Milk-sucking in Cows and Buffaloes of Egyptian Western Area with Special Reference to the Outcome of Treatment

Milk-sucking (self-sucking and inter-sucking) is an anxious problem causing economic losses in dairy farms. Although several studies were conducted to elucidate the main cause, the etiology is still unclear and might be a multi-factorial problem. The present study aimed to meticulously study individual cases of milk-sucking as well as the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment in cows and buffaloes. One hundred self-sucking cows and buffaloes were admitted to different clinics of Elkharga city in New-Valley Governorate between January 2019 and August 2020. Complete clinical examination of the animals was conducted. The recorded data were the history, signalment of the animals, clinical findings, associating problems and response to conservative treatment. Forty cows were treated conservatively through the application of the plastic nose (n= 27) or mouth rings milk-sucking preventer (n= 13). Surgically operated animals were divided into two groups according to the surgical technique. Twenty animals (cows=14, buffaloes=6) were subjected to ventral partial glossectomy, and the other ten cases (cows=6, buffaloes=4) were treated using inverting technique (tongue reshaping). The results revealed good body condition, normal physiological parameters, good appetite, good fertility and conception rate and good milk yield in 70 cases. Thirty animals had suffered depraved appetite, nutritional deficiency and delay of post-partum estrus and ovulation. Fore teats were the most common sites for milk-sucking.  Cross-sucking in the calf-hood period, energy and some mineral deficiency, and overcrowding in the markets might be the main causes of milk-sucking. Conservative treatment was effective as far as the device present in situ. Ventral glossectomy was better than tongue reshaping in treatment of the milk-sucking in cows and buffaloes.