Investigations on Milk Flow and Milk Yield from Teats with Milk Flow Disorders

¹ Veterinary Clinic Babenhausen, Germany
² Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Canada
³ Institute of Physiology, Milk and Food Research Center Weihenstephan, Technical University Munich, Germany
⁴ Bavarian Animal Health Service, Grub, Germany

The objective of this study was to investigate peak milk flow, average milk flow, and milk yield in teats with milk flow disorders. A total of 100 hard milking teats were studied in 97 cows. Teats with milk flow disorders were examined endoscopically. Quarter milk flow and quarter milk yield were examined with four Lactocorders attached to a quarter milking machine. Peak milk flow, average milk flow, and milk yield were measured in all teats of the udder before treatment of the affected teat, as well as 1 and 6 mo later. Teats with milk flow disorders were compared to all other teats of the same udder. Before treatment, peak milk flow from affected teats was 20%, average milk flow 14%, and milk yield 53% of the control teats, adjusted for other significant explanatory variables. Milk flow and milk yield increased after surgical treatment of the affected teats. Six months after treatment peak milk flow was 79%, average milk flow 76%, milk yield was 71% compared with control teats. We conclude from these findings that teat endoscopy and measuring quarter milk flow and milk yield with Lactocorders are useful tools for examining teats with milk flow disorders.

Key Words: milk flow • teat • quarter • lactocorder

Submitted on September 18, 2001
Accepted on November 26, 2001