Effect of a single injection of cabergoline at dry off on udder characteristics in high-yielding dairy cows

Abstract

In recent years, relationships between high milk yield at dry off, higher prevalence for new intramammary infections, and stress were evaluated. Considering increasing milk yield, dry off methods need to be refined to ensure udder health and animal welfare, especially in high-yielding dairy cows. The present work evaluated the effect of a single cabergoline injection (Velactis, Ceva Santé Animale, Libourne, France) at dry off on udder pressure, milk leakage, and signs of udder pain after dry off. A total of 234 high-yielding (≥16 kg of milk/d) dairy cows was enrolled 7 d before and followed up until 14 d after dry off. Cows were dried off without preparation (i.e., no feed change or intermittent milking before dry off) and treated with a single i.m. injection of 5.6 mg of cabergoline (n = 115) or placebo (n = 119) after last milking. Udder characteristics were measured 4 d before (i.e., before and after milking) and 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 14 d after dry off. Udder pressure was evaluated utilizing a hand-held dynamometer. Milk leakage and signs of udder pain were noted as binary variables. Whereas udder pressure baseline values after last milking did not differ between treatment groups (0.541 ± 0.15 kg), cabergoline significantly reduced udder pressure in primiparous but not in multiparous cows after dry off. Differences between cabergoline- and placebo-treated primiparous cows could be evaluated until 3 d after dry off. The first day after dry off, udder pressure in placebo- and cabergoline-treated cows increased by 115% and 42.3%, respectively. Whereas pressure values in placebo cows were highest on the first day after dry off (1.16 ± 0.61 kg) and slowly decreased afterward, udder pressure in cows treated with cabergoline had a slower increase and peak only 2 d after dry off (0.94 ± 0.44 kg). Furthermore, cabergoline caused a reduction of milk leakage, a known factor for new intramammary infections. Only 11.3% of cows treated with cabergoline showed milk leakage compared with 21.0% placebo-treated cows. Additionally, cows with placebo treatment were 2.8 times as likely to show signs of udder pain compared with cows treated with cabergoline. An effect of cabergoline on udder pressure, milk leakage, and udder pain was limited to the first week after dry off. Our data provide evidence that a single injection of cabergoline reduces risk factors for udder health and animal welfare problems around dry off in high-yielding dairy cows with more than 16 kg of milk/d. Further research is warranted, however, to investigate if cabergoline at dry off can also be used to reduce new intramammary infection rates and improve animal welfare after dry off.

Inhibiting prolactin by cabergoline accelerates mammary gland remodeling during the early dry period in dairy cows

“…Thus, cabergoline seems to moderately amplify and accelerate the opening of tight junctions. This effect could be due to reduced milk secretion after cabergoline treatment as indicated by a reduced udder pressure and firmness as well as milk leakage previously reported (Bach et al, 2015;Bertulat et al, 2017). However, further studies have to be performed to confirm this hypothesis.…”

“…However, cabergoline is a stronger dopamine agonist than either quinagolide or bromocriptine, and thus, cabergoline may more likely affect glucose transport in MEC than the other dopamine agonists. Because lactose is the main osmotic agent in the milk, the downregulation of SLC2A1 mRNA could be one of the factors responsible for less udder engorgement and milk leakage observed in cows treated with cabergoline (Bach et al, 2015;Bertulat et al, 2017).…”

The Utilization Areas of Cabergoline in Veterinary Gynecology

“…Therefore, as a result of studies carried out considering CAB as a potential drying off molecule, it was concluded that the intramuscular injection of a single dose of 5.6 mg of CAB on the cows, which gives over 16 kg of milk in the transition to dry period, Cabergoline treatment positively influences dry period mammary health and reduces risk factors for animal welfare. 44 In similar studies, it was reported that the same dose of CAB facilitated the drying of the udder gland and udder gland involution, reduced prolactin release and leakage from the udder, and prolonged the resting time after the drying off. [41][42][43] Cabergoline treatment will be beneficial because it accelerates mammary involution and decreases milk secretion in the transition to dry period.…”

“…42 In recent years, it has been reported that, as an alternative to conventional drying off methods, successful results have been obtained with a single CAB injection in transition to the drying off phase. [41][42][43]44 Cabergoline is a high-affinity ergot derivative for D2 dopamine receptors, whose dopaminergic effects cause the inhibition of prolactin secretion. Therefore, as a result of studies carried out considering CAB as a potential drying off molecule, it was concluded that the intramuscular injection of a single dose of 5.6 mg of CAB on the cows, which gives over 16 kg of milk in the transition to dry period, Cabergoline treatment positively influences dry period mammary health and reduces risk factors for animal welfare.…”

Sütçü İneklerde Mastitis Yönünden Kuru ve Geçiş Dönemlerinin Önemi

“…Laktasyon sonu süt üretimi fazla (25-30 kg/gün) olan ineklerde aniden sütten kesme ile kuruya alındığında, memeden süt sızıntısı artarak keratin plak oluşumunun geciktiği (25), patojen girişinin kolaylaştığı ve meme içi lökositlerinin fonksiyonunun azalttığı tespit edilmiştir (26). Bununla birlikte KD'ye girişte 12.5 kg'dan fazla süt üretiminde, her 5 kg süt için doğumda yeni meme içi enfeksiyon insidansının %77'ye kadar arttığı tespit edilmiştir (19).…”