Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T15:20:49.898Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The mammary gland in small ruminants: major morphological and functional events underlying milk production – a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2014

Joana R Lérias ,
Lorenzo E Hernández-Castellano ,
Aridany Suárez-Trujillo ,
Noemí Castro ,
Aris Pourlis  and
André M Almeida
Joana R Lérias
Affiliation:
Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Lisboa, Portugal Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
Lorenzo E Hernández-Castellano
Affiliation:
Vetsuisse Faculty, Veterinary Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Aridany Suárez-Trujillo
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain
Noemí Castro
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain
Aris Pourlis
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Greece
André M Almeida*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Lisboa, Portugal Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The importance of small ruminants to the dairy industry has increased in recent years, especially in developing countries, where it has a high economic and social impact. Interestingly and despite the fact that the mammary gland is the specialised milk production organ, very few authors studied the modifications occurring in the mammary gland through the lactation period in production animals, particularly in the small ruminants, sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra hircus). Nevertheless, understanding the different mammary gland patterns throughout lactation is essential to improve dairy production. In addition, associating these patterns with different milking frequencies, lactation number or different diets is also of high importance, directly affecting the dairy industry. The mammary gland is commonly composed of parenchyma and stroma, which includes the ductal system, with individual proportions of each changing during the different periods and yields in a lactation cycle. Indeed, during late gestation, as well as during early to mid-lactation, mammary gland expansion occurs, with an increase in the number of epithelial cells and lumen area, which leads to increment of the parenchyma tissue, as well as a reduction of stroma, corresponding macroscopically to the increase in mammary gland volume. Throughout late lactation, the mammary gland volume decreases owing to the regression of the secretory structure. In general, common mammary gland patterns have been shown for both goats and sheep throughout the several lactation stages, although the number of studies is limited. The main objective of this manuscript is to review the colostrogenesis and lactogenesis processes as well as to highlight the mammary gland morphological patterns underlying milk production during the lactation cycle for small ruminants, and to describe potential differences between goats and sheep, hence contributing to a better description of mammary gland development during lactation for these two poorly studied species.

Keywords

Mammary glandsmall ruminantlactationmilking frequencynutrition
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 81 , Issue 3 , August 2014 , pp. 304 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AbuGhazaleh, AA, Schingoethe, DJ, Hippen, AR & Kalscheur, KF 2003 Conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid in rumen, plasma, and milk of cows fed fish oil and fats differing in saturation of 18 carbon fatty acids. Journal of Dairy Research 86 3648–3660Google Scholar
Agle, M, Hristov, AN, Zaman, S, Schneider, C, Ndegwa, PM & Vaddella, VK 2010 Effect of dietary concentrate on rumen fermentation, digestibility, and nitrogen losses in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 93 4211–4222CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Akers, R 2002 Lactation and the Mammary Gland. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Press, Blackwell Publishing CompanyGoogle Scholar
Akers, RM, Capuco, AV & Keys, JE 2006 Mammary histology and alveolar cell differentiation during late gestation and early lactation in mammary tissue of beef and dairy heifers. Livestock Science 105 44–49CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Amos, HE, Kiser, T & Loewenstein, M 1985 Influence of milking frequency on productive and reproductive efficiencies of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 68 732–739Google Scholar
