Serum prolactin levels in women with excessive milk production. Normalization by transitory prolactin inhibition

1985 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Peters ◽  
F. Geisthövel ◽  
M. Breckwoldt

Abstract. Serum prolactin levels and milk yield were studied in 27 puerperae with excessive milk production (polygalactia) and compared with 30 normally lactating puerperae. In order to normalize polygalactia, 14 of these women were treated with 2.5 mg bromocriptine per day for 3 days starting on post-partum day 5, 13 women received placebo. Milk flow in polygalactic women started significantly earlier than in puerperae with normal milk yield and developed mean milk volumes of 816 g per day on post-partum day 4. Serum prolactin levels did not differ from levels of puerperae with normal milk yield. There was no correlation between serum prolactin and milk yield. Bromocriptine treatment resulted in a sharp but reversible decline of serum prolactin levels followed by a significant reduction of milk production. Bromocriptine could not be detected in milk specimens, while serum levels showed significant amounts. In placebo treated women prolactin levels and milk yield remained unaffected. These data indicate that serum prolactin concentrations of puerperae with polygalactia are within the normal post-partum range. Short term prolactin suppression by bromocriptine can reduce milk yield, without complete ablactation.

1979 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bar-Anan ◽  
M. Soller

ABSTRACTThe effects of days-open on milk yields in current lactations and in following lactations were estimated from 71 911 current and 68 693 following lactation records. Yields were expressed as 305-day, total and annual records, where annual record = 365 × (total yield/days between calvings).The data were grouped according to current days-open, corrected for initial yield differences and analysed separately for heifers and cows in Moshav (moderate-yielding) and Kibbutz (high-yielding) herds. Current 305-day records increased by 15 to 18 kg milk/day-open up to 90 days-open, and 2 to 3 kg/day-open thereafter. In contrast, the effects of increasing days-open on annual yields were generally small and negative, being positive only for heifers up to 90 days-open. Thus 305-day records heavily under-rated annual yields of fertile cows. For current lactations, 70 to 100 days-open for heifers and 30 to 50 days-open for cows resulted in the highest annual production. Yields in following lactations were positively associated with days-open in the previous lactation. The effect was highest in high-yielding herds, suggesting that high-yielding cows respond positively to some rest between calvings.Combining the effects of days-open on current and following lactation yields and on the calf crop: in high-yielding herds heifers had the highest productivity when mated not earlier than 70 days post partum, while in moderately-yielding herds days-open did not affect productivity. Cows in high-yielding herds achieved highest productivity at 41 to 90 days-open, while cows in moderately-yielding herds were most productive when mated as early as possible.A comparison of the economic value of sire fertility and sire transmitting ability for milk production showed that fertility may often be over-rated.


1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. SHARMA ◽  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
J. A. MCKIRDY

In experiment 1, 12 cows were used to compare the two (0–0) rapeseed meal (1788 and Tower) varieties with the commercial rapeseed meal (CRSM) and soybean meal (SBM). Feed intake, milk yield and fat content were not different (P > 0.05) among the four treatments; however, protein content was higher (P < 0.05) for the cows fed CRSM and SBM diets than for those fed the 1788–RSM diet. But more (P < 0.05) milk fat was produced by the cows fed 1788–RSM than by those fed CRSM and SBM diets. In experiment 2, eight cows were used to determine the effects of replacing SBM with Tower and also replacing a portion of Tower with urea (TU) in a mixed or extruded (TUE) form on feed intake, milk yield and nitrogen (N) retention. No differences were observed in feed consumption, milk yield or composition among the treatments. Serum thyroxine (T4) level was higher (P < 0.05) for the cows fed SBM than for those fed the 1788–SBM and was similar to levels for cows fed CRSM and Tower in the first experiment. However, no differences were found in thyroxine level in the second experiment. Extrusion of Tower–urea mixture increased (P < 0.05) the N retention compared with other treatments. These short-term studies suggest that up to 25% Tower RSM can be used in dairy rations without adverse effect on performance.


1978 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. L. P. Le Du ◽  
R. D. Baker ◽  
J. M. Barker

SummaryTwo experiments with dairy cows and one with suckler cows and their calves were conducted to examine the use of secretion rate measurements for estimating total milk production. In the first experiment both 4- and 6- h intervals between measurements gave similar estimates of total 7-d milk yield. The second experiment compared estimated and measured milk composition as well as yield. Milk and solids-not-fat yields were underestimated with dairy cows as a result of an extended milking interval before measurement. However, fat yield was overestimated, indicating that all residual milk was not removed at the first oxytocinaided milking. It was concluded that for the beef cow, previous interval effects would be eliminated by the frequency of calf suckling, but that residual milk effects might cause a 3–6% and a 16% overestimation of milk and fat yields respectively.In the third experiment, the milk yield of suckler cows was estimated from measurements of secretion rate and from changes in calf weight; good agreement was obtained provided there were at least 3 consecutive controlled sucklings.


