Milk solid levels, such as protein and fat, are important factors in dairy herd management. Studies have indicated that many herds are producing milk solids below average for their market and their breed, which presents an opportunity to improve milk component production and income from milk sales.

There are many factors that can affect milk fat and protein, which can be manipulated for higher levels of milk components. Management of nutrition and feeding practices are most likely to quickly and dramatically alter production of milk fat and protein.

Nutritional strategies for high milk solid levels

Nutrition and feeding management are considered the best solutions to a milk fat or protein problem other than genetics. Milk fat depression can be alleviated within 7 to 21 days by changing the diet. Milk protein changes take at least 3 weeks or longer.

Any diet or management factors that affect rumen fermentation can change milk fat and protein levels. Reduction in rumen microbial protein production from nutrition or feeding management imbalances will reduce milk protein by way of less microbial protein for the cow to digest and depress fat by limiting volatile fatty acid (VFA) production in the rumen.

Benefits of feeding Anco FIT to dairy cows

Supplementing dairy rations with Anco FIT has been proven in research and field trials to increase milk protein and milk fat yields in dairy cows and thus increase profitability including the cost of the product in the dairy ration.

Figure 1 below shows the average improvement in milk fat and protein yields in 8 different dairy trials in 4 different countries (Austria, Germany, USA and Czech Republic). Breeds in the studied herds included Holstein, Simmental, Montbeliarde and Brown Swiss.

Increase in milk solid levels

average improvement in milk solid levels (%) with Anco FIT across 8 trials was

milk fat level (%): +4.55% increase
milk protein level (%): +2.43% increase

Increase in milk solid yields (Figure 1)

average improvement in milk solid yields with Anco FIT across 8 trials was
daily milk fat yield (kg): + 6.61 % increase with Anco FIT
daily milk protein yield (kg): +4.18% increase with Anco FIT

Economic benefit – $0.60/cow/day

With current prices (status USDA, 4th January 2018) for milk fat (2.49 $/lb) and milk protein (2.04 $/lb) for US dairy production this improvement in milk components when feeding Anco FIT would mean an increase of $0.60/cow/day in income from milk solids using average performance data of the dairy herds in the 8 trials featured below.

About Anco FIT

Anco FIT is a gut agility activator designed to empower dairy cows to cope with nutritional stress factors in a more efficient way and improve rumen fermentation, resulting in better milk quality and milk component yields

Find out more about Anco FIT in the following link: What is Anco FIT? 

More points to consider for 2018 profits on dairy farms

Milk Components: Understanding milk fat and protein variation in your dairy herd    learn more

Simple spreadsheet to calculate gross milk price for various milk solid levels   calculate milk prices

One additional incentive to proper silage management  learn more

3 things you should know about 2017 Corn silage learn more

Figure 1 Improvement in milk solid yields in response to Anco FIT in dairy cows