Milk flow pattern, somatic cell count and teat apex score in primiparous dairy cows at the beginning of lactation
Open Access
- 1 January 2009
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Italian Journal of Animal Science
- Vol. 8 (1), 103-111
- https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2009.103
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between milk flow traits, milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and teat apex score in primiparous cows during the first 120 days of lactation. A total of 82 primiparous Holstein cows were randomly selected in 6 herds characterized by different milking machines and management. The cows were monitored monthly during the first 120 days of lactation. Each month, milk flow curves of the whole udder of each primiparous cow were registered with continuous electronic milk flow meters (Lactocorder), quarter milk samples were aseptically collected, somatic cells were counted, and teat apex scores were assessed. Quarter milk samples were divided in two groups according to SCC: 200,000 cells/ml, respectively. At udder level each cow was classified as low SCC (LSCC) when all quarters had <200,000 cells/ml and high SCC (HSCC) in all other situations, separately for each control. Animals with at least one HSCC control during the first 120 days of lactation (n=33), compared to subjects always classified as LSCC cows (n=49), showed significantly higher average milk flow (2.32 vs 2.13 kg/min; P<0.05), peak milk flow (3.71 vs 3.14 kg/min; P<0.05), lower duration of plateau phase (2.33 vs 3.27 min; P<0.05), longer duration of increase phase (0.81 vs 0.66 min; P<0.05), and higher average SCC (4.07 vs 3.45 Log10 SCC; P<0.05). Moreover, primiparous cows with at least one HSCC control had a significant increase in peak milk flow during the first four months of lactation, while the other cows showed only a slight increase. Teat apex scores significantly increased in both groups of primiparous cows as lactation progressed but values in subjects always classified as LSCC animals were constantly lower with respect to cows with at least one HSCC control. The results obtained in this study support the relationship between SCC, teat apex score and milk flow traitsKeywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- Factors Affecting Milk Flow Traits in Dairy Cows: Results of a Field StudyJournal of Dairy Science, 2007
- Effects of Cleaning Duration and Water Temperature on Oxytocin Release and Milk Removal in an Automatic Milking SystemJournal of Dairy Science, 2004
- Changes in Cisternal Compartment Based on Stage of Lactation and Time Since Milk Ejection in the Udder of Dairy CowsJournal of Dairy Science, 2004
- Investigations on Milk Flow and Milk Yield from Teats with Milk Flow DisordersJournal of Dairy Science, 2002
- Relationship Between Teat-End Callosity and Occurrence of Clinical MastitisJournal of Dairy Science, 2001
- Milk ejection in dairy cows at different degrees of udder fillingJournal of Dairy Research, 2001
- Classification and Longitudinal Examination of Callused Teat Ends in Dairy CowsJournal of Dairy Science, 2000
- Incidence of Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Herds Grouped in Three Categories by Bulk Milk Somatic Cell CountsJournal of Dairy Science, 1998
- Cisternal milk in the dairy cow during lactation and after preceding teat stimulationJournal of Dairy Research, 1996
- The Influence of Premilking Teat Preparation and Attachment Delay on Milk Yield and Milking PerformanceJournal of Dairy Science, 1992