Incomplete milking before drying off does not impair the udder health of cows infected with minor pathogens.

When implementing the transition from regular milk production to the dry period, drying off is mostly conducted simply by abrupt cessation of milking. Efforts to reduce milk synthesis before cessation of milking aim to reduce stress in cows as well as to lower the risk of mastitis. A previous study demonstrated that incomplete milking during the last ten days of lactation gradually reduced the milk yield of healthy, high-yielding cows. However, a reduction period of ten days might be too long for cows with lower yields. Therefore, a follow-up study was conducted on an organic dairy research farm with a lower average milk yield. We investigated whether automated incomplete milking can reduce milk synthesis within one week without impairing the health status of udder quarters infected with minor pathogens. Before drying off, 15 German-Holstein cows with 58 lactating quarters, 21 of which were infected with minor pathogens (coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS) and Corynebacterium bovis), were milked twice daily using the software module AutoDry (GEA Farm Technologies) with the 5%-step-down-per-day-program. The level of udder emptying was gradually reduced over 8-10 milkings beginning at a mean milk yield of 17.2 ± 4.4 kg d-1. During the last three milkings before drying off, milking clusters were automatically removed when a milk flow rate of 0.3 kg min-1 was reached. Quarter fore-milk samples were collected at two time points (14 d before and at the date of the last milking, ie drying off) and were analysed for mastitis pathogens and somatic cell count. The gradual reduced emptying of the udder induced a clear decline in milk yield by 0.8 ± 0.3 kg d-1. Within the reduction period, the somatic cell count of quarter foremilk did not change regardless of the infection status. Furthermore, no cow suffered from clinical mastitis. Thus, a reduction in milk synthesis could be achieved within less than one week before drying off without any impairment in udder health of cows, even when infected with minor mastitis pathogens.

Negative-Pressure Suction Cannula for Treatment of Lactational Residual Milk Cavity: A Case Series Study.

Background: Several Chinese mothers experience problems related to their breasts during breastfeeding and are referred to hospitals for treatment after a massage by a "cuirushi." Some of these patients develop large breast abscesses. Notably, the treatment of residual milk cavities is difficult after pus aspiration. Lactational residual milk cavities in the breast hinder effortless breastfeeding, but no solution has been reported thus far. This study aims to explore the use of a simple and minimally invasive method for treating lactational residual milk cavities and enabling mothers to breastfeed effortlessly. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 28 patients with lactational residual milk cavities treated using negative-pressure suction cannula and drainage at our department from December 2016 to May 2019. The success rate, safety, and feasibility of this technique are summarized. Results: Among the 28 patients, the first catheterization was successful in 7 (25%) patients, the second in 13 (46.4%) patients, and the third or subsequent catheterizations in 8 (28.6%) patients. The intubation time was <10 days in 3 patients, between 10 and 20 days in 12 patients, and >20 days in 13 patients. During and after treatment, 21 patients (75%) continued breastfeeding with the affected breast. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided negative-pressure suction cannula is a new method to treat lactational residual milk cavities that may remain after initial therapy for lactational breast abscess. The treatment of lactational residual milk cavities offers significant advantages in supporting mothers during breastfeeding.

Ocitocina na produção e composição do leite / Oxytocin application in production and milk composition

Objetivou-se analisar a aplicação da ocitocina influenciando na eficiência da ejeção do leite; ao ponto de ocorrer um aumento da produção e mudanças na composição. Foram utilizados 45 animais, durante 105 dias, divididos em três tratamentos, no tratamento 1 (T1) os animais receberam 0,5ml de soro fisiológico, logo após realizava-se a ordenha destes animais, sendo considerado o tratamento controle, no T2 os animais receberam ocitocina antes do início da ordenha, e logo após ordenhava-se estes animais; no T3 os animais receberam ocitocina ao final da ordenha e reordenhava-se estes animais. Para aferir a produção das vacas foram usados medidores de leite, com pesagens de produção realizadas quinzenalmente. Após aferido a produção de todos os animais, as amostras de leite foram coletadas e encaminhadas para as análises posteriores. As variáveis físico-químicas do leite analisadas foram: porcentagem de gordura, lactose e proteína. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e posteriormente, ao teste de comparação de médias, com diferença estatística significativa de 5%. De acordo com os resultados obtidos a ocitocina influenciou na produção leiteira com um aumento na produtividade diária por animal, mas não se observou diferenças significativas nas médias de porcentagem de gordura, lactose e proteína do leite.