2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland G Karcagi ◽  
Tibor Gaál ◽  
Piroska Ribiczey ◽  
Gyula Huszenicza ◽  
Ferenc Husvéth

The aim of the study was to test the effect of rumen-inert fat supplements of different chemical forms or containing different unsaturated/saturated (U/S) fatty acid contents on milk production, milk composition and liver and blood metabolic variables of high-yielding dairy cows in the peripartal period. Thirty Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were divided into three equal groups and fed a corn silage-based diet, without fat supplementation (control) or supplemented with 11·75 MJ NEl per day of calcium soaps of palm oil fatty acids (CAS; U/S=61/39) or with 11·75 MJ NEl per day of hydrogenated palm oil triglyceride (HTG; U/S=6/94). Each diet was fed from 25±2 d prior to the expected calving to 100±5 d post partum. Compared with the control, both CAS and HTG supplementation resulted in an increase of the average milk yield. Milk fat content and fat-corrected milk yield were higher in the HTG group but lower in the CAS group than in the control group. In all groups liver triglyceride concentrations (TGL) increased from 15 d prepartum to 5 d post partum, and then decreased thereafter. At 5 d TGL was lower in the HTG group than control or CAS cows. No significant differences were detected in TGL among dietary treatments at 15 d prepartum and 25 d post partum. Higher plasma glucose and insulin and lower non-esterified fattay acids and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations and aspartate aminotransferase activity were measured in the HTG group than in the control or CAS groups at 5 d or 25 d post partum. Our results show that HTG may provide a better energy supply for high-yielding dairy cows in negative energy balance than CAS around calving.


1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. N. Khan ◽  
A. Dahlin ◽  
A. H. Zafar ◽  
M. Saleem ◽  
M. A. Chaudhry ◽  
...  

AbstractThe influence of genetic and environmental factors on body weight and reproduction and their relationship to milk production traits, were studied in data of about 4700 Sahiwal cows from Pakistan. (Co)variance components were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure based on the expectation maximization algorithm applying an animal model. Mean weights of females were: at birth, 21·6 kg; at 1 year, 130 kg; and at 2 years, 222 kg. Records of age at calving, cow weight post partum and calving interval were studied in the first three parities, with parities considered as different traits. For primiparous cows the average values of these traits were: 44·1 months, 319 kg and 465 days, respectively. Mean stillbirth rate was 5·3%. Heritabilities ranged for body weight traits from 0·08 to 0·21, for age at calving from 0·10 to 0·13 and for calving interval from 0·03 to 0·07. Genetic correlations of age at first calving with calving interval and 305-day milk yield were low. The genetic correlation between 305-day milk yield and calving interval was positive (unfavourable) in first parity (0·68) but negative in the third (-0·47). Cows with a high genetic value for 305-day milk yield were heavier at first calving than were low-yielding cows (rg 0·57). The genetic change in reproductive traits over the period studied was close to zero, whereas a marked deterioration was found in phenotypic performance. It is concluded that improved feeding and management, along with some selection against poor reproduction in cows, are important for improvement of reproductive performance.


2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1507-1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Aurélio de Felicio Porcionato ◽  
Weber Vilas Boas Soares ◽  
Carolina Barbosa Malek dos Reis ◽  
Cristina Simões Cortinhas ◽  
Lucinéia Mestieri ◽  
...  

The aim of this work was to evaluate the association between milk flow, teat morphological measurements and subclinical mastitis prevalence in Gir cows. Eighty cows in the 2nd and 3rd lactations, with 90 to 200 days of lactation, were divided according to milk flow during milking into fast or slow groups. Teat morphometry was assessed by ultrasound scanning of the right anterior teat and external measurements. Milk samples were collected for somatic cells count (SCC) and microbiological culture. The effect of milk flow during milking was evaluated by analysis of variance of milk yield, SCC, morphometry and external measurements. The association of morphometry and external measurements of the teats with the SCC and microorganisms found in milk were analysed. Milk flow was significantly correlated to milk production. Gir cows with slower milk flow had longer teat canal and greater milk yield, in comparison to cows with fast milk flow. Teat-end to floor distance influenced SCC of Gir cows. Prevalence of subclinical mastitis and the type of mastitis-causing pathogens were not affected by milk flow during milking


2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Manzur ◽  
José-Ramón Díaz ◽  
Amine Mehdid ◽  
Nemesio Fernández ◽  
Cristòfol Peris

