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Virginia Tech

Local regulation of increased milk yield due to early lactation increased milking frequency

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Increased milking frequency (IMF) during early lactation increases milk yield not only during the IMF period, but also after the cow is returned to twice daily milking (2X). The increase in yield is locally regulated within the gland; however the mechanism for the increase in yield is unknown. The objective of this study was to demonstrate a difference in milk and component yield, both during the IMF period and throughout the remainder of lactation, and examine potential local mechanisms driving the increase in production. Eight multiparous dairy cows were assigned to unilateral frequent milking [UFM ; 2X left udder half and 4-times-daily milking (4X) right udder half] for the first 21 days of lactation. Both udder halves were milked 2X for the remainder of lactation. Early lactation IMF significantly increased milk, fat, and protein yields in the right udder halves by 2.27 kg/d, 73.5 g/d, and 68 g/d respectively through the first 210 DIM (P < 0.001). At d 21, the right udder halves had a significant increase in activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), as well as a reduction in activated Akt (P ≤ 0.05). There was no difference in STAT3 expression at d 21. There was no significant difference in gene expression of prolactin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFPB5), or chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) in mammary tissue at d 21 or 60; and no difference in protein expression of STAT5, Akt, or STAT3 in mammary tissue at d 60.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Dairy Science
Department dc:contributor.department
Dairy Science
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2015

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Hardin, Diana Kaitlyn
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Corl, Benjamin A.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Rhoads, Robert P.
  • Akers, Robert Michael

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:6060
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/55122

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Hardin, Diana Kaitlyn. Local regulation of increased milk yield due to early lactation increased milking frequency. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/55122