The Effects of Daily Oxytocin Injections Before and After Milking on Milk Production, Milk Plasmin, and Milk Composition

Abstract

Exogenous daily oxytocin injections given immediately before milking increase milk production. To investigate the mechanism by which oxytocin increases milk production, oxytocin injections were given before and after milking, and saline injection was given before milking as a control. The experimental design was a replicated Latin square; two complete trials were performed: one with 12 cows (45 d) and another with 15 cows (95 d). In the first trial, the least squares means of milk production were 29.2, 29.3, and 28.3 kg for oxytocin injection before milking, oxytocin injection after milking, and saline injection before milking, respectively. In the second trial, the least squares means of milk production were 33.3, 32.9, and 32.4 kg for oxytocin injection before milking, oxytocin injection after milking, and saline injection before milking, respectively. Oxytocin before and after milking significantly increased milk production by 3%. The results suggest that increases in milk production may not be caused by removal of residual milk but by increased gland output of milk. The effect on milk plasmin activity, fat, protein, SCC, and lactose was nonsignificant and may indicate that effect of oxytocin is not manifested through an effect on cell remodeling. © 1993, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.