Diverse roles of glucocorticoids in the ruminant mammary gland: modulation of mammary growth, milk production, and mastitis.

As endocrine hormones, glucocorticoids (GCs) play a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes, including mammary growth and lactation, circulatory metabolism, and responses to external stimuli. In the dairy industry, milk production from cows or goats is important for newborns and economic benefits. However, the milk yields from ruminant animals are always affected by the extent of mammary development, mammary disease, stress, or changes in metabolism.