The effects of parity and lactation stages on udder and teats measurements in crossbred dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of parity, lactation on udder, teat traits and milk yield of crossbred cows at the educational farm field, University of Khartoum, Sudan. Twenty-eight lactating crossbred cows apparently healthy with different parties and ages were selected and investigated between January and November of 2022. The external udder and teat measurements were taken in centimeters(cm); while milk yield in liter (L) after fifteen days’ post calving. The udder parameters measured were udder length (UL), udder circumference (UC), udder depth (UD), udder width (UW); whereas, the teat measurements were front teat length (FTL) and rear teat length (RTL), Front teat width (FTW), rear teat width (RTW) and the distance between teats (DBT). All investigated traits were measured in centimeters using measuring transparent ruler and tape meter. The result revealed that, there were significant differences (p<0.05) among udder and teat mean values measurements(cm) at different parities and lactation stages with exception the width of udder and distance between teats (front and rear sides) traits. Similarly, milk yield (liter) was also influenced by parity and lactation stages, in particular, at 1^st lactation stage. In conclusion, parity and lactation stages have significant impact on parameters of udder, teats measurements, and milk yield in crossbred cows. These findings could be useful and ought to be taken in to account in dairy cows breeding. Similar studies should be carried out on other breed of cows in in study area and different geographical regions of the country