Anderson, RR & Wahab, IM 1990 Changes in parenchyma and stroma of goat udder during pregnancy, lactation and involution. Small Ruminant Research 3 605–615Google Scholar
Argüello, A, Castro, N, Capote, J, Tyler, JW & Holloway, NM 2004 Effect of colostrum administration practices on serum IgG in goat kid. Livestock Production Science 90 235–239Google Scholar
Argüello, A, Castro, N, Álvarez, S & Capote, J 2006 Effects of the number of lactations and litter size on chemical composition and physical characteristics of goat colostrum. Small Ruminant Research 64 53–59Google Scholar
Awadeh, FT, Abdelrahman, MM, Kincaid, RL & Finley, JW 1998 Effect of selenium supplements on the distribution of selenium among serum proteins in cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 81 1089–1094CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ayadi, M, Such, X, Ezzehizi, N, Zouarie, M, Najard, T, Ben M'Rad, Mb & Casal, R 2011 Relationship between mammary morphology traits and milk yield of Sicilo-Sarde dairy sheep in Tunisia. Small Ruminant Research 96 41–45Google Scholar
Baldi, A, Modina, S, Cheli, F, Gandolfi, F, Pinotti, L, Scesi, LB, Fantuz, F & Dell'Orto, V 2002 Bovine somatotropin administration to dairy goats in late lactation: effects on mammary gland function, composition and morphology. Journal of Dairy Science 85 1093–1102Google Scholar
Banchero, GE, Perez Clariget, R, Bencini, R, Lindsay, DR, Milton, JT & Martin, GB 2006 Endocrine and metabolic factors involved in the effect of nutrition on the production of colostrum in female sheep. Reproduction Nutrition Development 46 447–460Google Scholar
Barrington, GM & Parish, SM 2001 Bovine neonatal immunology. Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice 17 463–476CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barrington, GM, McFadden, TB, Huyler, MT & Besser, TE 2001 Regulation of colostrogenesis in cattle. Livestock Production Science 70 95–104CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barza, H, Marinescu, M & Blaga, L 1993 Disorders of foals 0–10 days of age. Part I. Revista Romana de Medicina Veterinara 3 9–20Google Scholar
Bendixen, E, Danielsen, M, Hollung, K, Gianazza, E & Miller, I 2011 Farm animal proteomics – a review. Journal of Proteomics 74 282–293Google Scholar
Blum, JW & Hammon, H 2000 Colostrum effects on the gastrointestinal tract, and on nutritional, endocrine and metabolic parameters in neonatal calves. Livestock Production Science 66 151–159CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boutinaud, M, Rousseau, C, Keisler, DH & Jammes, H 2003 Growth hormone and milking frequency act differently on goat mammary gland in late lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 86 509–520CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boutinaud, M, Guinard-Flament, J & Jammes, H 2004 The number and activity of mammary epithelial cells, determining factors for milk production. Reproduction Nutrition Development 44 499–508CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brandon, MR, Watson, DL & Lascelles, AK 1971 Mechanism of transfer of immunoglobulin into mammary secretion of cows. Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science 49 613–623Google Scholar
Browning, R Jr, Leite-Browning, ML & Sahlu, T 1995 Factors affecting standardized milk and fat yields in Alpine goats. Small Ruminant Research 18 173–178Google Scholar
Byatt, JC, Eppard, PJ, Munyakazi, L, Jorbet, RH, Veenhuizen, JJ, Curran, DF & Collier, RJ 1992 Stimulation of milk yield and feed intake by bovine placental lactogen in the dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science 75 1216–1223Google Scholar
Cadar, M, Mireşan, V, Lujerdean, A & Răducu, C 2012 Mammary gland histological structure in relation with milk production in sheep. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 45 3–5Google Scholar
