• Title/Summary/Keyword: udder

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MILKING FREQUENCY AND UDDER CAPACITY IN FRIESIAN AND JERSEY COWS

  • Alshaikh, M.A.;Salah, M.S.;Aljobeile, H.S.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.8 no.5
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    • pp.471-476
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    • 1995
  • The relationship between udder maximum capacity (36-h accumulated milk yield) and the response of dairy cows (average producers) to thrice-daily milking was studied in 25 Friesian and 15 Jersey cows using the technique of half-udder study. Maximum half-udder capacity (acual yield) as well as whole udder capacity (estimated by udder measurements) was not altered significantly after 12-day thrice-daily milking period compared with a similar twice-daily period, although there was a positive response to increased milking frequency on secretion rate during this period. No effect of breed, season of the year or stage of lactation was observed on the above relationship. Hours-worth of capacity was higher with increased milking frequency, with Jersey than Friesian. These results suggest that udder capacity is not a limiting factor in increased milk production.

The Influence of Dam Weight, Body Condition and Udder Scores on Calf Birth Weight and Preweaning Growth Rates in Beef Cattle

  • Paputungan, U.;Makarechian, M.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.435-439
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    • 2000
  • Records of weight, age, body condition at calving and udder characteristics scores of 425 beef cows and birth weights and periodical weights of their offspring from birth to weaning were analyzed to study the effect of body weight, condition and udder characteristic scores of dams on birth weight and Preweaning growth of their offspring. Dam's body condition (fat reserve) at calving were scored on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=extremely thin and 5=extremely fat) and dam's udder characteristics were scored on a scale of 1 to 7 (l=udder well attached with small teats and 7=at least one quarters not functional). Dams were from three distinct breed groups and were mated in single sire mating groups within each breed group for 45 days. Within each breed group and year, the dams were classified into high, medium and low based on their weights at the time of parturition. The data were analysed using covariance analysis. In general, calves born to heavier dams were heavier at birth and had higher rate of Preweaning growth. The effect of dam's body condition score on the calf birth weight was not significant. However, cows with average body condition score of 2.5 or 3.0 gave birth to calves that had higher pre weaning growth rates up to weaning than those born to calves with higher body condition score. The udder characteristics score did not affect calf birth weight as expected; however, cows with udder score of 3 (udder well attached with large teats) produced calves with higher preweaning growth rate than those with smaller teats. Based on the results, it can be concluded that maintaining animals with average body condition and weight would result in more efficient calf production. In addition, cows with well attached udder and large teats would provide a better maternal environment for Preweaning growth rates of their calves.

THE PHENOTYPIC RELATIONS BETWEEN SOMATIC CELL COUNTS AND MILK CONSTITUENTS OF CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL MASTITIS MILK OF DAIRY COWS

  • Kobayashi, S.;Ohtani, T.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.293-298
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    • 1990
  • Pathogen infections or mastitis inflammations usually develop differently on each udder of lactating cow. Although healthy udders will be attacked by the mastitis pathogens or the pathogens from blood in a long term, they would not be always inflamed. Somatic cell counts (SCC) in milk, which is utilized as an index of mastitis diagnosis, and the relation among SCC and milk constituents will have to be examined on each udder individually. Twelve cows of a Holstein cow herd in Nasu Research Station, which were suffering clinical or non-clinical mastitis, were selected, and SCC and milk constituents on each udder milk were measured. The effects of mastitis infection on udder milk components were relatively small except lactose content on udder milks of non-clinical mastitis (SCC< $10.0{\times}10^5$ per ml milk). On udder milks of clinical mastitis, however, high negative correlations were recognized between SCC and milk components. On different sampling days, high contents of fat and protein corresponded to that of total solids.

