HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Swett, W. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Swett, W. W.

Relation of Conformation and Anatomy of the Dairy Cow to Her Milk and Butterfat Producing Capacity

Udder Capacity and Milk Secretion

Dairy Cattle Breeding Investigations, Bureau of Dairy Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

ABSTRACT

Although the mammary gland is one of the most important parts of the dairy cow, its internal anatomy, its capacity, and its performance are none too well understood. In much of the literature on dairy type or conformation, comment on these points is for some reason omitted. References which are available are not by any means in close agreement.

Concerning the general structure of the mammary gland Sisson (12) is perhaps most specific, yet he does not comment on its capacity or the milk-secreting process. Plumb (10) discusses udder structure only in a general way and states that no such irregularity of form is presented by any other anatomical part of the domestic animal as by the mammary gland of the dairy cow. Wing (13) gives a general discussion of the glandular make-up. Curtis (3) states that the size of the udder is indicative of capacity for milk production just as the size of the barrel is indicative of the capacity for food consumption.

¹ Acknowledgment is made to T. E. Woodward and Dr. F. W. Miller for helpful suggestions and assistance in the conduct of this experiment; and to Dr. L. A. Rogers for determination of milk analyses.