THE COW’S UDDER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 382, 16 June 1928, Page 27

THE COW’S UDDER

HOW IT IS CONSTRUCTED The udder consists of the following parts: A band of fibrous tissue of muscle, which is attached to the wall of the belly, and bears the weight of the udder. The very large pendulous udders found in old cows are due to the fibrous bands becoming stretched, and failing to hold the udder as close to the belly as formerly. Two mammary glands, one on each side of the udder. Numerous milk-making cells, arranged in clusters, and composing the bulk of the two glands. These cells are surrounded by small blood vessels supplying the material from which the cells make the milk. Numerous milk ducts or channels leading from the milk-making cells, and gradually joining together to form even larger channels in which the milk is conveyed from the cells to the milk cistern. Where small channels combine to make larger channels there are small circular muscles which are under the control of the cow, and by which she is able more or less completely to close the ducts and thus hold up her milk. Four milk cisterns or reservoirs, one above each teat. These are small cavities, with a capacity of a pint or so each, and with a circular muscle at the base, over which the cow has little control. . , . Four teats leading downwaids fiom the cisterns. Each teat consists of a channel surrounded by a muscular wall, and blood vessels. At the outlets of the channels (the points ot the teatsl there are again circular muscles, only slightly under the control of the cow. As the muscles m the latter are practically uncontrolled, the milk in the cistern and teats cannot be held up. Connective and fatty tissue. This substance composes the remainder of the udder. If the amount present is large, the udder is described as fleshy, and does not shrink or ’’milk away after the cow is milked.