Relationship between external and internal udder and teat measurements of machine milked dromedary camels

Abstract

This study aims to determine the relationship between internal and external udder and teat measurements and evaluate their correlation with milk yield and milk partitioning in the udder of dromedary camels. Six Maghrebi camels reared under intensive conditions were monitored at early, middle, and late lactation. Udder measurements included udder depth, udder horizontal circumference, fore and rear teat length and diameter. Besides, scans of the left fore and rear quarters were taken in duplicate before morning milking (16 h) using an oxytocin receptor blocking agent (Atosiban) to determine teat and gland distension before milk ejection. Cisternal and alveolar milk volumes were then evaluated. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the performed udder external and ultrasonographical measurements and cisternal and daily milk production on the measurement day. Significant effect of lactation stage was observed in all measured traits. All internal and external measurements decreased significantly at late lactation as well as cisternal and total milk yield. The quarter cisternal area averaged 16.3 ± 2.2 cm(2) and decreased about three times at late lactation compared to early and middle lactation. All external and internal measurements were positively and highly correlated (P < 0.001). The knowledge of the relationship between udder internal and external morphological traits would permit to predict udder cisternal storage capacity and can ultimately be adopted to improve milk storage capacity of dromedary camels.

Machine Milkability of Dromedary Camels: Correlation between Udder Morphology and Milk Flow Traits

“…This time is shorter than what has been reported for dairy buffaloes that needed about 2 min for milk ejection to happen [26,48] and within the range of previous observations without udder pre-stimulation [44]. As camels have very limited cisternal milk [23,49] a prolonged time to milk ejection implies that milking clusters are attached to empty teats. After milk ejection, teats swell and increase significantly in size by 40% in teat length and 30% in teat diameter and quarter cistern size estimated by ultrasound increased by 190% [33].…”

Old World camels in a modern world – a balancing act between conservation and genetic improvement

“…These findings were consistent with a 'breed' effect in milk chemical composition between four dromedary populations from Saudi Arabia (Aljumaah et al 2012) and with a wide range of variation in fatty acids profiles and milk protein sub-units in dromedaries from Jordan (Ereifej et al 2011). Finally, dromedary udder morphology was investigated in a number of studies, highlighting clear variation in the udder, teat shapes and dimensions, and their relationship with milk yield in lactating animals (Eisa 2006;Ayadi et al 2013Ayadi et al , 2016Atigui et al 2016;Mostafa et al 2017;Musaad et al 2017).…”

Histological and Histometrical Features of the Mammary Gland in Immature and Lactating Local Breed Ewes (Ovis aries)

“…The several articles have explained some of the factors affecting milk production, especially lactation stage are very important (5) in camel,(6) in cattle. (7) has explained the relationship has between the external and internal udder features, teat parameters characters with machine milked of dromedary camels. (8) have also investigated the correlation between the udder anatomical traits, alveolar and cisternal milk with machine milking performances of dairy camels.…”