This study aimed to analyze the application of oxytocin influence in the milk ejection efficiency; as to occur an increase in production and changes in milk composition. 45 animals were used for 105 days, divided into three treatments, the treatment one received 0.5ml of physiological saline, in the treatment two were given oxytocin to the animals before the milking; and in treatment there the animals received oxytocin at the end of milking. To measure the cow’s milk production, milk meters were used, and were performed fortnightly. After measured the production of all animals, samples were collected and sent for analysis. The physicochemical variables analyzed were: percentage of fat, lactose and protein. The results were submitted to ANOVA and subsequently the mean comparison test, with statistical significance of 5%. According to obtained results oxytocin influence the milk production with a significant increase in daily productivity per animal, but there was no significant difference in percentage of fat, lactose and milk protein.

Ocitocina na produção e composição do leite / Oxytocin application in production and milk composition

Objetivou-se analisar a aplicação da ocitocina influenciando na eficiência da ejeção do leite; ao ponto de ocorrer um aumento da produção e mudanças na composição. Foram utilizados 45 animais, durante 105 dias, divididos em três tratamentos, no tratamento 1 (T1) os animais receberam 0,5ml de soro fisiológico, logo após realizava-se a ordenha destes animais, sendo considerado o tratamento controle, no T2 os animais receberam ocitocina antes do início da ordenha, e logo após ordenhava-se estes animais; no T3 os animais receberam ocitocina ao final da ordenha e reordenhava-se estes animais. Para aferir a produção das vacas foram usados medidores de leite, com pesagens de produção realizadas quinzenalmente. Após aferido a produção de todos os animais, as amostras de leite foram coletadas e encaminhadas para as análises posterior. As variáveis físico-químicas do leite analisadas foram: porcentagem de gordura, lactose e proteína. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e posteriormente, ao teste de comparação de médias, com diferença estatística significativa de 5%. De acordo com os resultados obtidos a ocitocina influenciou na produção leiteira com um aumento na produtividade diária por animal, mas não se observou diferenças significativas nas médias de porcentagem de gordura, lactose e proteína do leite.

This study aimed to analyze the application of oxytocin influence in the milk ejection efficiency; as to occur an increase in production and changes in milk composition. 45 animals were used for 105 days, divided into three treatments, the treatment one received 0.5ml of physiological saline, in the treatment two were given oxytocin to the animals before the milking; and in treatment theree the animals received oxytocin at the end of milking. To measure the cow's milk production, milk meters were used, and were performed fortnightly. After measured the production of all animals, samples were collected and sent for analysis. The physico-chemical variables analyzed were: percentage of fat, lactose and protein. The results were submitted to ANOVA and subsequently the mean comparison test, with statistical significance of 5%. According to obtained results oxytocin influence the milk production with a significant increase in daily productivity per animal, but there was no significant difference in percentage of fat, lactose and milk protein.

Effect of increased milking frequency and residual milk removal on milk production and milk fatty acid composition in lactating cows.

It has been well established that milk yield is affected both by milking frequency and due to the removal of residual milk, but the influence of a combination of these factors is unclear. In this study, four mid-lactation cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to test the hypothesis that the effects of more frequent milking and residual milk removal on milk yield and composition are additive and alter milk fatty acid composition. Treatments comprised two or four times daily milking in combination with (or without) residual milk removal over a 96 h interval preceded by a 2 d pretreatment period and followed by a 8 d washout in each 14 d experimental period. Milk was sampled at each milking for the analysis of gross composition and SCC. Samples of available and residual milk collected on the last milking during each treatment period were collected and submitted for fatty acid composition analysis. Increases in milking frequency and residual milk removal alone or in combination had no effect on milk yield or on the secretion of lactose and protein in milk. However, residual milk removal during more frequent milking increased milk fat yield. Milking treatments had no major influence on the fatty acid composition of available milk, but resulted in rather small changes in the relative abundance of specific fatty acids, with no evidence that the additive effects of treatments were due to higher utilisation of preformed fatty acids relative to fatty acid synthesis de novo. For all treatments, fat composition of available and residual milk was rather similar indicating a highly uniform fatty acid composition of milk fat within the mammary gland.

Lactation traits associated with short- and long-term once-daily milking performance in New Zealand crossbred dairy cattle.

