Comparative morphologic characterization of the tissular components of the mammary gland in Majorera, Palmera and Tinerfeña dairy goats: preliminary results

Abstract

The tissular components of the mammary gland and, in particular correct values of secretor and connective tissues are important items to be evaluated in a healthy mammary parenchyma. By means a random sampling in the body of the udder of 9 goats belonging to the three Canary Island (Spain) breeds (Majorera, Palmera and Tinerfeña) was made one study of the secretor, canalicular, connective and vascular tissular components. These mammary glands were milked once a day (left gland) or twice a day (right gland) during six weeks in middle lactation. Two biopsy samples of each gland were taken at the dorsal and middle levels of the glandular parenchyma. They were histological processed and then analyzed by a morphometric software. The values of the different tissular components (secretor, canalicular, connective and vascular) were obtained for each breed: Majorera (49.18% secretor tissue, 1.7% canalicular tissue, 48.57% connective tissue, 0.53% vascular tissue), Palmera (43.49% secretor tissue, 2.23% canalicular tissue, 57.85% connective tissue, 0.71% vascular tissue) and Tinerfeña (42% secretor tissue, 1.87% canalicular tissue, 55.52% connective tissue, 0.71% vascular tissue). No significant differences were found as regards the milking frequency. The obtained values joined to other parameters relative to the milking will allow to determine results related to the productivity of these breeds. New studies in a next future will allow to confirm the results obtained in a major number of animals.