Vol. 12, Special Issue 9 (2023)

The present study was conducted on mammary glands of thirty six lactating and non-lactating Kosali cows divided into early, mid and late stages respectively. In general, the Kosali cows are reared on grazing and offered paddy straw only. While in urban and semi urban areas, this breed is rarely available, where it is reared in semi intensive farming system offering dry fodder along with little concentrates. This breed is preferred in rural areas of Chhattisgarh due to its adaptability and heat tolerance as well as disease resistance. The mammary gland is one of the few body organs that undergo repeated cycles of structural development, functional differentiation, and regression. Growth and development of the mammary gland (mammogenesis) occur through a series of phases that are intimately associated with the specific physiology of the animal’s growth and reproduction. All the gross morphometrical parameters like circumference of the udder at the base, length and width of teat etc. were significantly higher in early dry period as compared to mid and late periods in non-lactating Kosali cows. Further, they were significantly higher in lactating cows as compared to non-lactating cows in early, mid and late stages. The percentage decrease in all parameters between early and mid-stages were higher as compared to mid and late stages in lactating as well as non-lactating Kosali cow.