Local cooling of the mammary gland and milk production in the cow

Abstract

SummaryAn experiment has been performed with 2 Jersey cows to determine the effect of a reduction in udder temperature on milk production. One half of the udder was covered while the other half was cooled by an increase in air movement at an air temperature of 6−10°C; for closely clipped udders it was estimated that the cooling conditions might be equivalent to an air temperature of −10°C with low air movement. Yields of milk, fat, protein and lactose were reduced significantly at the morning milking after 22 h cooling; the decreases which occurred at the afternoon milking after 9 h cooling, in all components except fat, were not significant. Wisconsin Mastitis Tests on the milk indicated that changes in udder health did not contribute to these effects.