Relationships Between Teat Shape, Production and Mastitis in Friesian Cows

Trends Intherapeutic and Prevention Strategies for Management of Bovine Mastitis: An Overview

“…The conformation of the udder and shape of the teat are inherited characteristics that may also affect susceptibility to mastitis. Cows with elongated teats are more vulnerable to mastitis infection than cows with inverted teat ends [75,76]. Broad udders, lower hind-quarters and teats placed widely help the infectious agent and should be selected against it [77].…”

Reviews of the progress of Dairy Science: Mastitis control – progress and prospects

“…uberis will depend on obtaining a fuller understanding of the importance of the various sites of origin and multiplication of these pathogens and in making appropriate environmental changes. It is possible that improvements in teat and udder conformation could be brought about through selective breeding and this could influence exposure to pathogens (179). However, it is probable that manipulation of inherent factors will have more relevance to the penetration of the teat duct by bacteria rather than the exposure.…”

Udder diseases in dairy cows — field observations on incidence, somatic and environmental factors, and control

“…In his examination of twins Grommers (1967) found out that the twin half kept in the stall had a teat-floor distance some 2 cms shorter than the twin kept in the loose housing conditions. Hickman (1964) and Rathore (1976) detected that the milk from the cylindrical shaped teats had a remarkably higher cell content than that from the funnel shaped teats. As an explanation Rathore (1977) states that in the case of the cylindrical shaped teats the milking machine teat liners ascend more freely.…”