Teat anatomy, vacuum to open the teat canal, and fractionized milk composition in Italian buffaloes

Abstract

Sixteen Italian dairy water buffaloes were used to demonstrate a relationship between teat anatomy and vacuum needed to open the teat canal (VO) and to investigate the amount and composition of cisternal and alveolar milk. Teat length, teat canal length, teat cistern diameter, and teat wall thickness were similar in front and rear teats except for the teat diameter which was greater in rear than in front teats. VO was measured on a wetted teat canal without liner and pulsation. Only twelve quarters out of 30 showed milk flow at a vacuum up to 45 kPa. In these quarters VO correlated with the teat canal length, the teat wall thickness and the cisternal diameter (r=0.82, r=0.62, r=-0.65, respectively, P<0.01. It remains however unclear which anatomical characteristics prevent milk flow at a vacuum up to 45 kPa in the majority of quarters investigated. Somatic cell count (SCC), milk yield, fat, lactose, protein and dry matter were measured in the cisternal and alveolar fractions. SCC, fat and dry matter remained similar while lactose and protein were significantly higher in the alveolar than cisternal fraction.