Campos, MS, Wilcox, CJ, Head, HH, Webb, DW & Hayen, J 1994 Effects on production of milking three times daily on first lactation Holsteins and Jerseys in Florida. Journal of Dairy Science 77 770–773CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Capote, J, Argüello, A, Castro, N, López, JL & Caja, G 2006 Correlations between udder morphology, milk yield, and milking ability with different milking frequencies in dairy goats. Journal of Dairy Science 89 2076–2079Google Scholar
Capuco, AV, Ellis, SE, Hale, SA, Long, E, Erdman, RA, Zhao, X & Paape, MJ 2003 Lactation persistency: insights from mammary cell proliferation studies. Journal of Animal Science 81 18–31Google Scholar
Carnicella, D, Dario, M, Consuelo Caribe, AM, Laudadio, V & Dario, C 2008 The effect of diet, parity, year and number of kids on milk yield and milk composition in Maltese goat. Small Ruminant Research 77 71–74CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carretero, A, Ruberte, J, Caja, G, Pérez-Aparicio, FJ, Such, X, Peris, S, Manesse, M & Navarro, M 1999 Study on the Structure and the Development of the Canalicular System of the Mammary Gland during Lactation in Manchega and Lacaune Dairy Sheep in Milking and Milk Production of Dairy Sheep and Goats. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen PersGoogle Scholar
Carruthers, VS, Davis, SR & Norton, DH 1991 The effect of oxytocine and bovine somatotropin on production of cows milked once a day. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal 51 197–201Google Scholar
Castro, N, Capote, J, Álvares, S & Argüello, A 2005 Effects of lyophilized colostrum and different colostrum feeding regimens on passive transfer of immunoglobulin G in Majorera goat kids. Journal of Dairy Science 88 3650–3654Google Scholar
Castro, N, Capote, J, Morales-delanuez, A, Rodríguez, C & Argüello, A 2009 Effects of newborn characteristics and length of colostrum feeding period on passive immune transfer in goat kids. Journal of Dairy Science 92 1616–1619CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Castro, N, Capote, J, Batista, M, Bruckmaier, RM & Argüello, A 2011a Effects of induced parturition in goats on immunoglobulin G and chitotriosidase activity in colostrum and plasma and on plasma concentrations of prolactin. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 40 192–196Google Scholar
Castro, N, Capote, J, Batista, M, Bruckmaier, RM & Argüello, A 2011b Management effects on colostrogenesis in small ruminants: a review. Journal of Applied Animal Research 39 85–93Google Scholar
Ciuryk, S, Molk, E, Kaczor, U & Bonczar, G 2004 Chemical composition of colostrums and milk of polish merino sheep lambing at different times. Archiv Tierzucht Dummerstorf 47 129–134Google Scholar
Chiofalo, V, Baldi, A, Savoini, G, Polidori, F, Dell'Orto, V & Politis, I 1999 Response of dairy ewes in late lactation to recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST). Small Ruminant Research 34 119–125Google Scholar
Colitti, M & Farinacci, M 2009 Cell turnover and gene activities in sheep mammary glands prior to lambing to involution. Tissue Cell 41 326–333Google Scholar
Colitti, M, Stradaioli, G & Stefanon, B 2000 Effect of alpha-tocopherol deprivation on the involution of mammary gland in sheep. Journal of Dairy Science 83 345–350CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Colitti, M, Stradaioli, G & Stefanon, B 2005 Mammary cell turnover in lactating ewes is modulated by changes of energy fuels. Research in Veterinary Science 78 53–59Google Scholar
Cowie, AT, Forsyth, IA & Hart, IC 2011 Hormonal Control of Lactation. London, UK: SpringerGoogle Scholar
Csapó, J, Csapó-Kiss, Z, Martin, TG, Szentpeteri, J & Wolf, G 1994 Composition of colostrum from goats, ewes and cows producing twins. International Dairy Journal 4 445–458Google Scholar
Delgado-Pertíñez, M, Guzmán-Guerrero, JL, Caravaca, FP, Castel, JM, Ruiz, FA, González-Redondo, P & Alcalde, MJ 2009 Effect of artificial vs. natural rearing on milk yield, kid growth and cost in Payoya autochthonous dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research 84 108–115Google Scholar
Dell'Orto, V, Chiofalo, V, Savoini, G, Zumbo, A & Sgoifo Rossi, C 1996 Effet de l'injections de somatotropins bovine recombine (rbST) sur les performances de brebis laitières. Influence de la nature de l'aliment concentré. Annales de Zootechnie 45 377–383Google Scholar
