Effect of feeding before, during and after milking on milk production and the hormones oxytocin, prolactin, gastrin and somatostatin

Feeding during milking has been shown to influence milk production, milk fl ow and milking time as well as the secretion of the pituitary hormones oxyt ocin and prolactin, and the gastrointestinal hormone somatostatin. However: it is not known whether feeding before or after milking has any effect. Th e aim of the present study was to investigate how the timing of feeding rel ative to milking influences milk production and flow, milking time and horm one secretion. The trial was carried out over 9 weeks with 24 cows at varyi ng stages of lactation. Each treatment period lasted for 3 weeks, including one registration week. The cows were fed ad lib. and were exposed to three treatments: feeding 1.5 h before milking (FBM), feeding at exactly the sam e time as milking (FDM) and feeding 1.5 h after milking (FAM). The most mar ked treatment effect was observed during morning milking. FDM resulted in h igher milk production and higher yields of protein and lactose. FAM produce d a lower fat yield and a lower fat content compared with FDM, and a lower lactose content than either FBM and FDM. Milking time was longer when cows were fed during milking, but no significant effects on milk flow were found . The amount of milk collected during the first 2 min of milking was lower when cows were fed after milking. Milking-related oxytocin and somatostatin secretion was lower in FAM than in FDM. The level of prolactin was lower w hen cows were fed before or after than during milking. More studies are nee ded to elucidate whether there is a long-term effect on milk production rel ated to the discussed milking routines.