Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2012, 57(5):240-247 | DOI: 10.17221/5922-CJAS

The level of udder emptying and milk flow stability in Tsigai, Improved Valachian, and Lacaune ewes during machine milking

L. Mačuhová1, V. Tančin1,2, M. Uhrinčať1, J. Mačuhová3
1 Animal Production Research Centre Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic
2 Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic
3 Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Animal Husbandry, Poing, Germany

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the stability of milk flow curves and the volume of residual milk in relation to milk flow curves in breeds Tsigai, Improved Valachian, and Lacaune (n = 16 heads per breed) milked twice daily. Milk flow type stability was evaluated at morning milking (stabile milkings) during three successive days in the middle of two months (June, July). After the following fourth morning milking (OT milkings) in both months, oxytocin was injected intravenously at a dose of 2 UI. Afterwards the ewes were milked again in order to remove residual milk. The milk flow curves were classified into four types: 1 peak (1P), 2 peaks (2P), plateau I (maximal milk flow over 0.4 l/min) (PLI), plateau II (maximal milk flow less than 0.4 l/min) (PLII). If all milk flow curves of one animal were of the same type within one month and within both months, respectively, the animal was characterized as the ewe with the stabile type of milk flow. Frequency of occurrence of single milk flow types (1P : 2P : PLI : PLII) during stabile milkings was 42 : 49 : 9 : 0% in June and 51 : 37.5 : 11.5 : 0% in July. 33 ewes (i.e. 69%) had the stabile type of milk flow within both months. But, more than 51% of them had 1P type of milk flow. Milk production varied according to milk flow curve during OT milkings (0.427 ± 0.015, 0.498 ± 0.024, and 0.655 ± 0.035 l for 1P, 2P, and PLI, respectively). The highest percentage of residual milk from total milk yield (RM/TMY) was observed in ewes with 1P (20.29 ± 0.85%), followed by ewes with PLI (12.31 ± 1.99%) and 2P (9.72 ± 1.36%) (P < 0.0001). Lacaune ewes had the lowest amount of residual milk (0.054 ± 0.006 l) and RM/TMY (9.86 ± 1.16%) compared to breeds Tsigai (0.088 ± 0.008 l; 16.47 ± 1.44%) and Improved Valachian (0.069 ± 0.010 l; 15.99 ± 1.78%) indicating their better udder emptying.

Keywords: ewe; milk flow curves; stability of milk flow types; residual milk; breeds