Delouis, C & Richard, PH 1991 La Lactation. In La reproduction chez les mammifères et l'homme, pp. 487–514 (Eds Thibault, Ch. & Levasseur, MC). Paris: INRAGoogle Scholar
Dessauge, F, Finot, I, Wiart, S, Aubry, JM & Ellis, SE 2009 Effects of ovariectomy in prepubertal goats. Journal of Physiology Pharmacology 60 127–133Google Scholar
dos Santos, GT, Bertolini, DA, Prado, IN, Macedo, AF, Prado, IN & Martins, EN 1994 Variabilidade em imunoglobulina G (IgG) no colostro de cabra de primeira ordena e absorção intestinal de IgC pelos cabritos récem-nascidos. Arq Biol Tec 37 8Google Scholar
Dwyer, CM & Morgan, CA 2006 Maintenance of body temperature in the neonatal lamb: effects of breed, birth weight, and litter size. Journal of Animal Science 84 1093–1101Google Scholar
Ellis, S, McFadden, TB & Akers, RM 1998 Prepubertal ovine mammary development is unaffected by ovariectomy. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 15 217–225Google Scholar
Elsayed, EH, EL-Shafie, MH, Saifelnasr, EOH & Abu El-Ella, AA 2009 Histological and histochemical study on mammary gland of Damascus goats through stages of lactation. Small Ruminant Research 85 11–17Google Scholar
Emediato, RMS, Siqueira, ER, Stradiotto, MM, Maestá, SA & Fernandes, S 2008 Relationship between udder measurements and milk yield in Bergamasca ewes in Brazil. Small Ruminant Research 75 232–235Google Scholar
Fernandez, G, Alvarez, P, San Primitivo, F & de la Fuente, LF 1995 Factors affecting variation of udder traits of dairy ewes. Journal of Dairy Science 78 842–849Google Scholar
Ferreira, AM, Bislev, SL, Bendixen, E & Almeida, AM 2014 The mammary gland in domestic ruminants: a systems biology perspective. Journal of Proteomics (in press)Google Scholar
Flint, DJ & Knight, CH 1997 Interactions of prolactin and growth hormone (GH) in the regulation of mammary gland function and epithelial cell survival. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia 2 41–48Google Scholar
Flores, MJ, Flores, JA, Elizundia, JM, Mejía, A, Delgadillo, JA & Hernández, H 2011 Artificial long-day photoperiod in the subtropics increases milk production in goats giving birth in late autumn. Journal of Animal Science 89 856–862Google Scholar
Forsyth, IA 1986 Variation among species in the endocrine control of mammary growth and function: the roles of prolactin, growth hormone, and placental lactogen. Journal of Dairy Science 69 886–903Google Scholar
Fowler, PA, Knight, CH, Cameron, GG & Foster, MA 1990 In-vivo studies of mammary development in the goat using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 89 367–375Google Scholar
Gallo, L, Bailoni, L, Schiavon, S, Carnier, P, Ramazin, M, Andrighetto, I & Bittante, G 1997 Effect of slow-release somatotropin on the pattern of milk yield between and within injection intervals. Journal of Dairy Science 80 46–51Google Scholar
García de Jalón, JA, De las Heras, M, Ferrer, LM & Sancho, JF 1990 Síndrome de la boca mojada en corderos. Medicina Veterinaria, 7. Barcelona, Spain: Pulso EdicionesGoogle Scholar
Goetsch, AL, Zeng, SS & Gipson, TA 2011 Factors affecting goat milk production and quality. Small Ruminant Research 101 55–63Google Scholar
Gross, J, van Dorland, HA, Bruckmaier, RM & Schwarz, FJ 2011 Milk fatty acid profile related to energy balance in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Research 78 479–488Google Scholar
Hart, IC 1973 Effect of 2-bromo-α-ergocriptine on milk yield and the level of prolactin and growth hormone in the blood of the goat at milking. Journal of Endocrinology 57 179–180Google Scholar
Hayden, TJ, Thomas, CR & Forsyth, IA 1979 Effect of number of young born (litter size) on milk yield of goats: role for placental lactogen. Journal of Dairy Science 62 53–57Google Scholar
Henderson, AJ, Blatchford, DR & Peaker, M 1985 The effects of long-term thrice-daily milking on milk secretion in the goat: evidence for mammary growth. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 70 557–565Google Scholar
Hennighausen, L & Robinson, GW 2001 Signaling pathways in mammary gland development. Developmental Cell 1 467–475Google Scholar
Hernández-Castellano, LE, Torres, A, Alavoine, A, Ruiz-Díaz, MD & Argüello, A 2011 Effect of milking frequency on milk immunoglobulin concentration (IgG, IgM and IgA) and chitotriosidase activity in Majorera goats. Small Ruminant Research 98 70–72Google Scholar
