Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T12:58:36.110Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Udder characteristics and effects of pulsation rate on milking machine efficiency in donkeys

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2014

Angela Gabriella D‘Alessandro ,
Michele Mariano  and
Giovanni Martemucci
Angela Gabriella D‘Alessandro*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Agro-Ambientali e Territoriali, University of Bari, Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
Michele Mariano
Affiliation:
Unità Operativa Complessa di Radiodiagnostica, Presidio Ospedaliero ‘Di Venere’, ASL Bari, 70100 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Martemucci
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Agro-Ambientali e Territoriali, University of Bari, Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Very little is known about the udder characteristics, partitioning of milk in the mammary gland and efficiency of machine milking in donkeys. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the udder and teats, milk yield in relation to pulsation rates (90, 120 and 150 cycles/min), milk partitioning in the mammary gland, composition of the spontaneously removed and residual milk fractions and milking efficiency. Forty-one healthy Martina Franca jennies in the third month of lactation and routinely milked twice daily were used in three studies. Udder characteristics were evaluated by direct measurements and ultrasonographic scanning. Residual milk was obtained by milking after an oxytocin administration (40 IU i.m.). The prevalent shapes were ‘bowl’ for udders and ‘conical’ for teats. After milking the udder characteristics decreased within a range from −11·6% (udder depth) to −25·7% (diameter of teat at the base). The internal structures of the udder resulted as several pockets of ducts empting directly into the teat. The pulsation rate of 120 cycles/min improved (P<0·05) the milk yield in comparison to the 90 and 150 cycles/min, reduced the residual milk fraction, thus improved (P<0·05) milking efficiency. Residual milk composition had higher (P<0·05) fat content and somatic cell count than the spontaneously removed milk fraction. The udders revealed several pockets of ducts empting into the teat instead of a single cisternal cavity and showed a certain compliance. The use of 120 cycles/min pulsation rate improved milking efficiency.

