Milk fat goes up when the animal gets enough fibre from fodder and is milked out fully. SNF goes up when she gets enough energy and protein and stays healthy. There is no safe powder you can add to the milk. Better fat and SNF come from the feed, the animal and the milking.
What are fat and SNF?
Fat is the cream in the milk. SNF means "solids-not-fat": the protein, milk sugar and minerals in milk. Most dairies test both and pay by them, so a small rise in fat or SNF can raise your price for every litre. Check your dairy's rate chart to see how much each point is worth.
Why fat is low
- Too little fodder. Fat is made from the fibre in green and dry fodder. A diet with too much grain or concentrate and too little fodder gives low fat.
- Too much grain at one time. A big meal of grain upsets the stomach and lowers fat. Give the day's feed in two or three meals.
- Milking not complete. The last milk out of the udder has the most fat. Stopping early leaves it behind.
- Peak milk. Fat is usually lowest when a cow gives the most milk, and rises later in lactation.
- Heat. In hot weather animals eat less fodder, and fat falls.
- Breed. HF cows usually give lower fat than Jersey, local cows or buffaloes.
Why SNF is low
- Too little feed for the milk she gives, mostly energy and protein. This is common in early lactation, when milk rises faster than she can eat.
- Udder infection (mastitis), even when you cannot see it. Your vet can test the milk.
- Heat stress and long hours without water.
- Water added to milk lowers SNF straight away, and dairies test for it.
What to do
- Feed fodder every day, and feed for the milk she gives. Cow: about 0.8 kg of Truemeal TMR-E complete feed for every litre on top of her upkeep. Buffalo: about 1.25 kg a litre.
- Keep the feed balanced: energy, protein, fibre and minerals together. TMR-E has fibre (NDF) of at least 35% and protein of at least 16%, mixed the same in every bite.
- Change feed slowly, over a week: Switch to TMR feed over a week.
- Milk at the same times, calmly, and milk out fully.
- Keep animals cool and give clean water all day.
- Check the udder at every milking. Call your vet if you see clots, swelling or heat.
Keep your dairy slips
Write down the fat and SNF on your dairy slip each week. When you change feed, give it three to four weeks before you judge. Change one thing at a time, so you know what worked.
What results can you expect?
On our own farm records, farmers feeding TMR-E saw up to 10% higher milk solids (fat + SNF). Results vary with the animals, fodder and care. Milk Booster can go on top of good feeding for more milk; it does not replace fodder or feed. See Milk Booster.
Never add anything to milk
You will see "milk fat increase" chemicals and powders for sale. Adding anything to milk is adulteration. It is against the law, it can make people ill, and dairy tests can find it. Raise fat and SNF only through feed, health and milking.
Make my free Feed Plan — it shows how much to feed each animal, and your feed cost for every litre of milk.