Hernández-Castellano, LE, Almeida, AM, Castro, N & Argüello, A 2014a The colostrum proteome, ruminant nutrition and immunity: a review. Current Protein and Peptide Science 5 64–74Google Scholar
Hernández-Castellano, LE, Almeida, AM, Ventosa, M, Coelho, A, Castro, N & Argüello, A 2014b The effect of colostrum intake on blood plasma proteome profile in newborn lambs: low abundance proteins. BMC Veterinary Research 10 85Google Scholar
Hooley, RD, Campbell, JJ & Findlay, JK 1978 The importance of prolactin for lactation in the ewe. Journal of Endocrinology 79 301–310CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hurley, WL, Theil, PK 2011 Perspectives on immunoglobulins in colostrum and milk. Nutrients 3 442–474Google Scholar
Johnsson, ID, Hart, K & Turvey, A 1986 Pre-pubertal mammogenesis in sheep. The effects of restricted feeding or daily administration of bovine growth hormone and bromocriptine on mammary growth and morphology. Animal Production 42 53–63Google Scholar
Kemp, MQ, Jeffy, BD & Romagnolo, DF 2003 Nutrition and cancer conjugated linoleic acid inhibits cell proliferation through a p53-dependent mechanism: effects on the expression of G1-restriction points in breast and colon cancer cells. Journal of Nutrition 133 3670–3677Google Scholar
Klein, B 2013 Cunningham's Text Book of Veterinary Phisiology, 5th edition. Missouri, USA: ElsevierGoogle Scholar
Knight, CH 1992 Milk yield responses to sequential treatments with recombinant bovine somatotropin and frequent milking in lactating goats. Journal of Dairy Research 59 115–122Google Scholar
Knight, CH & Peaker, M 1982 Development of the mammary gland. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 65 621–626Google Scholar
Knight, CH & Peaker, M 1984 Mammary development and regression during lactation in goats in relation to milk secretion. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 69 331–338Google Scholar
Knight, CH & Wilde, CJ 1987 Mammary growth during lactation: implications for increasing milk yield. Journal of Dairy Science 70 1991–2000Google Scholar
Knight, CH, Fowler, PA & Wilde, CJ 1990 Galactopoietic and mammogenic effects of long term treatment with bovine growth hormone and thrice daily milking in goats. Journal of Endocrinology 127 129–138Google Scholar
Laboussière, J, Combaud, JF & Petrequin, P 1978 Influence respective de la fréquence quotidienne des evacuations mammaires et des stimulations du pis sur l'entretien de la secretion lactée chez la brebis. Annales de Zootechnie 27 127–137Google Scholar
Lee, CS, Wooding, FB & Kemp, P 1980 Identification, properties, and differential counts of cell populations using electron microscopy of dry cows secretions, colostrum and milk from normal cows. Journal of Dairy Research 47 39–50Google Scholar
Lérias, JR, Hernández-Castellano, LE, Morales-delaNuez, A, Araújo, SS, Castro, N, Argüello, A, Capote, J & Almeida, AM 2013 Body live weight and milk production parameters in the Majorera and Palmera goat breeds from the Canary Islands: influence of weight loss. Tropical Animal Health and Production 45 1731–1736Google Scholar
Li, P, Rudland, PS, Fernig, DG, Finch, LM & Wilde, CJ 1999a Modulation of mammary development and programmed cell death by the frequency of milk removal in lactating goats. Journal of Physiology 519 885–900Google Scholar
Li, P, Wilde, CJ, Finch, LMB, Fernig, DG & Rudland, PS 1999b Identification of cell types in the developing goat mammary gland. Histochemical Journal 31 379–393Google Scholar
Lincoln, DW & Paisley, AC 1982 Neuroendocrine control of milk ejection. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 65 571–586CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linzell, JL 1963 Some effects of denervating and transplanting mammary glands. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 48 34–60Google Scholar
Linzell, JL 1966 Measurement of udder volume in live goats as an index of mammary growth and function. Journal of Dairy Science 49 307–311CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linzell, JL & Peaker, M 1971 The permeability of mammary ducts. Journal of Physiology 216 701–716Google Scholar