Effect of low frequency oscillations during milking on udder temperature and welfare of dairy cows

  • Antanas Sederevicius;Vaidas Oberauskas;Rasa Zelvyte;Judita Zymantiene;Kristina Musayeva;Juozas Zemaitis;Vytautas Jurenas;Algimantas Bubulis;Joris Vezys
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.65 no.1
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    • pp.244-257
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    • 2023
  • The study aimed to investigate the effect of low-frequency oscillations on the cow udder, milk parameters, and animal welfare during the automated milking process. The study's objective was to investigate the impact of low-frequency oscillations on the udder and teats' blood circulation by creating a mathematical model of mammary glands, using milkers and vibrators to analyze the theoretical dynamics of oscillations. The mechanical vibration device developed and tested in the study was mounted on a DeLaval automatic milking machine, which excited the udder with low-frequency oscillations, allowing the analysis of input parameters (temperature, oscillation amplitude) and using feedback data, changing the device parameters such as vibration frequency and duration. The experimental study was performed using an artificial cow's udder model with and without milk and a DeLaval milking machine, exciting the model with low-frequency harmonic oscillations (frequency range 15-60 Hz, vibration amplitude 2-5 mm). The investigation in vitro applying low-frequency of the vibration system's first-order frequencies in lateral (X) direction showed the low-frequency values of 23.5-26.5 Hz (effective frequency of the simulation analysis was 25.0 Hz). The tested values of the first-order frequency of the vibration system in the vertical (Y) direction were 37.5-41.5 Hz (effective frequency of the simulation analysis was 41.0 Hz), with higher amplitude and lower vibration damping. During in vivo experiments, while milking, the vibrator was inducing mechanical milking-similar vibrations in the udder. The vibrations were spreading to the entire udder and caused physiotherapeutic effects such as activated physiological processes and increased udder base temperature by 0.57℃ (p < 0.001), thus increasing blood flow in the udder. Used low-frequency vibrations did not significantly affect milk yield, milk composition, milk quality indicators, and animal welfare. The investigation results showed that applying low-frequency vibration on a cow udder during automatic milking is a non-invasive, efficient method to stimulate blood circulation in the udder and improve teat and udder health without changing milk quality and production. Further studies will be carried out in the following research phase on clinical and subclinical mastitis cows.

Evaluation of accuracies of genomic predictions for body conformation traits in Korean Holstein

  • Md Azizul Haque;Mohammad Zahangir Alam;Asif Iqbal;Yun Mi Lee;Chang Gwon Dang;Jong Joo Kim
    • Animal Bioscience
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.555-566
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    • 2024
  • Objective: This study aimed to assess the genetic parameters and accuracy of genomic predictions for twenty-four linear body conformation traits and overall conformation scores in Korean Holstein dairy cows. Methods: A dataset of 2,206 Korean Holsteins was collected, and genotyping was performed using the Illumina Bovine 50K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. The traits investigated included body traits (stature, height at front end, chest width, body depth, angularity, body condition score, and locomotion), rump traits (rump angle, rump width, and loin strength), feet and leg traits (rear leg set, rear leg rear view, foot angle, heel depth, and bone quality), udder traits (udder depth, udder texture, udder support, fore udder attachment, front teat placement, front teat length, rear udder height, rear udder width, and rear teat placement), and overall conformation score. Accuracy of genomic predictions was assessed using the single-trait animal model genomic best linear unbiased prediction method implemented in the ASReml-SA v4.2 software. Results: Heritability estimates ranged from 0.10 to 0.50 for body traits, 0.21 to 0.35 for rump traits, 0.13 to 0.29 for feet and leg traits, and 0.05 to 0.46 for udder traits. Rump traits exhibited the highest average heritability (0.29), while feet and leg traits had the lowest estimates (0.21). Accuracy of genomic predictions varied among the twenty-four linear body conformation traits, ranging from 0.26 to 0.49. The heritability and prediction accuracy of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) for the overall conformation score were 0.45 and 0.46, respectively. The GEBVs for body conformation traits in Korean Holstein cows had low accuracy, falling below the 50% threshold. Conclusion: The limited response to selection for body conformation traits in Korean Holsteins may be attributed to both the low heritability of these traits and the lower accuracy estimates for GEBVs. Further research is needed to enhance the accuracy of GEBVs and improve the selection response for these traits.

