scholarly journals Vacuum level for opening the teat sphincter and the change in the teat end wall thickness in response to the machine milking of indigenous Greek goats

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 112-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Skapetas ◽  
J. Katanos ◽  
V. Laga ◽  
Ε. Sinapis ◽  
I. Hatziminaoglou
Keyword(s):  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Vacuum Level ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Lactation Stage ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Milking Machine ◽  
End Wall ◽  
Teat Canal

The aim of this paper was to study some of the teat characteristics involved in the milking ability of indigenous Greek goats such as the vacuum level of the milking machine that is required for the opening of the teat canal sphincter and the changes in the teat end wall thickness induced by milking. Thirty-six dams (12 of the first, 12 of the second and 12 of the third and subsequent lactations) were used after weaning (60 ± 5 days). Dams were milked twice a day (8:00 and 18:00 h) for 12 weeks in a milking parlour 1 × 12 side by side of Casse type with 6 milking units and a low milk line and air pipeline. The main functional characteristics of milking machine were: vacuum level 44 kPa, pulsation rate 90 pulsations/min and pulsation ratio 50:50. Every 14 days, during morning and evening milking the vacuum level that was required for the opening of the teat sphincter (VOTS) was measured. The measurement of teat end wall thickness (TEWT) was performed before and after milking. The results of this study showed that during the experimental period the mean VOTS was 23.57 ± 0.36 kPa and decreased significantly as the stage of lactation progressed (<I>P</I>< 0.001). The post-milking TEWT was 3.55% higher in comparison with that before milking (<I>P</I> < 0.01). A continuous and significant decrease in teat thickness was observed during the lactation stage (<I>P</I> < 0.001), which suggests a reaction to intramammary pressure and milk quantity in the udder. The TEWT was affected significantly by the parity (<I>P</I> < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between VOTS and TEWT before and after milking (0.4 and 0.36, respectively). It could be said that a lower vacuum level is required for the opening of the teat sphincter of the udder in goats of the indigenous Greek breed. The thicker teat end wall and more resistant sphincter could be less favourable in the machine milking of goats.

scholarly journals Effect of milking vacuum level and overmilking on cows’ teat characteristics

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pařilová ◽  
L. Stádník ◽  
A. Ježková ◽  
L. Štolc
Keyword(s):  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Vacuum Level ◽  
Milk Flow ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Teat Canal ◽  
Test Treatment

The influence of milking vacuum and milk flow level (resp. detachment level) on cows’ teat characteristics were studied in four experiments. The MIXED procedure was used to test treatment effects on the level of teat length, teat thickness at the base and half-way between the teat end and the base of udder, teat canal length, teat end width, teat wall thickness, teat cistern width after milking and on differences between these teat characteristics measured before and after milking. A total of 51 cows were included in all experiments. All the cows had clinically healthy udders. Some cows were involved in two or more experiments. Finally, 330 teat measurements of 165 cows were taken and statistically processed. Vacuum and milking with or without overmilking significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) influence monitored parameters. Milking vacuum has an influence on two of three measured external teat parameters: teat diameter measured at the base of the teat and half-way between the udder base and the teat tip. Change in teat length measured before and immediately after milking was higher when higher vacuum of 45 kPa was used. Detachment level also has an influence on teat proportions. Overmilked teats were longer and narrower compared to non-overmilked teats. Interaction between milking vacuum and detachment level influences external teat parameters as well.

How does the milk removal method affect teat tissue and teat recovery in dairy ewes?

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Alejandro ◽  
Amparo Roca ◽  
Gema Romero ◽  
Jose Ramon Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Extraction Method ◽  
Recovery Time ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Latin Squares ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Wall Area ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Teat Canal

The aim of this work was to study how machine milking (MM) carried out in suitable conditions affects teat wall thickness and teat canal length and their return after milking to pre-milking conditions, in comparison with other milk extraction methods considered biological referents: lamb suckling (LS), milk removal by catheter (RC) and hand milking (HM). Three Latin square experiments were designed, using 11 ewes in the first experiment (LS), 13 in the second (RC) and 12 in the third (HM). Each of the Latin squares was divided into two periods: in the first, the left gland of each animal was machine milked and the corresponding treatment (LS, RC and HM) was applied to the right gland. Subsequently, in the second period the extraction methods were interchanged. During the experimental period, 4 sampling days were carried out (2 in each experimental period), where ultrasound scans were taken before (B) and immediately after milking (A) and at 1 (1 h), 2 (2 h), 3 (3 h), 4 (4 h), 6 (6 h), 8 (8 h) and 10 (10 h) hours after milking finished. Teat wall thickness (TWT), teat wall area (TWA), teat end area (TEWA) and teat canal length (TCL) were measured in all the ultrasound images. MM increased TWT after milking compared with RC. TWT, TWA, TEWA and TCL were lower (P<0·05) in HM than in MM. No significant differences (P>0·05) were found between LS and MM for any variable. The extraction method affected the recovery time of the variables, with total teat recovery at 6 h after RC and 4 h after HM. In the case of LS, the TEWA and TCL values were recovered sooner, as of 3 h. Teat recovery time after MM was similar to the extraction method with which it was compared in each experiment. Thus, considering the similar increase in wall thickness and their recovery time compared with the reference methods, it was concluded that machine milking, carried out in optimum conditions and respecting the time interval between milkings usually applied on sheep farms (8–12 h), would not affect teat integrity. Moreover, given the variability observed in teat thickness recovery time between the different experiments, further research should be carried out to study which factors intrinsic and extrinsic to the animal may affect the teat wall thickness and recovery time after machine milking.