Linzell, JL, Peaker, M 1974 Changes in colostrum composition and in the permeability of the mammary epithelium at about the time of parturition in the goat. Journal of Physiology 243 129–151Google Scholar
Linzell, JL & Peaker, M 1975 The distribution and movements of carbon dioxide, carbonic acid and bicarbonate between blood and milk in the goat. Journal of Physiology 244 771–782Google Scholar
Logan, EF & Pearson, GR 1978 Distribution of immunoglobulins in intestine of neonatal calf. Annales de Recherches Veterinaires 9 319–326Google Scholar
Lynch, GA, Hunt, ME & Mackenzie, DS 1991 The effects of once daily milking as a practice in late lactation. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal 51 191–195Google Scholar
Marnet, PG & McKusick, BC 2001 Regulation of milk ejection and milkability in small ruminants. Livestock Production Science 70 125–133Google Scholar
Maunsell, FP, Morin, DE, Constable, PD, Hurley, WL, McCoy, GC, Kakoma, I & Isaacson, RE 1998 Effects of mastitis on the volume and composition of colostrum produced by Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 81 1291–1299Google Scholar
McDermott, JJ, Staal, SJ, Freeman, HA, Herrero, M & Van De Steeg, JA 2010 Sustaining intensification of smallholder livestock systems in the tropics. Livestock Science 130 95–109Google Scholar
Mellor, DJ & Stafford, KJ 2004 Animal welfare implications of neonatal mortality and morbidity in farm animals. Veterinary Journal 168 118–133Google Scholar
Meyer, AM, Reed, JJ, Neville, TL, Thorson, JF, Maddock-Carlin, KR, Taylor, JB, Reynolds, LP, Redmet, DA, Luther, JS, Hammer, CJ, Vonnahme, KA & Caton, JS 2011 Nutritional plane and selenium supply during gestation affect yield and nutrient composition of colostrum and milk in primiparous ewes. Journal of Animal Science 89 1627–1639Google Scholar
Milerski, M, Margetín, M, Čapistrák, A, Apolen, D, Špánik, J & Oravcová, M 2006 Relationships between external and internal udder measurements and the linear scores for udder morphology traits in dairy sheep. Czech Journal of Animal Science 51 383–390Google Scholar
Molik, E, Bonczar, G, Zebrowska, A, Misztal, T, Pustkowiak, H & Zieba, D 2011 Effect of day length and exogenous melatonin on chemical composition of sheep milk. Archiv fur Tierzucht 54 11Google Scholar
Morand-Fehr, P, Fedele, V, Decandia, M & Le Frileux, Y 2007 Influence of farming and feeding systems on composition and quality of goat and sheep milk. Small Ruminant Research 68 20–34Google Scholar
Moreno-Indias, I, Sánchez-Macías, D, Castro, N, Moralez-delaNuez, A, Hernández-Castellano, LE, Capote, J & Argüello, A 2012 Chemical composition and immune status of dairy goat colostrum fractions during the first 10 h after partum. Small Ruminant Research 103 220–224CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neville, MC, McFadden, TB & Forsyth, I 2002 Hormonal regulation of mammary differentiation and milk secretion. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia 7 49–66Google Scholar
Nickel, R, Schummer, A & Seiferle, E 1981 The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals. Berlin, Germany: Verlag Paul PareyGoogle Scholar
Nørgaard, JV, Nielsen, MO, Theil, PK, Sørensen, MT, Safayi, S & Sejrsen, K 2008 Development of mammary glands of fat sheep submitted to restricted feeding during late pregnancy. Small Ruminant Research 76 155–165Google Scholar
Nowak, R & Poindron, P 2006 From birth to colostrum: early steps leading to lamb survival. Reproduction Nutrition Development 46 431–446Google Scholar
Nowak, R, Porter, RH, Lévy, F, Orgeur, P & Schaal, B 2000 Role of mother-young interactions in the survival of offspring in domestic mammals. Reviews of Reproduction 5 153–163Google Scholar
N.R.C. 1985 Nutrient Requirements of Sheep. Washington, USA: National Academy of PressGoogle Scholar
Ollier, S, Leroux, C, de la Foye, A, Bernard, L, Rouel, J & Chilliard, Y 2009 Whole intact rapeseeds or sunflower oil in high-forage or high-concentrate diets affects milk yield, milk composition, and mammary gene expression profile in goats. Journal of Dairy Science 92 5544–5560Google Scholar
Olsson, K & Högberg, M 2009 Plasma vasopressin and oxytocin concentrations increase simultaneously during suckling in goats. Journal of Dairy Research 76 15–19Google Scholar