Phenotypic Factor Analysis for Linear Type Traits in Beijing Holstein Cows

  • Chu, M.X.;Shi, S.K.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.15 no.11
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    • pp.1527-1530
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    • 2002
  • Factor analysis was applied to the phenotypic correlation matrix of 15 linear type traits (scored linearly 1 to 50 points) for 2035 Holstein cows of 38 sires computed from data collected between 1988 and 1992 in Beijing Shuangqiao Farm and Beijing Xijiao Farm. The 15 linear type traits were stature, body strength, body depth, dairy form, rump angle, rump length, rump width, rear leg side view, foot angle, fore udder attachment, rear udder height, rear udder width, udder cleft, udder depth and teat placement rear view. The first four components accounted for 49.1% of the total variance in type scores. Factor 1 reflected strong cows, with deep bodies, with long and wide rumps, and tall in stature. Factor 2 reflected cows with well attached fore udders, wide rear udders and whose udders were supported by strong suspensory ligaments with close teat placement. Factor 3 reflected cows with good dairyness, sickled in the hocks, high rear udders and udder floors above the hocks. Factor 4 reflected cows with sloping rumps from hooks to pins and with steep foot angle. Principal component and factor analyses are useful to clarify the relationships among type traits.

Relationship of Somatic Cell Score and Udder Type Traits of Holstein Cattle (체세포점수와 홀스타인 유방형질간의 관계)

  • Choi, Tae Jeong;Seo, Kang Seok;Kim, Sidong;Park, Byung Ho;Choi, Je Kwan;Yoon, Ho Paek;Na, Seung Hwan;Son, Sam Kyu;Kwon, Oh Sub;Cho, Kwang Hyun
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.50 no.3
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    • pp.285-292
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    • 2008
  • Data were taken from the dairy herd improve- ment program from the year 2000, composed of 10,929 first lactation cows consisting of 290,144 test-day records and 37,723 udder type records. The objective of the study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlation between fore udder attachment, rear udder height, rear udder width, udder cleft, udder depth, and somatic cell score (SCS) and to calculate heritability of udder depth, front teat length and SCS in Holstein cattle in Korea. The variance component estima- tion using test day model was determined by a derivative-free algorithm-restricted maximum likeli- hood(DF-REML) analysis method. Generally phenotypic correlations were very low between udder traits and lactation SCS which varied from -0.03 to -0.06. Heritability of all type traits and SCS was smaller than 0.12. The results of this study would be applicable to SCS using linear genetic evaluation for future studies.

Studies on the udder characteristics of Korean Holstein cows (국내 젖소의 유방 특성에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Jeong-chi;Lee, Chung-gil;Lee, Chai-yong
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.44 no.1
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    • pp.143-150
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    • 2004
  • This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between the occurrence of mastitis and the conformation of udders, teats, and teat tips of Holstein cows raised in Korea. Udders, teats, and teat tips were categorized by their conformation and the teat length, teat diameter and the distance from the tip of teat to the ground of 259 cows were measured. The most common shapes of udder, teats and teat tip were milking machine udder (27.4%), U-shaped teats (53.9%) and disk teat tip (53.8%), respectively. Mean teat length and diameters were 4.78 cm and 3.11 cm, respectively. The length and the diameter of front teats were significantly longer and wider than those of rear teats. However, the distance of the tip of teats to the ground was similar between front teats $(50.5{\pm}7.51cm)$ and rear teats $(50.7{\pm}8.83cm)$. The average daily milk yield was 26.4 kg/day, and the highest milk yield was observed from cows with large udder shape and above 4th lactation.

Study on the Relationship between Udder and Teat Characteristics and Somatic Cell Count (유방과 유두의 형태와 체세포수에 대한 연구)

  • Lee, Jeong-Chi;Lee, Chai-Yong
    • Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.172-176
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    • 2007
  • The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between udder and teat characteristics and somatic cell count (SCC). A total of 749 (73.1%) milk samples from 1,024 quarters of 259 Holstein cows contained less than 200,000 somatic cells/ml, while 132 (12.9%) quarters contained more than 500,000 somatic cells/ml. Prior to data analysis, somatic cell counts were transformed to natural logarithm. The mean SCS {$log_e(SCS/10^3)$} of milk samples from the front quarters was lower than milk samples from the rear quarters. The highest SCS was observed from cows with the step-shaped udder and the pear-shaped teats, respectively. Increased SCS was observed from cows with large teat diameter, short teat length, short distance between the teat tip to floor (p<0.05) and with increase in parity, respectively.