Course Content
Housing principles and housing of ruminant
0/2
Artificial rearing of newborn calf (cattle, buffalo, yak and chauri)
0/1
Grooming and dusting of farm animals
0/2
Judging and selection of cattle, buffalo
0/2
Milk secretion and let down of milk
0/2
Learn Ruminant Production with Rahul
About Lesson

Milk secretion

  • Prolactin secreted by anterior pituitary gland causes breast changes during lactation.
  • Prolactin also stimulates the production of milk
  • Estrogen increases secretion of prolactin and along with prolactin promotes breast growth and differentiation.
  • Estrogen along with progesterone , estrogen antagonizes prolactin action on milk production and milk secretion
  • Following parturition ,estrogen and progesterone concentration in plasma falls due to absence of placenta so milk production is increases due to effect of prolactin .
  • Large secretory burst of prolactin occurs during each nursing period.
  • This episodic burst of prolactin signals the breasts for maintenance of milk production .
  • These prolactin pulse continue for several days after the mother completely stop nursing her infant .
  • The mechanism mediating prolactin pulses is initiated by stimulation of nipple receptor by suckling that send afferent input to hypothalamus .
  • This input inhibits hypothalamic release of dopamine .
  • Decreased dopamine release from hypothalamus stimulates prolactin secretion.
  • Prolactin also inhibit GnRH secretion from hypothalamus that prevent ovulation therefore , till mother continues to nurse the baby ,normally pregnancy does not occur.
  • Suckling also stimulate milk ejection reflex.