No evidence of cisternal recoil in the udder of dairy goats

Cisternal recoil was studied 8, 16 and 24h after milking in 8 multiparous Murciano-Granadina goats by scanning cisterns by ultrasonography at 0, 5, 15 and 30 min after an oxytocin (OT) challenge. Cisternal area increased after OT injection for 8- and 16-h milking intervals, but no differences were observed for the 24-h interval. Unlike in cows, no changes in cisternal area were observed after OT injection, indicating the absence of recoil and milk return from cistern to alveoli in goats. Due to the large capacity of goat cisterns, milk losses will be minimal if milking is delayed after milk letdown.