title: Relationship between external and internal udder and teat measurements of machine milked dromedary camels.
abstract: This study aims to determine the relationship between internal and external udder and teat measurements and evaluate their correlation with milk yield and milk partitioning in the udder of dromedary camels. Six Maghrebi camels reared under intensive conditions were monitored at early, middle, and late lactation. Udder measurements included udder depth, udder horizontal circumference, fore and rear teat length and diameter. Besides, scans of the left fore and rear quarters were taken in duplicate before morning milking (16 h) using an oxytocin receptor blocking agent (Atosiban) to determine teat and gland distension before milk ejection. Cisternal and alveolar milk volumes were then evaluated. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the performed udder external and ultrasonographical measurements and cisternal and daily milk production on the measurement day. Significant effect of lactation stage was observed in all measured traits. All internal and external measurements decreased significantly at late lactation as well as cisternal and total milk yield. The quarter cisternal area averaged 16.3 ± 2.2 cm(2) and decreased about three times at late lactation compared to early and middle lactation. All external and internal measurements were positively and highly correlated (P < 0.001). The knowledge of the relationship between udder internal and external morphological traits would permit to predict udder cisternal storage capacity and can ultimately be adopted to improve milk storage capacity of dromedary camels.
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute, University of Gabes, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia. atigui2009@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Moufida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atigui
authors.affiliation: AGROCAMPUS OUEST, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35042, Rennes, France.|INRA, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35042, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Guy
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Marnet
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute, University of Gabes, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hager
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harrabi
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute, University of Gabes, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bessalah
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute, University of Gabes, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Touhami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khorchani
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute, University of Gabes, 4119, Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammadi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003612:Dairying / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008892:Milk; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; C047046:atosiban; D014668:Vasotocin
keywords: Camels; Milk partitioning; Udder measurements; Ultrasonography