BOVINE MAMMARY-GLAND - STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION - RELATIONSHIP TO MILK-PRODUCTION AND IMMUNITY TO MASTITIS - REVIEW

The mammary gland of the dairy cow is a complex organ that evolved to nourish the newborn calf. Through genetic selection and advances in mi lking technology, the udder yields far greater quantities than the ori ginal gland was designed to accommodate. Selection for greater yield a nd product removal by milking machines impose unnatural stresses that affect udder health and milk production. A basic understanding of mamm ary gland anatomy, milk synthesis and removal, and host resistance mec hanisms against disease should aid in developing procedures to efficie ntly harvest large volumes of milk, promote udder health, and minimize the incidence of mastitis.