The main objectives of this study were to establish the relative value of milk yields under twice-daily milking (TDM) as a predictor of yield and yield loss under once-daily milking (ODM), and to understand the role of residual milk and udder storage capacity-related traits in regulating yield and yield loss during ODM. A Holstein-Friesian × Jersey crossbred herd was established over 2 seasons (years), as 2 individual cohorts on the same farm, managed on a pasture-based system over 4 lactations. Short-term (1-wk) ODM studies, with a starting total of 690 cows, were undertaken in mid- and late-lactation in lactation 2 and in mid-lactation in lactation 3 for each cohort. A 10-wk study of ODM performance began in mid-lactation in lactation 3, whereas lactation 4 was a full-lactation assessment of ODM. In the short-term studies, milk yield under ODM was well predicted (R(2)=0.7 to 0.8 in 5 of 6 studies) by the daily yield under TDM in the week before ODM. Yield loss (kg/d) increased with increasing milk yield and with increasing somatic cell count (SCC), although predictions were relatively poor (R(2)=0.09 to 0.30). Yield loss (%) decreased with increasing TDM yield in 3 of the 6 studies and was positively correlated with SCC during ODM. Nevertheless, ODM yield loss, in absolute or percentage terms, was a poorly repeatable trait in grazing cows. Part of the variation in yield loss percentage (30%) was positively associated with residual milk (%), measured pretrial, during measurement of functional udder capacity in lactation 3. Total production (kg of milk) over the full-lactation ODM study in lactation 4 was correlated with total production in the 10-wk trial in lactation 3 (r=0.72 and 0.63 for cohorts 1 and 2, respectively). Identifying the highest- and lowest-producing 10% of animals during the full lactation of ODM indicated that poor production was associated with high yields of residual milk (measured in lactation 3) and, conversely, high production was associated with low yields of residual milk, relative to the other 80% of animals. These same "high" and "low" production groups from lactation 4 had similar differences in performance in the earlier short-term studies and a larger or smaller percentage yield loss associated with the residual milk measurement. Breeding strategies for ODM may benefit, therefore, from greater emphasis on selecting for a low residual milk fraction to optimize milking performance. Nevertheless, the level of milk production under TDM is a strong phenotypic predictor of milk production under ODM.

[Relationship between residual milk and clinical mastitis in dairy cattle]. / Einfluss der Menge loser Restmilch in Milchdrüsen auf die Entstehung klinischer Mastitiden bei Milchkühen.

Mastitis in cattle is an infection of the mammary gland caused by infection, toxins and/or trauma. Currently, it is assumed that there is a correlation between higher amounts of residual milk and the incidence of clinical mastitis. The amount of residual milk can be examined using different methods. Higher amounts of residual milk may result from an insufficient teat condition and individual detachment settings of milking units. To date, scientific literature has already discussed the relationship between high amounts of residual milk, undermilking and the occurrence of clinical mastitis. The present paper reviews the current status of knowledge regarding residual milk and risk of mastitis.

Influência do transporte e mudança de local de manejo nas variáveis fisiológicas e produtivas de cabras Alpinas / Physiologic and productive responses of Alpine goats submitted to transportation to a new dairy location

Estudaram-se o efeito do transporte e a mudança de local de manejo sobre a produção e a composição do leite e sobre as variáveis fisiológicas, utilizando-se 12 cabras da raça Alpina em final de lactação. Semanalmente, foram mensuradas a produção e composição do leite e a contagem de células somáticas, além do volume do leite residual após administração de ocitocina. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue para dosagem hormonal (cortisol) e enzimática (glicose) no plasma no dia do transporte: antes (7h10min) e após (8h20min, 8h30min e 10h30min) o transporte. Nas três semanas subsequentes ao transporte, também foram colhidas amostras de sangue às 8h20min. Obtiveram-se teores mais elevados (P<0,05) de cortisol e glicose após o transporte e a mudança de local de manejo, e menor produção de leite (P<0,05) um dia após o evento. Porcentagem de gordura (P<0,05) e contagem de células somáticas apresentaram diferenças significativas (P<0,05) após o transporte. Os resultados permitem concluir que o transporte é um agente estressor que pode, momentaneamente, influenciar a produção animal.

The effects of transportation and reallocation on milk production and composition and physiological responses were studied in 12 late-lactation Alpine goats. Weekly, somatic cell count, milk production and composition, and residual milk volume (after administration of oxytocin) were monitored. Blood samples were taken for hormonal (cortisol) and enzymatic dosages (glucose) in plasma on the day of transportation: before (7h10min) and after transportation (8h20min, 8h30min, and 10h30min). During the three weeks after transportation, blood samples were also taken at 8h20min. Higher levels (P<0.05) of cortisol and glucose after transportation and reallocation were observed and milk yield was significantly lower (P<0.05) one day after them. Milk fat percentage and somatic cell count (P<0.05) were higher after transportation. Results allow concluding that transportation is a stressor agent that may momentarily influence animal production.