The udder (breast) of a cow is an organ designed to produce and offer a newborn calf easy access to its mother’s milk. It is suspended outside the wall of the rear abdomen and thus it is not restrained, supported, or protected by any skeletal structures. The udder of a cow is made up of four mammary glands or “quarters.” Each quarter is a functioning entity of its own which operates independently and delivers the milk through its own teat (from where the milk is withdrawn). Generally, the rear quarters are slightly more developed and produce more milk (60%) than the front quarters (40%). The major components of the udder are listed here with a short explanation of their importance and function.
Blood supply and capillary structures. Milk production demands a lot of nutrients that are brought to the udder by the blood. To produce 1 kg of milk, 400 to 500 kg of blood must pass through the udder. In addition, the blood carries hormones that control udder development, milk synthesis, and the regeneration of the secretory cells between lactation
(during the dry period). Lymph system. Lymph is a clear fluid that comes from tissues highly irrigated by blood. The lymph helps to balance the fluid flowing in and out of the udder and helps to combat infections. Sometimes the increased blood flow at the onset of lactation leads to an accumulation of fluid in the udder until the lymph system is able to remove the extra fluid. This condition, referred to as udder edema, is more prevalent in first-calf heifers and older cows with pendulous udders.
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