Ocitocina na Produção e Composição do Leite

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether oxytocin, before and after milking, influences the efficiency of milk ejection, and consequently increased production and changes in milk composition. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology in Southern Minas Gerais - Machado Campus in the cattle industry, using 39 animals, divided into 13 blocks, each with three animals listed from "1" to "13". The division of animals was based on the sequence of individual production, so that block "1" was composed by the three most productive animals and block "13" by three animals of lower production. For each block, the animals were randomly assigned to treatments 1, 2 and 3. One (T1) animal did not receive oxytocin, representing the control treatment. It received only normal saline 0.5 ml, in the entire teat during the 60 days of the experiment. In two treatment (T2), all the animals received milking oxytocin at a concentration of 10 IU, total 0.5 ml, before the start of milking, during the 60 days period. In treatment three (T3), the animals received oxytocin at the end of milking at a concentration of 10 IU, total of 0.5ml, and were milked again. Such activities were performed during the 60 days of the experiment. To measure the production of cow s milk meters were used and sampling was performed every 15 days, totaling four weighing and sampling procedures. After measured the production of all animals were, measured samples were collected and sent for analysis. The variables analyzed were the acidity of the milk and quantified of the composition of fat, lactose and protein. The results were submitted to ANOVA and subsequently the comparison of means test, which was statistically significant at 5%. According to the results oxytocin did not influence milk production, the average percentage of fat, lactose and milk protein, but enabled moderation of declining production in the lactation curve and may decrease the effect of the fall in the percentage of protein in milk.