Adequate Setting of Milking Machine and Oxytocin Injection DosagesReduction in Milking

摘要

Abnormal oxytocin release causes incomplete udder milk evacuation due to lack of shift of milk stored in the alveoli into the cisternal udder cavity during the milking, and is usually associated with physiology problems, careless udder preparation, milking duration, and other management effects. However, few trials have focused on milking machine performance influence on oxytocin release. In South-eastern Sicily, several farms use chronically high oxytocin injection dosages to milk most cows. The high dosages employed might cause a reduced response to endogenous oxytocin (Belo et al 2010). For this reason, a preliminary study was conducted to evaluate whether an adequate setting of milking machine can influence the reduction of oxytocin injection practice and re-establish the normal oxytocin release by pituitary gland.