Colostrum formation and lactogenesis in the mammary gland and the timing of parturition are regulated by endocrine signals. Changes in progesterone (P4) and prolactin (PRL) are considered key events that inhibit colostrum formation, trigger parturition, and signal the onset of lactation. The goal of our study was to determine if colostrum yield and composition and immunoglobulin transfer are af...

The objective of this study was to compare some husbandry procedures on the base of physiological stress parameters and evaluate the welfare status in sheep. Forty ewes were used as the study material. Measurements were taken during several routine husbandry procedures such as milking, shearing, weighing, loading and hoof care. Data regarding time spent for each application, as well as heart an...

A milking operation simulation model was developed using an object-oriented approach. Six object classes were defined: things, living things, animals, operator, cow, and parlor. Operator, cow, and parlor classes were the basic units of the model. Each object in the model is a self-contained unit that represents its real world counterpart. The model operation and events were scheduled by sending...

Milk yield and plasma oxytocin (OT), prolactin (PRL), and cortisol (CORT) during suckling and machine milking were measured in multiparous ewes subjected to a mixed management system of 3 sucklings and two daily milkings. Peak hormones were significantly increased and were similar during suckling and milking for PRL (181 vs. 163.3 ng x mL(-1)) and CORT (12.5 vs. 11.5 ng x mL(-1)). During the pe...

The effect of milking stimulus on the plasma prolactin concentration of lactating cows and goats was investigated by a radioimmunologic procedure. Plasma prolactin level in seven cows was increased abruptly 1 to 2mins. after the start of milking. On the other hand, the level of the hormone was increased shortly before the onset of milking in two cows at early lactation stage. In the goats at mi...

The production performance of multiparous lactating Sahiwal cows (n = 24) was evaluated according to both milking frequency and method. Selected animals were randomly divided into four groups containing six animals each under a completely randomized design. Cows in groups A & B were milked by the hand milking method three times per day, respectively. Similarly, cows in groups C & D were milked ...

Following colostrum management training, a randomized field trial was conducted on a California dairy to determine the effect of supplementing pooled colostrum with either colostrum-derived replacer (CDR) or second-milking colostrum (transition milk) on failure of passive transfer (FPT) and preweaning morbidity risks. A total of 166 calves were randomly assigned to 4L first-milking pooled colos...

This review describes the effects of milking (routine and management) on milk yield and milk quality on dairy ruminants and examines the physiological effects of milking on the synthesis and secretion of milk. During milking, differences in the composition of milk as a result of milk ejection reflex are observed: the cisternal milk, immediately available, contains little fat, then milk ejection...

The hypothesis was that sensors currently available on farm that monitor behavioral and physiological characteristics have potential for the detection of lameness in dairy cows. This was tested by applying additive logistic regression to variables derived from sensor data. Data were collected between November 2010 and June 2012 on 5 commercial pasture-based dairy farms. Sensor data from weigh s...

The relationships between cow nutrition, restricted suckling and milking patterns and their effect on milk yield, milk composition and calf growth were examined under tropical conditions in south east Mexico. Eleven Bos indicus 3 Bos taurus cows, 14 days postpartum, with calves weighing on average 37 kg were used in a change-over experimental design. All cows were fed Cynodon nlemfuensis hay ad...