Two experiments were carried out to compare mechanical milking in mid-level (ML) and low-level (LL) milkline in goats. The first trial used 40 intramammary infection (IMI)-free goats that had been milked in ML during a pre-experimental period of 4±1 weeks post partum. These animals were divided into two groups (n=20), randomly assigning each group to ML or LL milking for a 17-week experimental period. During this period, several strategies were applied to increase teat exposure to pathogens in both experimental groups. The IMI rate was the same in both experimental groups (30% of goats), although the majority of new infections appeared earlier in ML (weeks 1–5) than in LL (weeks 7–16). Teat-end vacuum range (maximum minus minimum vacuum) was higher in ML than in LL, but no significant differences were found in the remaining variables [milk production and composition, somatic cell count (SCC), frequency of liner slips+teatcups fall off]. In the second experiment, in a crossover design (54 goats in fourth month of lactation; 2 treatments, ML and LL, in 2 experimental periods each lasting 1 week) it was observed that both the milk fractioning (reduced machine milk and increased machine stripping) and average machine milk flow worsened slightly in ML milking; in contrast, no differences were observed in total milking time or teat thickness changes after milking. It was concluded that the differences found between ML and LL are not sufficiently important to discourage breeders from using ML in goat milking.


Author(s):  
Andrea Szentléleki ◽  
Jeremy Hervé ◽  
Ferenc Pajor ◽  
Daniel Falta ◽  
János Tőzsér

The aim of this study was to evaluate the change of temperament of Holstein cows scored before and during milking during the entire lactation and to calculate correlation between temperament measured in the two moments as well as milk production traits and temperament. Observations were carried out on 17 primiparous Holstein Friesian cows starting their lactation within 85 days. Measurements of temperament and milk production traits were taken once in each month of the lactation, during the morning milking, in a milking parlour. Temperament was assessed in a 5-point scale during udder preparation and milking procedure (1: very nervous, 5: very quiet). Data of milk yield and milk flow were collected individually on each test day morning. Results showed changes during the lactation in temperament of cows scored directly before milking (P < 0.01), however, temperament during milking did not alter with months (P > 0.10). By correlation coefficients, behaviour assessed in the two moments cannot be regarded as the same. In addition loose, significant relations were found only between milk traits and temperament before milking.


1963 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Riitta Fuchs ◽  
Gorm Wagner

ABSTRACT A method of estimating oxytocin output following physiological stimuli is described which is applicable to experiments in conscious, undisturbed and unrestrained animals. The method consists of recording the uterine responses in puerperal rabbits with a permanently inserted intrauterine balloon as an index of neurohypophysial activation. Previous work has been confirmed on the essential role of oxytocin in milk ejection in rabbits. Only negligible amounts of milk are obtained by the young without any endogenous or exogenous oxytocin, but normal release of oxytocin can occur in spite of diminished or completely inhibited milk flow. The amount of oxytocin released during suckling depends on the strength of the stimulus in a characteristic fashion, and the strength of stimuli again depends both on the number of young suckling simultaneously and on their physical maturity. In the early puerperium (up to 3–4 days post-partum) each suckling young evokes a response comparable to that of 0.5–1.0 mU of oxytocin injected intravenously, whether suckling alone or together with its litter-mates. Only a few grams of milk are removed by each young at that time. After this period, the suckling of 1 or 2 young separately still elicits the release of only a small amount of oxytocin (1–2 mU), but during suckling of a whole litter from 50 to 100 mU are liberated, which corresponds to 10–15 mU for each young. The full milk yield can only be obtained by each young while suckling simultaneously with the whole litter. The amount of oxytocin released is independent of the duration of suckling, of the quantity of milk available, and of the milk flow. Once lactation has been established, the oxytocin output during suckling on an »once-daily« regime remains fairly constant at least for a large part of the lactation period. It is possible that at the end of the lactating period, the amount secreted during suckling is increased to about 250 mU or even more.


Author(s):  
Shiwani Tiwari ◽  
T. K. Mohanty ◽  
T. K. Patbandha ◽  
A. Kumaresan ◽  
M. Bhakat ◽  
...  

Mastitis is considered as one of the important production disease in dairy cows which incurs huge economic losses to dairy industry, despite considerable efforts has been dedicated to solve it for the last two decades. In the present study, the impact of dry cow therapy (DCT) on incidence of clinical mastitis, milk yield and composition in crossbred cows was studied. About 20 healthy crossbred cows were selected at dry-off and randomly allotted either to control or treatment group. Daily milk yield of cows was recorded up to 45 days post-partum and fortnightly separate quarter wise milk samples were collected for estimation of milk composition. While no quarter in the treatment group showed clinical mastitis, 33.33% of quarters in control group showed clinical mastitis within 45 days post-partum. Milk production increased by 9.71, 8.40 and 18.18% during first, second and third fortnight with overall value 11.84% during the entire 45 days post-calving period in DCT treated cows compared to control group. Also, the overall fat-corrected milk, solid-corrected milk and energy-corrected milk production following 45 days post-partum increased significantly (P<0.05) by 22.71, 23.70 and 22.80%, respectively in treated group than control group. However, overall mean milk components such as fat, protein, lactose, SNF and TS remained similar between treatment and control groups. Taken together, the above results indicated that DCT increased milk yield by reducing incidence of clinical mastitis during early lactation.


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