Morfometria do úbere em caprinos: correlaçäo com produçäo de leite, taxa de ordenha e incidência de mastite / Udder morphometry in goats: correlation between milk production, milking rate and mastitis incidence

RESUMO

The udder measurement of 47 lactating does, in lactation, 22 Nubians, 6 Alpines and 19 Saanens, were studied. The milking time (TE) was measured from the moment attaching machine milking cups on the udder until the end of milking. The milking rate (TA) was defined as PL/TE, where PL is the daily milk production. The least square means for PL, TE, TA and CMT were 1,48ñ39g, 87ñ3s, 17.6ñ0.8g/s and 0.63ñ0.07, respectively. The udder perimeter (PU), teat perimeter (PT) teat length (CT), udder cleft (AL), visual appraisal of udder shape (globular or non-globular), teat shape (ballon, cylinder, funnel or bottle) and teat end shape (round or sharp) were described and their effect on PL, TE, TA and CMT were also studied. Females with sharp teat end sharp had tower incidence of mastitis than female with round teat end round (P<0.05). The PU had a significant effect (P<0.01) on PL, TE and TA. The correlation coefficient between PU and PL, PU and TE, PU and TA were 0.78, 0.51 and 0.41, respectively, and a negative correlation of -0.30 (P<0.05) between PU and CMT. Results suggest the possibility of selection based on the udder morphometry