Associations between Mammary Gland Echotexture and Milk Composition in Cows

Animals

TristanD. Agustin¹  Bahareh Ahmadi²  Nelia Scheeres²  PawelM. Bartlewski²  Tomasz Schwarz³  Patrycja Rajtar⁴  Piotr Micek⁴  Maciej Murawski⁴  MartynaM. Małopolska⁵  Nina Strzałkowska⁶ 

[1] College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Pedro R. Sandoval Ave., Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines;Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;Department of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Ethology, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-120 Cracow, Poland, [e-mail];Department of Nutrition, Animal Biotechnology and Fisheries, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 1B Rędzina St., 30-248 Cracow-Krowodrza, Poland;Department of Pig Breeding, National Research Institute of Animal Production, 1 Krakowska St., 32-083 Balice n. Cracow, Poland;Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, 36A Postępu St., 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland;

关键词: cow;    udder;    ultrasonography;    image analysis;    milk composition;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani10112005

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Thirty clinically healthy Holstein-Friesian cows underwent twice daily machine milking and ultrasonographic examinations of the udder just prior to and after milking. Digital ultrasonographic images of each udder quarter were subjected to computer-assisted echotextural analyses to obtain mean numerical pixel values (NPVs) and pixel heterogeneity (PSD) of the mammary gland parenchyma. The average milk yield and pH were higher (p < 0.05) in the morning, whereas crude fat, total solids, solids non-fat and citric acid content were higher (p < 0.05) during the evening milking period. Mean NPVs and PSDs of the mammary gland parenchyma were greater (p < 0.05) after than before milking. There were significant correlations among echotextural characteristics of the udder and protein percentage, lactose content and freezing point depression determined in the milk samples collected in the morning and crude protein, casein, lactose and solids non-fat in the evening. Our results can be interpreted to suggest that computerized analysis of the mammary gland ultrasonograms has the makings of a technique for estimating non-fat milk constituents in cows. However, future validating studies are necessary before this method can be employed in commercial settings and research. Moreover, significant inter-quarter differences in udder echogenicity may necessitate further echotextural studies of separate quarters.

【 授权许可】

Unknown