Inhibiting prolactin by cabergoline accelerates mammary gland remodeling during the early dry period in dairy cows.

The inhibition of prolactin release using cabergoline, a dopamine agonist, is an effective strategy to accelerate the changes in mammary secretion composition after drying-off. The objective of this study was to determine how cabergoline may affect mammary tissue remodeling during early involution. Holstein dairy cows were treated with either a single i.

Cabergoline inhibits prolactin secretion and accelerates involution in dairy cows after dry-off.

Dairy cattle require a dry period between successive lactations to ensure optimal milk production. Because prolactin (PRL) is necessary for the initiation and maintenance of milk production, strategies that can inhibit PRL secretion might hasten the involution process. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the PRL release inhibitor cabergoline on markers of mammary gland involution during the early dry period.