Milking parameters for buffaloes

Milking Parameters for Buffaloes

The basis for using different milking parameters for buffaloes is described briefly (For more details refer to http://www.delaval.com/…/Dairy-kn…/Dairy-buffalo-production/ - written by me).

Comparative physiology of dairy cows, sheep, goat and buffalo milking

Partitioning in the udder of diary species:

• Milk secreted all day in the secretary tissues drains down via ducts into larger storage areas called cisterns.
• Large difference in the proportion of milk stored within the cistern among the ruminant dairy species.
• High yielding dairy cows store less than 30% of milk in the cistern after a normal milking interval.
• In dairy goats and sheep, the cisternal fraction available for the milking machine is 75 and 50% respectively.
• In dairy buffaloes the cisternal fraction is very small. In the Italian Mediterranean buffalo it is slightly above 5% and in the Indian Murraha it is seldom above this.
• Cisternal milk quantity influences the milking technique in buffaloes
• Presence or absence of cisternal milk in the different dairy species is important while machine milking.
• Cisternal fraction of milk can be removed by simply opening the teat sphincter.
• Alveolar milk fraction can be removed only via an active milk ejection acting through the release of the pituitary hormone oxytocin.
• In sheep and goat due to the large cisternal fraction, milk flow starts as soon as you apply the milking units. The lack of pre-stimulation dose not have a critical influence on milk removal in this species.
• In dairy cows machine milking without pre-stimulation can cause a temporary reduction in milk flow (bimodal milk flow) or a total interruption in milk-flow after the cisternal fraction is extracted. The consequence of this can be milking on “empty teats” until the alveolar milk is available.
• In case of buffaloes as the cisternal fraction of milk is very small, if the milking unit is applied prior to milk ejection there is no milk flow leading to milking on empty teats which could cause irritation and disturbed milk ejection. After milk ejection it takes from 1 to 2 minute for the cistern which is largely located in the teat to fill up.

Pre – Stimulation is crucial for complete milking in buffaloes

• In dairy cows (Bos taurus), suckling, hand and machine milking effect in similar stimulation sufficient to induce oxytocin release. A good pre-milking procedure is sufficient to provide enough stimulation for milk let down in dairy cows.
• Other factors such as conditioned visual and auditory stimuli, such as sight and sounds of the milking machine, feeding etc are also known to stimulate milk ejection.
• It was argued that milk ejection may not be essential for adequate milk removal in animals like sheep and goat that store most of their milk in the cisternal area. However it is now established that oxytocin mediated milk ejection is still of substantial importance even in small ruminants for complete milk removal with higher fat content.
• Although the cisternal compartment stores most of the milk produced in small ruminants, the alveoli retain the majority of the milk fat secreted which can only be efficiently removed when milk ejection occurs.
• In case of buffaloes as the cisternal fraction of milk is very small, pre-stimulation is of extreme importance for optimal milk ejection and complete milk removal.
• Buffalo herds in India as well as Latin America use calves to suckle for pre-stimulation after which either hand milk or machine milk.
• However in parlours in Italy calves are not used for stimulation.
• The complete emptying of udder in buffaloes depends upon optimum oxytocin release in response to stimulation and the sustained release of oxytocin throughout milking.
• The combined stimulation of feeding during milking and manual pre-stimulation produced the most pronounced release of oxytocin in buffaloes with higher corresponding milk yield when compared to machine milking without pre-stimulation and feeding.

Disturbed milking and drop in milk yield in buffaloes

• Buffaloes are known to be difficult to milk. Several researchers from different parts of the world have reported the problem of disturbed milk ejection and rapid termination of lactation in cases where calves die or sudden change in the usual routines.
• Although not documented, it is well known from practice that in large buffalo herds, oxytocin injection is frequently used to achieve milk let down.
• The regular use of oxytocin is known to cause addiction and contrary to common understanding oxytocin injection does not achieve complete emptying of the udder in buffaloes.