Ontsouka, CE, Bruckmaier, RM & Blum, JW 2003 Fractionized milk composition during removal of colostrum and mature milk. Journal of Dairy Science 86 2005–2011Google Scholar
Oravcová, M, Peškovičová, D, Daňo, J, Milerski, M, Hetényi, L & Polák, P 2006 Factors affecting milk yield and ewe's lactation curves estimated with test-day models. Czech Journal of Animal Science 50 483–490Google Scholar
Oravcová, M, Peškovičová, D, Daňo, J, Milerski, M, Hetényi, L & Polák, P 2007 Factors affecting ewe's milk fat and protein content and relationships between milk yield and milk components. Czech Journal of Animal Science 52 189–198Google Scholar
Patton, S & Jensen, RG 1975 Lipid metabolism and membrane functions of the mammary gland. Progress in the Chemistry of Fats and Other Lipids 14 163–277Google Scholar
Peaker, M & Linzell, JL 1974 The effects of oestrus and exogenous oestrogens on milk secretion in the goat. Journal of Endocrinology 61 231–240Google Scholar
Peris, S, Caja, G & Such, X 1999 Relationships between udder and milking traits in Murciano-Granadina dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research 33 171–179Google Scholar
Ramirez-Vera, S, Terrazas, A, Delgadillo, JA, Serafín, N, Flores, JA, Elizundia, JM & Hernández, H 2012 Feeding corn during the last 12 days of gestation improved colostrum production and neonatal activity in goats grazing subtropical semi-arid rangeland. Journal of Animal Science 90 2362–2370Google Scholar
Rapetti, L, Bava, L, Tamburini, A & Crovetto, GM 2005 Feeding behaviour, digestibility, energy balance and productive performance of lactating goats fed forage-based and forage-free diets. Italian Journal of Animal Science 4 71–83Google Scholar
Raynal-Ljutovac, K, Gaborit, P & Lauret, A 2005 The relationship between quality criteria of goat milk, its technological properties and the quality of the final products. Small Ruminant Research 60 167–177Google Scholar
Raynal-Ljutovac, K, Lagriffoul, G, Paccard, P, Guillet, I & Chilliard, Y 2008 Composition of goat and sheep milk products: An update. Small Ruminant Research 79 57–72Google Scholar
Romero, T, Beltrán, MC, Rodríguez, M, De Olives, AM & Molina, MP 2013 Short communication: goat colostrum quality: litter size and lactation number effects. Journal of Dairy Science 96 7526–7531Google Scholar
Rovai, M, Such, X, Piedrafita, J, Caja, G & Pujol, MR 1999 Evolution of Mammary Morphology Traits during Lactation and its Relationship with Milk Yield of Manchega and Lacaune Dairy Sheep in Milking and Milk Production of Dairy Sheep and Goats. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen PersGoogle Scholar
Safayi, S, Theil, PK, Elbrønd, VS, Hou, L, Engbaek, M, Nørgaard, JV, Sejrsen, K & Nielsen, MO 2010 Mammary remodeling in primiparous and multiparous dairy goats during lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 93 1478–1490Google Scholar
Salama, AA, Such, X, Caja, G, Rovai, M, Casals, R, Albanell, E, Marín, MP & Martí, A 2003 Effects of once versus twice daily milking throughout lactation on milk yield and milk composition in dairy goats. Journal of Dairy Science 86 1673–1680Google Scholar
Salama, AA, Caja, G, Such, X, Casals, R & Albanell, E 2005 Effect of pregnancy and extended lactation on milk production in dairy goats milked once daily. Journal of Dairy Science 88 3894–3904Google Scholar
Sanchez-Macias, D, Morales-delaNuez, A, Torres, A, Hernández-Castellano, LE, Jiménez-Flores, R, Castro, N & Argüello, A 2013 Effects of addition of somatic cells to caprine milk on cheese quality. International Dairy Journal 29 61–67Google Scholar
Schams, D, Rüsse, I, Schallenberger, E, Prokopp, S & Chan, JSD 1984 The role of steroid hormones, prolactin and placental lactogen on mammary gland development in ewes and heifers. Journal of Endocrinology 102 121–130Google Scholar
Sejrsen, K, Purup, S, Vestergaard, M, Weber, MS & Knight, CH 1999 Growth hormone and mammary development. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 17 117–129Google Scholar
Serment, A & Giger-Reverdin, S 2012 Effect of the percentage of concentrate on intake pattern in mid-lactation goats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 141 130–138Google Scholar