Published: May 31, 2012  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Mačuhová L, Tančin V, Uhrinčať M, Mačuhová J. The level of udder emptying and milk flow stability in Tsigai, Improved Valachian, and Lacaune ewes during machine milking. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2012;57(5):240-247. doi: 10.17221/5922-CJAS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Bruckmaier R.M., Paul G., Mayer H., Schams D. (1997): Machine milking of Ostfriesian and Lacaune dairy sheep: udder anatomy, milk ejection, and milking characteristics. Journal of Dairy Research, 64, 163-172. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    2. Casu S., Marie-Etancelin C., Robert-Granié C., Barillet F., Carta A. (2008): Evolution during the productive life and individual variability of milk emission at machine milking in Sardinian × Lacaune back-cross ewes. Small Ruminant Research, 75, 7-16. Go to original source...
    3. Castillo V., Such X., Caja G., Salama A.A.K., Albanell E., Casals R. (2008): Changes in alveolar and cisternal compartments induced by milking interval in the udder of dairy ewes. Journal of Dairy Research, 91, 3403-3411. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Davis S.R., Farr V.C., Copeman P.J.A., Carruthers V.R., Knight C.H., Stelwagen K. (1998): Partitioning of milk accumulation between cisternal and alveolar compartments of the bovine udder: Relationship to production loss during once daily milking. Journal of Dairy Research, 65, 1-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    5. Heap R.B., Fleet I.R., Proudfoot R., Walters D.E. (1986): Residual milk in Friesland sheep and the galactopoietic effect associated with oxytocin treatment. Journal of Dairy Research, 53, 187-195. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Kulinová K., Mačuhová L., Uhrinčať M., Tančin V. (2010): Milkability of the Improved Valachian ewes during machine milking. Slovak Journal of Animal Science, 43, 128-133.
    7. Kulinová K., Mačuhová L., Uhrinčať M., Tančin V. (2012): The effect of stressful treatment before and during milking on milkability of dairy ewes. Veterinarija ir Zootechnika, 57, 39-43.
    8. Labussière J. (1988): Review of physiological and anatomical factors influencing the milking ability of ewes and the organization of milking. Livestock Production Science, 18, 253-274. Go to original source...
    9. Mačuhová J., Tančin V., Kraezl W-D., Meyer H.H.D., Bruckmaier R.M. (2002): Inhibition of oxytocin release during repeated milking in unfamiliar surroundings: the importance of opioids and adrenal cortex sensitivity. Journal of Dairy Research, 69, 63-73. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Mačuhová L., Uhrinčať M., Marnet P.G., Margetín M., Mihina Š., Mačuhová J., Tančin V. (2007): Response of ewes to machine milking: evaluation of the milk flow curves. Slovak Journal of Animal Science, 40, 89-96. (in Slovak)
    11. Mačuhová L., Uhrinčať M., Brouček J., Tančin V. (2008a): Reaction of primiparous dairy cows reared in early postnatal period in different systems on milking conditions. Slovak Journal of Animal Science, 41, 98-104. (in Slovak)
    12. Mačuhová L., Uhrinčať M., Mačuhová J., Margetín M., Tančin V. (2008b): The first observation of milkability of the sheep breeds Tsigai, Improved Valachian and their crosses with Lacaune. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 53, 528-536. Go to original source...
    13. Marnet P.G., McKusick B.C. (2001): Regulation of milk ejection and milkability in small ruminants. Livestock Production Science, 70, 125-133. Go to original source...
    14. Marnet P.G., Negrao J.A., Labussière J. (1998): Oxytocin release and milk ejection parameters during milking of dairy ewes in and out of natural season of lactation. Small Ruminant Research, 28, 183-191. Go to original source...
    15. Milerski M., Margetín M., Čapistrák A., Apolen D., Špánik J., Oravcová M. (2006): Relationships between external and internal udder measurements and the linear scores for udder morphology traits in dairy sheep. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 51, 383-390. Go to original source...
    16. Mohamed D.A., Khaldi S., Rekik B., Khaldi G. (2008): Normal and residual milk yields in Sicilo-Sarde ewes: Effect of litter size and the weaning age of lambs. Research Journal of Animal Science, 2, 144-148.
    17. Negrao J.A., Marnet P.G., Kann G. (1999): Evolution of oxytocin, prolaktin and cortisol release during the first milkings of primiparous ewes. In: Barillet F., Zervas N.P. (eds): Milking and Milk Production of Dairy Sheep and Goat. EAAP Publication No. 95, Wageningen Pers, Wageningen, the Netherlands, 73-78.
    18. Rovai M., Such X., Caja G., Piedrafita J. (2002a): Milk emission during machine milking in dairy sheep. Journal of Animal Science, 80, 5.
    19. Rovai M., Such X., Caja G., Piedrafita J. (2002b): Changes in cisternal and alveolar milk throughout lactation in dairy sheep. Journal of Dairy Science, 85, 4.
    20. Such X., Caja G., Perez L. (1999): Comparison of milkability between Manchega and Lacaune dairy ewes. In: Barillet F., Zervas N.P. (eds): Milking and Milk Production of Dairy Sheep and Goat. EAAP Publiation No. 95, Wageningen Pers, Wageningen, the Netherlands, 45-50.
    21. Tančin V., Mačuhová J., Schams D., Bruckmaier R.M. (2006): The importance of increased levels of oxytocin induced by naloxone to milk removal in dairy cows. Veterinarni Medicina, 51, 340-345. Go to original source...
    22. Tančin V., Mačuhová L., Oravcová M., Uhrinčať M., Kulinová K., Roychoudhury S., Marnet P.G. (2011): Milkability assessment of Tsigai, Improved Valachian, Lacaune and F1 crossbred ewes (Tsigai × Lacaune, Improved Valachian × Lacaune) throughout lactation. Small Ruminant Research, 97, 28-34. Go to original source...
    23. Villagrá A., Balasch S., Peris C., Torres A., Fernández N. (2007): Order of sheep entry into the milking parlour and its relationship with their milkability. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 107, 58-67. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content