scholarly journals Measuring oxygen saturation and pulse rate in dairy cows before and after machine milking using a low-cost pulse oximeter

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldo Calcante ◽  
Francesco M. Tangorra
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Saturation ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Pulse Rate ◽  
Pulse Oximeter ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Lactation Stage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Milking Machine

The present study was aimed to measure the haemoglobin oxygen saturation and the pulse rate at teat level on dairy cows after and before milking, using a low cost pulse oximeter developed especially. The pulse oximeter has been tested during a three days of field test involving 18 Holstein Friesian cows raised in a commercial farm located in Northern Italy. The results highlighted that there is a significant difference both in haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate before and after milking considering the entire sample of animals. By dividing the sample according to the milking time (fast < 8 min and slow > 8 min), a significant difference between fast and slow cows has been observed for SpO2, whilst no difference has been noted considering the lactation stage (< 70 DIM and 71-140 DIM). About the pulse rate, on the contrary, milking time and lactation stage were not significantly different. This confirms that machine milking can create stress to the teat evoking circulatory impairment of its tissue and that pulse oximetry could be useful for detecting machine milking-induced alterations of teats. In perspective, the pulse oximeter could be used as a part of a monitoring system of the milking machine, enabling to change its operating parameters in order to minimize the mechanical stress on the teats.

Responses of the bovine teat to machine milking: measurement of changes in thickness of the teat apex

1988 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörn Hamann ◽  
Graeme A. Mein
Keyword(s):  
Positive Pressure ◽  
Vacuum Level ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Degree

SummaryChanges in the teat apex before and after different milking treatments were measured with a spring-loaded caliper device known as a cutimeter which could detect changes in thickness of the tissues of the teat end, presumably due to congestion and/or oedema, with a high degree of accuracy (± 2%) and repeatability (r = 0·99). Teat end thickness increased with increasing vacuum level. The mean increase immediately after milking with a conventional cluster was 2% for 24 teats milked at 30 kPa, 8% at 50 kPa and 21% at 70 kPa. At these vacuum levels, the mean increases for the same teats milked with an unconventional (PKME) teatcup were 10, 18 and 25% respectively. Cyclic application of 35 kPa positive pressure to the pulsation chamber of a conventional teatcup operating at 50 kPa reduced teat end thickness by 8% compared with the mean premilking value. Although most teats returned to within ± 2% of their premilking thickness values by 1 h after milking, differences were apparent between different milking systems for up to 4 h postmilking.

scholarly journals Influence of low vacuum levels on milking characteristics of sheep, goat and buffalo

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (2s) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Caria ◽  
Carlo Boselli ◽  
Lelia Murgia ◽  
Remo Rosati ◽  
Antonio Pazzona
Keyword(s):  
High Vacuum ◽  
Vacuum Level ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
The World ◽  
Study Characteristics ◽  
Principal Factors ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Teat Canal ◽  
Different Parts

Different settings of the operating parameters (pulsator rate, pulsator ratio and vacuum) are used for milking dairy species in different parts of the world. The level of the operating vacuum in machine milking is one of the principal factors which influence the integrity of the tissues and the milk quality. High vacuum levels (&gt;42 kPa) are often used to facilitate the opening of the teat canal by overcoming the biological closing forces whithin the teat sphincter, but can result in severe machine-induced teat tissue damage. In this study characteristics and performances of mechanical milking at low vacuum levels have been investigated in different dairy species. Milking times and milk productions have been obtained from milk emission curves, recorded by electronic milk-meters (LactoCorder®) during the milking at different vacuum levels of sheep, goats and buffaloes. The results of the comparative experiments clearly indicate that a low vacuum level modifies the kinetics of milk emission, the machine-on time and, thus, the throughput of milking system, in all the dairy species considered. Milk yield was satisfactory at any level tested, showing that low vacuums can be adequate to completely empty the udder. Slight differences were found across species concerning the increase in the milking time per head associated with low levels of milking vacuum Our study represents a contribution to encourage the decrease of the working vacuum during mechanical milking, also for those dairy species generally considered hard to be milked, as buffaloes. Milking should be performed applying the lowest vacuum level, compatible with not excessively prolonging milking time, in line with the animal welfare on dairy husbandry.

scholarly journals Teat anatomy affects requirements for udder preparation in Mediterranean buffaloes

