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ANIMAL HUSBANDRY INFORMATION
PRODUCTS
Composition of Milk
The composition of milk is influenced by various factors like breed, stage of lactation, frequency and completeness of milking, diseases and nutrition of the cow.
Composition of milk is important from nutritional standpoint and for pricing of milk. Average composition of milk of cross-bred cows is given below:
| Breed | Total solids% | Fat % | SNF % | Protein % | Lactose % |
Ash % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey x local | 14.30 | 5.11 | 9.19 | 3.78 | 4.74 | 0.67 |
| Holstein Friesian x local | 12.95 | 4.26 | 8.69 | 3.51 | 4.50 | 0.67 |
| Brown Swiss x local | 13.74 | 4.80 | 8.94 | 3.71 | 4.62 | 0.61 |
| Buffalo | 16.90 | 7.40 | 9.50 | 3.90 | 4.80 | 0.80 |
| Goat | 13.50 | 4.50 | 9.00 | 3.50 | 4.70 | 0.80 |
| Vechur cattle of Kerala | 14.75 | 5.92 | 8.84 | - | - | - |
Revision of PFA standards for cow milk (3.5% fat and 8.5% SNF) in Kerala is recommended, based on above findings.
Some management practices to avoid low solids in milk include
- Complete milking so as to secure last strippings.
- Keep time interval between milkings almost equal so as to avoid reduction in solids in morning milk.
- Feed adequate quantity of roughages.
- Test for sub-clinical mastitis which may lead to variation in milk composition.
- Lactometer reading is to be taken only one hour after milking.
Last updated: 1-3-2007
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