Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows

Anatomical characteristics of dairy cattle are not equal for all breeds, meaning that the morphological traits of udder and teats could favor an individual performance or a determined breed. Changes in teat tissue after machine milking occur because of the negative influence of the vacuum and mechan...

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Main Authors: Tina Bobić, Pero Mijić, Goran Vučković, Maja Gregić, Mirjana Baban, Vesna Gantner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Croatian Dairy Union 2014-05-01
Series:Mljekarstvo
Online Access:http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=179836
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author Tina Bobić
Pero Mijić
Goran Vučković
Maja Gregić
Mirjana Baban
Vesna Gantner
author_facet Tina Bobić
Pero Mijić
Goran Vučković
Maja Gregić
Mirjana Baban
Vesna Gantner
author_sort Tina Bobić
collection DOAJ
description Anatomical characteristics of dairy cattle are not equal for all breeds, meaning that the morphological traits of udder and teats could favor an individual performance or a determined breed. Changes in teat tissue after machine milking occur because of the negative influence of the vacuum and mechanical forces of the teat cup liner. Duration and performance of machine milking also depend on the udder and teat conformation and milkability traits of cows. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in morphological characteristics of Simmental and Holstein cows before and after machine milking, as well as to elaborate the differences in some of milkability traits of the cows during process of milking. A correlation (from -0.30 to 0.37) was determined between exterior and interior traits of teats and the performance of milkability traits. In both cow breeds, statistically significant difference (p<0.0001) was found between the pre- and post-milking values in all investigated traits, with exception of teat end width. Holstein cows had significantly (p<0.001) higher amount of milk per milking, maximum and average milk flow, while cows of the Simmental breed had longer milking time duration, but without statistical significance. In comparison to Holstein breed, results of internal morphological traits of teats showed that cows of Simmental breed had longer teat canals and wider teat ends for both front and rear teats. Holstein breed compared to Simmental had thinner teats wall, but wider teat cistern. If compared to pre-milking stage, differences in teat cistern width and teat wall thickness that occur after milking were more expressed in the Holstein breed than in Simmental. Simmental cows had significantly (p<0.05) longer and wider rear teats. Future research should focus on proving the differences in changes of teat tissue due to milking between different groups of cows, as depending on the milk flow. Ultrasound method of recording can be applied in such assessment.
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issn 0026-704X
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series Mljekarstvo
spelling doaj-art-2d57428f41d34f68a00aaba09bc151812025-08-20T03:18:23ZengCroatian Dairy UnionMljekarstvo0026-704X1846-40252014-05-016427178Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cowsTina Bobić 0Pero Mijić 1Goran Vučković2Maja Gregić3Mirjana Baban4Vesna Gantner 5Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Kralja Petra Svačića 1 d, 31000 Osijek, Croatia Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Kralja Petra Svačića 1 d, 31000 Osijek, Croatia Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Kralja Petra Svačića 1 d, 31000 Osijek, Croatia Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Kralja Petra Svačića 1 d, 31000 Osijek, Croatia Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Kralja Petra Svačića 1 d, 31000 Osijek, Croatia Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture, Kralja Petra Svačića 1 d, 31000 Osijek, Croatia Anatomical characteristics of dairy cattle are not equal for all breeds, meaning that the morphological traits of udder and teats could favor an individual performance or a determined breed. Changes in teat tissue after machine milking occur because of the negative influence of the vacuum and mechanical forces of the teat cup liner. Duration and performance of machine milking also depend on the udder and teat conformation and milkability traits of cows. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in morphological characteristics of Simmental and Holstein cows before and after machine milking, as well as to elaborate the differences in some of milkability traits of the cows during process of milking. A correlation (from -0.30 to 0.37) was determined between exterior and interior traits of teats and the performance of milkability traits. In both cow breeds, statistically significant difference (p<0.0001) was found between the pre- and post-milking values in all investigated traits, with exception of teat end width. Holstein cows had significantly (p<0.001) higher amount of milk per milking, maximum and average milk flow, while cows of the Simmental breed had longer milking time duration, but without statistical significance. In comparison to Holstein breed, results of internal morphological traits of teats showed that cows of Simmental breed had longer teat canals and wider teat ends for both front and rear teats. Holstein breed compared to Simmental had thinner teats wall, but wider teat cistern. If compared to pre-milking stage, differences in teat cistern width and teat wall thickness that occur after milking were more expressed in the Holstein breed than in Simmental. Simmental cows had significantly (p<0.05) longer and wider rear teats. Future research should focus on proving the differences in changes of teat tissue due to milking between different groups of cows, as depending on the milk flow. Ultrasound method of recording can be applied in such assessment.http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=179836
spellingShingle Tina Bobić
Pero Mijić
Goran Vučković
Maja Gregić
Mirjana Baban
Vesna Gantner
Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows
Mljekarstvo
title Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows
title_full Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows
title_fullStr Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows
title_full_unstemmed Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows
title_short Morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows
title_sort morphological and milkability breed differences of dairy cows
url http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=179836
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AT goranvuckovic morphologicalandmilkabilitybreeddifferencesofdairycows
AT majagregic morphologicalandmilkabilitybreeddifferencesofdairycows
AT mirjanababan morphologicalandmilkabilitybreeddifferencesofdairycows
AT vesnagantner morphologicalandmilkabilitybreeddifferencesofdairycows