Ultrasound measures of the thickness of the teat cistern wall, teat cistern diameter and the teat canal length as well as temperatures derived from the thermographic pictures at teat tip, mid-teat and teat base were compared between treatments.
The most obvious response to different liners was recorded 10 minutes post-challenge where temperatures at both teat tip, mid-teat and teat base were significantly lower on teats milked with soft liners, Table 2. Statistical differences are designated with *, **, or *** for 5, 1, and 0.1percentt significance levels, respectively.
During milking, mid-teat temperature increased markedly while both teat base and teat tip temperatures tended to increase less or even slightly decrease with the extended and soft liner, respectively.
Teat wall thickness, teat wall area, teat end wall area, and teat canal length were measured from the ultrasound images.
Additionally, 2 methods to measure teat tissue condition were compared: longitudinal teat ultrasound cross-sectioning and teat tissue density measurements with the spring-loaded caliper (cutimeter method).
The clay-based acidic bedding conditioner reduced environmental pathogens in sawdust bedding and teat ends without affecting teat end integrity.
The long gestation contradicts the large litter size and teat count.
"Teats' includes three traits; front teat placement, rear teat placement and teat length.
Teat diameter, teat wall thickness and teat canal length were significantly dependent upon time (p < 0.001), Table 4.
Teat length and teat placement traits appeared to have been associated with different genes.
