wellnitz ,
Lorenzo E. Hernández-Castellano  and
Rupert M. Bruckmaier
Anna-Lena Neuheuser
Affiliation:
Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
Ann-Catherine Schwinn
Affiliation:
Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
Olga Wellnitz
Affiliation:
Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
Lorenzo E. Hernández-Castellano
Affiliation:
Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
Rupert M. Bruckmaier*
Affiliation:
Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: rupert.bruckmaier@vetsuisse.unibe.ch
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Oxytocin release, milking characteristics, and teat condition were investigated with reduced claw vacuum and pulsation settings compared to milking at regular settings with or without pre-stimulation. The reduced vacuum and pulsation settings during low milk flow are expected to protect the teat tissue before the occurrence of milk ejection at the start of milking, and at the end of milking during a potential overmilking period, i.e. at a milk flow <200 g/min. Seven cows were machine-milked either after a 60 s manual pre-stimulation, or without pre-stimulation and reduced vacuum and pulsation settings, or at full vacuum and normal pulsation during the start of milking. Plasma oxytocin (OT) concentration increased similarly in response to manual pre-stimulation and to both milking with reduced, or with full vacuum and pulsation settings, however delayed by 1 min if the cluster was attached without pre-stimulation. In all treatments OT concentrations remained elevated throughout milking. Milk flow curves were mostly non-bimodal at milkings after manual pre-stimulation and bimodal at milkings without pre-stimulation. The main milking time was shorter and average milk flow was higher during milking after pre-stimulation, but did not differ between treatments without pre-stimulation. Milk yields and peak flow rates were not affected by treatments. Either reduced or full vacuum settings were again applied during an intended overmilking from 200 to 100 g/min of milk flow towards the end of milk harvest. Pre-milking teat ultrasound cross sections were recorded one day before the experiment started. Post-milking ultrasound cross sections were performed at 15 min after each experimental milking. Teat wall thickness was increased after milking as compared to pre-milking but did not differ among treatments. In conclusion, OT release and milking performance are similar if milking is performed with pre-stimulation, or without pre-stimulation but reduced claw vacuum and b-phase during low milk flow.

Keywords

Milkingoxytocinvacuumpulsationdairy cows
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 85 , Issue 1 , February 2018 , pp. 70 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © Hannah Dairy Research Foundation 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ambord, S & Bruckmaier, RM 2010 Milk flow-dependent vacuum loss in high-line milking systems: effects on milking characteristics and teat tissue condition. Journal of Dairy Science 93 3588–3594 Google Scholar
Bade, R, Reinemann, DJ, Zucali, M, Ruegg, PL & Thompson, PD 2009 Interactions of vacuum, b-phase duration, and liner compression on milk flow rates in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92 913–921 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Besier, J & Bruckmaier, RM 2016 Vacuum levels and milk-flow-dependent vacuum drops affect machine milking performance and teat condition in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 99 3096–3102 Google Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM & Blum, JW 1992 B-mode ultrasonography of mammary glands of cows, goats and sheep during alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist and oxytocin administration. Journal of Dairy Research 59 151–159 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruckmaier, RM & Blum, JW 1996 Simultaneous recording of oxytocin release, milk ejection and milk flow during milking of dairy cows with and without prestimulation. Journal of Dairy Research 63 201–208 Google Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM & Blum, JW 1998 Oxytocin release and milk removal in ruminants. Journal of Dairy Science 81 939–949 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruckmaier, RM & Hilger, M 2001 Milk ejection in dairy cows at different degrees of udder filling. Journal of Dairy Research 68 369–376 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruckmaier, RM, Weiss, D, Wiedemann, M, Schmitz, S & Wendl, G 2004 Changes of physicochemical indicators during mastitis and the effects of milk ejection on their sensitivity. Journal of Dairy Research 71 316–321 Google Scholar
Mein, GA, Williams, DM & Thiel, CC 1987 Compressive load applied by the teatcup liner to the bovine teat. Journal of Dairy Research 54 327–337 Google Scholar
Nyhan, JF 1968 Effect of vacuum fluctuation on udder disease. In Paper presented at the Proceedings of the Symposium on Machine Milking 1968, Shinfield. pp. 71–82 Google Scholar
Penry, JF, Leonardi, S, Upton, J, Thompson, PD & Reinemann, DJ 2016 Assessing liner performance using on-farm milk meters. Journal of Dairy Science 99 6609–6618.Google Scholar
Rasmussen, MD & Madsen, NP 2000 Effects of milkline vacuum, pulsator airline vacuum, and cluster weight on milk yield, teat condition, and udder health. Journal of Dairy Science 83 77–84 Google Scholar
Schams, D 1983 Oxytocin determination by radioimmunoassay. III. Improvement to subpicogram sensitivity and application to blood levels in cyclic cattle. Acta Endocrinologica (Copenhagen) 103 180–183 Google ScholarPubMed
Schams, D, Mayer, H, Prokopp, A & Worstorff, H 1984 Oxytocin secretion during milking in dairy cows with regard to the variation and importance of a threshold level for milk removal. Journal of Endocrinology 102 337–343 Google Scholar
Thiel, CC, Cousins, CL, Westgarth, DR & Neave, FK 1973 The influence of some physical characteristics of milking machine on the rate of new mastitis infections. Journal of Dairy Research 40 117–120 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Upton, J, Penry, JF, Rasmussen, MD, Thompson, PD & Reinemann, DJ 2016 Effect of pulsation rest phase duration on teat end congestion. Journal of Dairy Science 99 3958–3965 Google Scholar
Watters, RD, Bruckmaier, RM, Crawford, HM, Schuring, N, Schukken, YH & Galton, DM 2015 The effect of manual and mechanical stimulation on oxytocin release and milking characteristics in Holstein cows milked 3 times daily. Journal of Dairy Science 98 1721–1729 Google Scholar
Weiss, D & Bruckmaier, RM 2005 Optimization of individual prestimulation in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 88 137–147 Google Scholar
Weiss, D, Dzidic, A & Bruckmaier, RM 2003 Effect of stimulation intensity on oxytocin release before, during and after machine milking. Journal of Dairy Research 70 349–354 Google Scholar
Weiss, D, Weinfurtner, M & Bruckmaier, RM 2004 Teat anatomy and its relationship with quarter and udder milk flow characteristics in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87 3280–3289 Google Scholar
Zecconi, A, Hamann, J, Bronzo, V & Ruffo, G 1992 Machine-induced teat tissue reactions and infection risk in a dairy herd free from contagious mastitis pathogens. Journal of Dairy Research 59 265–271 CrossRefGoogle Scholar