Serment, A, Schmidely, P, Giger-Reverdin, S, Chapoutot, P & Sauvant, D 2011 Effects of the percentage of concentrate on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, plasma metabolites, and milk composition in mid-lactation goats. Journal of Dairy Science 94 3960–3972Google Scholar
Serveley, JL, Emane, MNG, Houdebine, LM, Djiane, J, Delouis, C & Kelly, PA 1983 Comparative measurements of the lactogenic activity of ovine placental lactogen in rabbit and ewe mammary gland. General and Comparative Endocrinology 51 255–262Google Scholar
Sevi, A, Taibi, L, Albenzio, M, Muscio, A & Annichiarico, G 2000 Effect of parity on milk yield, composition, somatic cell count, renneting parameters and bacteria counts of Comisana ewes. Small Ruminant Research 37 99–107Google Scholar
Snowder, GD & Glimp, HA 1991 Influence of breed, number of suckling lambs, and stage of lactation on ewe milk production and lamb growth under range conditions. Journal of Animal Science 69 923–930Google Scholar
Stelwagen, K, Grieve, DG, Walton, JS, Ball, JL & McBride, BW 1993 Effect of prepartum bovine somatotropin in primigravid ewes on mammogenesis, milk production, and hormone concentrations. Journal of Dairy Science 76 992–1001Google Scholar
Suárez-Trujillo, A, Capote, J, Argüello, A, Castro, N, Morales-DelaNuez, A, Torres, A, Morales, J & Rivero, M 2013 Effects of breed and milking frequency on udder histological structures in dairy goats. Journal of Applied Animal Research 41 166–172Google Scholar
Swanson, TJ, Hammer, CJ, Luther, JS, Carlson, DB, Taylor, JB, Redmer, DA, Neville, TL, Reed, JJ, Reynolds, LP, Caton, JS & Vonnahme, KA 2008 Effects of gestational plane of nutrition and selenium supplementation on mammary development and colostrum quality in pregnant ewe lambs. Journal of Animal Science 86 2415–2423Google Scholar
Torres, A, Castro, N, Hernández-Castellano, LE, Argüello, A & Capote, J 2013a Effects of milking frequency on udder morphology, milk partitioning, and milk quality in 3 dairy goat breeds. Journal of Dairy Science 96 1071–1074Google Scholar
Torres, A, Castro, N, Argüello, A & Capote, J 2013b Comparison between two milk distribution structures in dairy goats milked at different milking frequencies. Small Ruminant Research 114 161–166Google Scholar
Tsingotjidou, AS & Papadopoulos, GC 2008 The milk-ejection reflex in the sheep: an anatomical study on the afferent pathway. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 37 245–250Google Scholar
Tucker, HA 2000 Hormone, mammary growth, and lactation: a 41-year perspective. Journal of Dairy Science 83 874–884Google Scholar
Vetter, A, Argüello, A, Baumrucker, C & Bruckmaier, RM 2013 Short communication: fractional milking distribution of immunoglobulin G and other constituents in colostrum. Journal of Dairy Science 96 5919–5922Google Scholar
Wang, PQ 1989 Udder characteristics in Toggenburg dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research 2 181–190Google Scholar
Wathes, DC, Cheng, Z, Bourne, N, Taylor, VJ, Coffey, MP & Brotherstone, S 2007 Differences between primiparous and multiparous dairy cows in the inter-relationships between metabolic traits, milk yield and body condition score in the periparturient period. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 33 203–225Google Scholar
Wilde, CJ, Henderson, AJ, Knight, CH, Blatchford, DR, Faulkner, A & Vernon, RG 1987 Effects of long-term thrice-daily milking on mammary enzyme activity, cell population and milk yield in the goat. Journal of Animal Science 64 533–539Google Scholar
Wilde, CJ, Quarrie, LH, Tonner, E, Flint, DJ & Peaker, M 1997 Mammary apoptosis. Livestock Production Science 50 29–37Google Scholar
Yang, WZ & Beauchemin, KA 2007 Altering physically effective fiber intake through forage proportion and particle length: digestion and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 90 3410–3421Google Scholar
Zamiri, MJ, Qotbi, A & Izadifard, J 2001 Effect of daily oxytocin injection on milk yield and lactation length in sheep. Small Ruminant Research 40 179–185Google Scholar
Zeng, SS, Zhang, L, Wiggans, GR, Clay, J, LaCroix, R, Wang, JZ & Gipson, T 2008 Current Status of Composition and Somatic Cell Count in Milk of Goats Enrolled in Dairy Herd Improvement Program in the United States. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.Google Scholar