THE RELEASE OF GROWTH HORMONE IN RESPONSE TO MILKING IN THE GOAT DURING EARLY AND LATE LACTATION

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Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) would appear to be an essential component of a complex of hormones necessary for the maintenance of lactation in the goat (Cowie, 1971). While studies in the rat have suggested that GH in addition to prolactin may be released from the anterior pituitary in response to suckling (Grosvenor, Krulich & McCann, 1968; Sar & Meites, 1969), Reynaert & Peeters (1972) have failed to detect a release of GH in the cow at milking. The development of a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for caprine GH (I. C. Hart, D. S. Flux, P. Andrews & A. S. McNeilly, in preparation) has enabled us to investigate the situation in the goat. Jugular blood samples (10 ml) were collected, serially, from an indwelling polyethylene cannula before, during and after milking from six pedigree British Saanen goats, once a month throughout a complete lactation cycle (April—November, 1971). The plasma obtained from each

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