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Lactational changes in oxytocin release, intramammary pressure and milking characteristics in dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

Harald Mayer ,
Rupert Bruckmaier  and
Dieter Schams
Harald Mayer
Affiliation:
Institut für Physiologie der Südd. Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt für Milchwirtschaft, Technische Universität München, 8050 Freising-Weihenstephan, Deutschland
Rupert Bruckmaier
Affiliation:
Institut für Physiologie der Südd. Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt für Milchwirtschaft, Technische Universität München, 8050 Freising-Weihenstephan, Deutschland
Dieter Schams
Affiliation:
Institut für Physiologie der Südd. Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt für Milchwirtschaft, Technische Universität München, 8050 Freising-Weihenstephan, Deutschland
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Summary

Two experiments were conducted to investigate possible changes of milking-related oxytocin release (Expt 1) and of intramammary pressure and milking characteristics (Expt 2) throughout entire lactations in German Braunvieh dairy cows. Mean oxytocin concentrations after stimulation at onset of milking increased from 18·3 ± 15·9 to 30·7 ± 24·1 pg/ml in Expt 1 and decreased from 23·9 ± 17·6 to 15·4 ± 9·1 pg/ml in Expt 2, respectively, but remained above the level necessary to elicit complete milk ejection in both trials. Premilking baseline intramammary pressure had its maximum in early lactation until about month 4 and then decreased to ∼50% of its initial level. Ejection pressure followed a similar pattern, but dropped only to ∼75% of its maximum. This was due to the constant elevation of pressure increase, reaching its highest level in late lactation. Time from commencement of stimulation until maximum pressure exceeded 1 min in almost all instances even in early lactation and increased throughout lactation. Despite the normal decrease of milk yield average milk flow fell only slightly while maximum flow rate remained almost constant. Pressure increase, milk yield and milk flow were not different after 1 min and after extended stimulation. Thus there were no indications of a decreasing sensitivity of the milk ejection reflex during lactation, and milking characteristics were positively affected by intense teat stimulation. Suggestions for practical dairying are made.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , May 1991 , pp. 159 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1991

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References

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