Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10553/46079
Title: The mammary gland in small ruminants: Major morphological and functional events underlying milk production - A review
Authors: Lérias, Joana R.
Hernández Castellano, Lorenzo Enrique 
Suárez Trujillo, Aridany 
Castro Navarro, Noemí 
Pourlis, Aris Frixos
Almeida, André M.
UNESCO Clasification: 3104 Producción Animal
310404 Cuidado y Explotación
310407 Ovinos
Keywords: Thrice-Daily Milking
Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin
Conjugated Linoleic-Acid
Growth-Hormone
Short-Communication, et al
Issue Date: 2014
Publisher: 0022-0299
Journal: Journal of Dairy Research 
Abstract: The importance of small ruminants to the dairy industry has increased in recent years, especially in developing countries, where it has a high economic and social impact. Interestingly and despite the fact that the mammary gland is the specialised milk production organ, very few authors studied the modifications occurring in the mammary gland through the lactation period in production animals, particularly in the small ruminants, sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra hircus). Nevertheless, understanding the different mammary gland patterns throughout lactation is essential to improve dairy production. In addition, associating these patterns with different milking frequencies, lactation number or different diets is also of high importance, directly affecting the dairy industry. The mammary gland is commonly composed of parenchyma and stroma, which includes the ductal system, with individual proportions of each changing during the different periods and yields in a lactation cycle. Indeed, during late gestation, as well as during early to mid-lactation, mammary gland expansion occurs, with an increase in the number of epithelial cells and lumen area, which leads to increment of the parenchyma tissue, as well as a reduction of stroma, corresponding macroscopically to the increase in mammary gland volume. Throughout late lactation, the mammary gland volume decreases owing to the regression of the secretory structure. In general, common mammary gland patterns have been shown for both goats and sheep throughout the several lactation stages, although the number of studies is limited. The main objective of this manuscript is to review the colostrogenesis and lactogenesis processes as well as to highlight the mammary gland morphological patterns underlying milk production during the lactation cycle for small ruminants, and to describe potential differences between goats and sheep, hence contributing to a better description of mammary gland development during lactation for these two poorly studied species.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10553/46079
ISSN: 0022-0299
DOI: 10.1017/S0022029914000235
Source: Journal Of Dairy Research [ISSN 0022-0299], v. 81 (3), p. 304-318
Appears in Collections:Reseña
Thumbnail
Adobe PDF (654,26 kB)
Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

66
checked on Mar 24, 2024

WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations

61
checked on Feb 25, 2024

Page view(s)

60
checked on Mar 9, 2024

Download(s)

58
checked on Mar 9, 2024

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Share



Export metadata



Items in accedaCRIS are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.