The effect of oestrus on milk production in cows

Abstract

The rectal temperatures, pulse rates and milk yields of 44 Ayrshire and 38 Friesian cows were recorded during oestrus and compared with values obtained after oestrus had ceased. The fat, solids-non-fat (SNF) and protein percentages and the cell counts of milk samples were also compared. Forty of the cows were housed in cubicles and 42 were kept loose in yards. During oestrus rectal temperatures and pulse rates were significantly raised and milk yields were lowered. Milk had, on average, significantly higher fat contents and cell counts and lower SNF and protein contents than post-oestrous milk. The differences due to oestrus between the cows kept in cubicles and yards were minimal, but the Ayrshire cows tended to show more significant effects than the Friesians, except in the milk cell counts, where the difference was higher in the Friesians.

The effect of estrus synchronization treatments on somatic cell count of transitional-anestrus Awassi ewes’ milk

“…Data from cattle about the effect of estrus on SCC is equivocal. One study showed an association between natural estrus and an increase in SCC (King 1977). However, several other studies failed to find an association between estrus and SCC (Guidry et al 1975;Cowan and Larson 1979;Anderson et al 1983).…”

“…An increase in SCC has been reported to coincide with the beginning of the breeding season (Lerondelle et al 1992) and associated with induction of estrus (Aleandri et al 1994) in dairy goats. In dairy cows, one study reported an increase in SCC at estrus (King 1977), whereas several other studies have found no effect of either natural or induced estrus on SCC (Cowan and Larson 1979;Anderson et al 1983).…”

Effects of oestrus on milk yield and composition in Tunisian Maghrebi<br>camels (Camelus dromedarius)

“…There were no reports on the effect of oestrus on the she-camel milk that we know about till the day of the study. However, several previous studies in dairy cattle and dairy goat provided evidence of a decline in milk volume associated with oestrous (King, 1977;Cowan et Larson, 1979;Mc Dougall et Voermans, 2002;Lopez et al, 2005). Erb et al (1952) reported that this decline was more apparent as stage of lactation increased.…”

“…In dairy cattle, several studies reported a decrease in milk yield and an increase in SCC and fat content during oestrus (King, 1977;Horrell et al, 1986;Lopez et al, 2005). Whereas, other studies state that oestrus have no effect neither on SCC (Anderson et al, 1983) nor milk yield and composition (Cowan and Larson, 1979).…”

The effect of estrus synchronization treatment on somatic cell count of transitional-anestrus local-Damascus cross breed goats’ milk

“…An increase in SCC have been reported coincident with the beginning of breeding season (Lerondelle et al 1992) and associated with induction of estrus (Aleandri et al 1994) in dairy goats. In dairy cows, one study reported an increase in SCC at estrus (King 1977). Other studies have found no effect of either natural or induced estrus on SCC (Cowan and Larson 1979;Anderson et al 1983).…”