2010 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Ambord ◽  
Michael H Stoffel ◽  
Rupert M Bruckmaier
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
The Other ◽  
Longitudinal Cross Section ◽  
Additional Experiment ◽  
Milk Ejection ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Milk Flow ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Teat Canal ◽  
Anatomical Parameters

The present study was conducted to assess the interrelation between teat anatomy and machine milking in dairy buffaloes raised in Switzerland. A 3-min pre-stimulation induced milk ejection before cluster attachment in most cases and caused an optimal milk removal during machine milking. In an additional experiment, longitudinal cross-section ultrasound was obtained before and after a 3-min pre-stimulation. Teat wall thickness, teat diameter, cisternal diameter and teat canal length were evaluated. It was observed that 3-min pre-stimulation dramatically reduced teat canal length whereas all the other anatomical parameters remained unchanged. The vacuum needed to open the teat canal was also measured before and after a 3-min pre-stimulation by using a special teat cup with only the mouthpiece of the liner remaining on the top of the teat cup (no liner, no pulsation). Without pre-stimulation but after wetting the teat canal by stripping one squirt of milk out of the teat, no milk could be withdrawn with a vacuum up to 39 kPa. However, after pre-stimulation, milk flow occurred in all buffaloes at a vacuum between 16 and 38 kPa. In the last experiment, the teat tissue was examined in slaughtered buffaloes and compared with teat tissue of cows. No difference was noted in histological sections and teat canal length was similar in cows and buffaloes. Proximal to the teat canal, the teat did not pass into an open cistern but the lumen was collapsed. In conclusion, buffaloes need to be well pre-stimulated because the tissue above the teat canal provides additional teat closure before milk ejection. Therefore, milk can only be obtained after pre-stimulation.

Human breast milk concentration of neopterin at various stages of lactation and during a single feeding

Pteridines ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Plata-Nazar ◽  
Ewa Woś-Wasilewska ◽  
Agnieszka Szlagatys-Sidorkiewcz ◽  
Grażyna Łuczak ◽  
Maciej Zagierski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Human Breast Milk ◽  
Human Breast ◽  
Physiological Level ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Lactation Stage ◽  
Neopterin Concentration ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Immunoenzymatic Assay

AbstractThe aim of this work was to determine the physiological level of neopterin in human breast milk, and to study its variability depending on the duration of a single feeding and the lactation stage. Breast milk samples from 74 women were collected between 2 and 4 days after delivery, and at 15, 30, and 90 days after delivery. Additionally, breast milk samples from eight women were collected before and after 7 and 15 min of breastfeeding. The concentration of neopterin in breast milk was determined by an immunoenzymatic assay. The range of breast milk neopterin concentration at various stages of lactation amounted to 15.4–19.2 nmol/L at 2–4 days after delivery, 20.2–23.0 nmol/L at day 15, 20.8–24.5 nmol/L at day 30, and 16.9–20.4 nmol/L at day 90. The level of neopterin 2–4 days after delivery was significantly lower than that at days 15 and 30; moreover, the concentration of neopterin at day 30 was significantly higher than that at day 90. No significant differences were documented between neopterin concentrations at various phases of a single feeding. While the breast milk concentration of neopterin changes depending on the stage of lactation, it remains stable throughout a single feeding.

Effects of overmilking and liner type and characteristics on teat tissue in small ruminants

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Alejandro ◽  
Amparo Roca ◽  
Gema Romero ◽  
José-Ramón Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
Wall Area ◽  
Teat Canal

The aim of this work was to study the effect on teat wall thickness and canal length in sheep and goats of overmilking for 2 min (OM+2) and of milking with used (AL; +3000 milkings) and twisted (TL; 45°) liners in sheep and goats, as well as the effect of milking goats with liners designed for sheep (SL, shorter length and diameter than liners for goats). To this end, we performed four experiments in goats and three in sheep, in a Latin square design with two experimental periods. During the experimental period 4 controls were carried out, performing ultrasound scans before and immediately after milking to determine the teat wall thickness (TWT), teat wall area (TWA), teat end area (TEWA) and teat canal length (TCL). OM+2 caused a significant increase in TWT, TWA, TEWA and TCL in goats and in TWA, TEWA and TCL in sheep. Liner features had a strong influence on the variables studied; aged liners caused significant changes in TWT and TCL in goats and in TWT in sheep; twisted liners produced a significant effect on the increase of TWT and TCL in goats, without reaching significance level in sheep; and milking goats with sheep liners led to a significant increase in TWT, TWA, TEWA and TCL. In practice, it is therefore important to avoid overmilking and the use of worn-out liners. It is also necessary to use liners designed for the morphological features of each species, taking special care to carry out periodic liner positioning revisions to ensure the benefits of pulsation on the teat end. Finally, it would be necessary to carry out long-term experiments to study whether the increase in thickness observed in some experiments is sufficient to affect milking efficiency and mammary gland health status.

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