[Effect of the duration of temporary drying off of one udder quarter in cows and milk yield and quality]

Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 1995 Sep;102(9):353-8.
[Article in German]

Abstract

In this study the influence of temporary drying off of one udder quarter regarding milk production and milk quality of lactating and udder healthy cows was examined. The milk yield and milk composition (fat, protein, lactose and somatic cells) produced by each quarter was determined at day 1 until day 7 by use of a special designed milking machine to measure the milk yield of each quarter (control period). From day 8 to 17, the right front = rf (group 1, 6 cows) and left hind = Ih (group 2, 6 cows) quarters respectively were dried off without using any antibiotics for a period of 10 days. The rf (group 3, 5 cows) and Ih (group 4, 6 cows) quarter were dried off without using any antibiotics from day 8 to 10, day 12 to 14 and day 16 to 18. The lactating quarters were milked daily and the examination of the milk was carried out as during the control period. By the end of the experiment (day 41) the milk yield of the dried off udder quarters was only 60-80% of the levels examined during the control period. Therefore no difference concerning the milk yield between all animal tested was observed. The remaining parameters checked approached the levels in the mean range within 10 days after drying off. Bacteriologically the milk samples of udder quarters of group 1 and 2 remained sterile and in milk samples of quarters of group 3 and 4 gram-positive cocci could be isolated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Female
  • Lactation*
  • Lactose / analysis
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / physiology*
  • Milk / cytology
  • Milk / metabolism*
  • Milk / standards*
  • Milk Proteins / analysis
  • Reference Values
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Milk Proteins
  • Lactose