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 Rader, E. R. Articles by Richardson, D. O. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Rader, E. R. Articles by Richardson, D. O.

Abnormal Mammary Development of the Young Dairy Heifer and Its Association with Future Performance¹

Agricultural Research Service, USDA and Department of Dairy Science, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Columbus

ABSTRACT

Palpation data for 22 Holstein heifer calves, whose udder development was judged abnormal by arbitrary standards, were obtained. Three udder type evaluation scores, assigned at three months after first calving, were also obtained for each of these animals and their contemporaries.

Of 32 glands, on 22 animals, which were evaluated as abnormal as young heifers, 19 (59%) on 13 heifers were classified as blind when the animals came into production. The remaining nine animals had serious udder defects, recorded at the time of type evaluation.

Type evaluation scores at three months after first calving for three udder characteristics were significantly different for 18 animals classified as abnormal during the palpation period, when compared with their 54 contemporaries.

A second group of 179 animals which had low udder palpation grades as heifers tended to leave the herd at rates and for reasons somewhat different from those usually expected. A rather high percentage (31%) of the animals in the heifer group was sold as nonbreeders. There is some slight indication that the lack of the development of the mammary system, a secondary sex organ in the young heifer, may be associated with endocrine function, which may influence subsequent reproductive performance.

¹ Contribution from a cooperative project between the Dairy Cattle Research Branch, ARS, USDA, and Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, and a contributing project to Regional Project NC-2.