Keywords

Donkeymammary gland ultrasonographymachine milkingpulsation rate
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , February 2015 , pp. 121 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amati, L, Marzulli, G, Martelli, M, Tafaro, A, Jirillo, F, Pugliese, V, Martemucci, G, D'Alessandro, AG & Jirillo, E 2010 Donkey and goat milk intake and modulation of the human aged immune response. Current Pharmaceutical Design 16 864–869Google Scholar
Ambord, S & Bruckmaier, RM 2010 Milk flow-dependent vacuum loss in high-line milking systems: effects on milking characteristics and teat tissue condition. Journal of Dairy Science 93 3588–3594CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruckmaier, RM & Blum, JW 1992 B-mode ultrasonography of mammary glands of cows, goats and sheep during a- and b-adrenergic agonist and oxytocin administration. Journal of Dairy Research 59 151–159Google Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM & Blum, JW 1998 Oxytocin release and milk removal in ruminants. Journal of Dairy Science 81 939–949Google Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM & Hilger, M 2001 Milk ejection in dairy cows at different degrees of udder filling. Journal of Dairy Research 68 369–376Google Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM & Wellnitz, O 2008 Induction of milk ejection and milk removal in different production systems. Journal of Animal Science 86(Suppl. 1) 15–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruckmaier, RM, Mayer, H & Schams, D 1991 Effects of a- and b- adrenergic agonists on intramammary pressure and milk flow in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Research 58 411–419CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM, Rothenanger, E & Blum, JW 1994 Measurement of mammary gland cistern size and determination of the cisternal milk fraction in dairy cows. Milchwissenschaft 49 543–546Google Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM, Ontsouka, CE & Blum, JW 2004 Fractionized milk composition in dairy cows with subclinical mastitis. Veterinary Meedicine (Czech) 49 283–290CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caja, G, Ayadi, M & Knight, CH 2004 Changes in cisternal compartment based on stage of lactation and time since milk ejection in the udder of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87 2409–2415Google Scholar
Caria, M, Murgia, L & Pazzona, A 2011 Effects of the working vacuum level on mechanical milking of buffalo. Journal of Dairy Science 94 1755–1761Google Scholar
Clough, PA, Dodd, FH & Hughes, EW 1953 Pulsation and milking rate. Journal of Dairy Research 20 375–380Google Scholar
D'Alessandro, AG & Martemucci, G 2012 Lactation curve and effects of milking regimen on milk yield and quality, and udder health in Martina Franca jennies (Equus asinus). Journal of Animal Science 90 669–681Google Scholar
D'Alessandro, AG, Martemucci, G, Jirillo, E & De Leo, V 2011 Major whey proteins in donkey's milk: effect of season and lactation stage. Implications for potential dietary interventions in human diseases. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology 33 259–265Google Scholar
Davis, SR, Farr, VC, Copeman, PJA, Carruthers, VR, Knight, CH & 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 1–8Google Scholar
De Bie, L, Berger, YM & Thomas, DL 2000 The effect of three times a day milking at the beginning of lactation on the milk production of East Fresian crossbred ewes. In Dairy Sheep Symposium, pp. 9–17. http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/ExtensionNew%20copy/sheep/Publications_and_Proceedings/symposium%20PDF/symposium_00.pdfGoogle Scholar
Doreau, M 1991 Le lait de jument. INRA Productions Animales 4 297–302Google Scholar
Dzidic, A, Knopf, L & Bruckmaier, RM 2002 Oxytocin release and milk removal in machine-milked mares. Milchwissenschaft 57 423–424Google Scholar
FIL – IDF 2000 Federation Internationale dé Laiterie – International Dairy Federation. Whole milk. Determination of milk fat, protein and lactose content. Brussels, Standard 141CGoogle Scholar
Harmon, RJ 1994 Physiology of mastitis and factors affecting somatic cell counts. Journal of Dairy Science 67 2103–2112Google Scholar
Jorgensen, KE & Coruolo, EV 1963 Milking rate and time, amount of milk obtained by milking machine as affected by pulsation rates of 30, 50, 70, and 90 simultaneously applied to separate mammary gland quarters. Journal of Dairy Science 46 624Google Scholar
Labussière, J 1988 Review of physiological and anatomical factors influencing the milking ability of ewes and the organization of milking. Livestock Production Science 18 253–274Google Scholar
Le Du, J 1986 Mechanical milking of mares. In Proceedings of the 37th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production, Budapest, Hungary, p. 12Google Scholar
Marnet, PG & McKusick, BC 2001 Regulation of milk ejection and milk ability in small ruminants. Livestock Production Science 70 125–133CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martemucci, G & D'Alessandro, AG 2012 Fat content, Energy value and fatty acid profile of donkey milk during lactation and implications on human nutrition. Lipids in Health & Disease 11 113–126Google Scholar
McKusick, BC, Thomas, DL, Berger, YM & Marnet, PG 2002 Effect of milking interval on alveolar versus cisternal milk accumulation and milk production and composition in dairy ewes. Journal of Dairy Science 85 2197–2206Google Scholar
Moore, CL 1971 Changing machine pulsation rates and ratios during milking. Journal of Dairy Science 54 439–441Google Scholar
Ontsouka, CE, Bruckmaier, RM & Blum, JW 2003 Fractionized milk composition during removal of colostrum and mature milk. Journal of Dairy Science 86 2005–2011Google Scholar
Prasad, RMV, Sudhakar, K, Raghava Rao, E, Ramesh Gupta, B & Mahender, M 2010 Studies on the udder and teat morphology and their relationship with milk yield in Murrah buffaloes. Livestock Research for Rural Development 22 Article 20. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/1/pras22020.htmGoogle Scholar
Ricordeau, G & Labussiere, J 1970 Machine milking of goat: comparison of two pulsation ratios and efficiency of udder preparation before milking. Annales de Zootechnie 19 37–43Google Scholar
Rosen, MB, Coruolo, EV, Mochrie, RD & Dickey, DA 1983 Relationship of pulsation rate, pulsation ratio, and vacuum decrease time to milking performance. Journal of Dairy Science 66 2580–2586Google Scholar
Salama, AAK, Caja, G, Such, X, Peris, S, Sorensen, A & Knight, CH 2004 Changes in cisternal udder compartment induced by milking interval in dairy goats milked once or twice daily. Journal of Dairy Science 87 1181–1187Google Scholar
SAS 2000 SAS/STAT TM Guide for Personal Computers, Version 8.1 Edn. Cary, NC: SAS Institute IncGoogle Scholar
Stelwagen, K, Farr, VC, McFadden, HA, Prosser, CG & Davis, SR 1997 Time course of milk accumulation-induced opening of mammary tight junctions, and blood clearance of milk components. American Journal of Physiology 273 R379–R386Google Scholar
Stewart, WE & Schultz, LH 1958 The rate of machine milking of dairy cows. II. Effect of vacuum and pulsation rate. Journal of Dairy Science 41 849–856Google Scholar
Tafaro, A, Magrone, T, Jirillo, F, Martemucci, G, D'Alessandro, AG, Amati, L & Jirillo, E 2007 Immunological properties of donkey's milk: its potential use in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Current Pharmaceutical Design 13 3711–3717Google Scholar
Tesse, R, D'Alessandro, AG, Paglialunga, C, Rizzi, D, Bozza, S, Martemucci, G & Armenio, L 2008 Does donkey's milk may represent an alternative dietary support in patients with cow's milk induced IgE mediated and non-IgE-mediated disorders? Case reports. In Proceedings of the 27th Congress of European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Barcelona, SpainGoogle Scholar
The Donkey Sanctuary 2007 Consultation on the draft equine welfare code of practice: a consultation document issued by the rural directorate of the Scottish Government. Appendix B. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/200239/0053531.pdfGoogle Scholar
Thomas, CV, Force, DK, Bremel, DH & Strasser, S 1991 Effects of pulsation ratio, pulsation rate and teatcup liner design on milking rate and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 74 1243–1249Google Scholar
Tilki, M, Inal, Ş, Çolak, M & Garip, M 2005 Relationships between milk yield and udder measurements in Brown Swiss cows. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Science 29 75–81Google Scholar
Waldmann, A, Ropstad, E, Landsverk, K, Sorenson, K, Solverod, L & Dahl, E 1999 Level and distribution of progesterone in bovine milk in relation to storage in the mammary gland. Animal Reproduction Science 56 19–21Google Scholar
Zecconi, A, Hamann, J, Bronco, V & Ruffo, G 1992 Machine induced teat tissue reactions and infection risk in dairy herd free of contagious mastitis pathogens. Journal of Dairy Research 59 265–271Google Scholar