Lactation Studies. X. Total Daily Production as Affected by Number of Times Milked, Number of Times Stimulated, and Method of Stimulation

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Abstract
An experiment was conducted to measure the milk production response to increased frequency of milking and to mammary gland stimulation per se. A total of 25 cows was employed in 2 trials. The treatments compared were twice-daily milking (2 X), 4-times-daily milking (4 XO, and either 2-times-daily milking plus hand stimulation without milking (2 X H) or 2-times-daily milking plus oxytocin injection (2 X I) midway between each milking interval. Treatments 2 X H and 2X1 compared to treatment 2 X resulted in a 1.0 to 1.5% nonsignificant increase in production. Treatment 4 X resulted in a milk production increase of 7.9% over treatment 2 X. This increase was attained by the 2nd day on the increased milking frequency. The rapidity of the production response, plus the lack of response to additional stimulations per se, suggests that stimulation[forward arrow] oxytocin[forward arrow] prolactin[forward arrow] increased milk synthesis is not the explanation. Rather, that frequent milking[forward arrow] reduced intramammary pressure[forward arrow] increased secretion is probably the explanation.

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