Impact of balanced feeding on the solids-not-fat (SNF) content of milk

Milk producers across various states face problem of low SNF in milk, resulting into rejections. A study was undertaken to assess the impact of feeding a balanced ration on the SNF content of milk and other performance parameters in crossbred cows and Murrah buffaloes in Ludhiana district of Punjab. Out of 121 animals screened, 40 crossbred cows and 28 buffaloes were identified with low SNF. Milk yield, milk fat, SNF and net daily income of milk producers were recorded before and after feeding a balanced ration. Nutritional status of animals indicated that about 44% of the animals had excess protein and energy inthe ration, whereas, ration of 63% of the animals was deficit in calcium and phosphorus. On feeding a balanced ration for 8 weeks, there was significant improvement in SNF content of milk from 7.86 to 8.54% in cows and from 8.12 to 9.12% in buffaloes. Average daily milk yield and milk fat increased from 9.35 to 10.36 kg; 4.13 to 4.27% in cows and from 7.54 to 8.25 kg; 6.54 to 7.01% in buffaloes, respectively. This translated into an additional daily monetary benefit of about Rs. 25 and 34 in cows and buffaloes, respectively. Milk production efficiency of fat corrected milk (kg FCM produced/kg DMI consumed) increased from 0.75 to 0.89 in cows and from 0.60 to 0.72 in buffaloes, on feeding a balanced ration. Rumen microbial protein (g/d) increased by 42% in cows and buffaloes. Levels of serum immunoglobulins like IgG, IgM and IgA (mg/ml) increased from 21.72 to 28.20, 2.91 to 3.29 and 0.44 to 0.52 in cows, respectively. Similarly, levels of serum IgG, IgM and IgA (mg/ml) increased from 20.89 to 26.43, 2.75 to 3.48 and 0.42 to 0.53 in buffaloes, as compared to animals fed on imbalanced ration. Parasitic load was reduced from 215 to 66 and 105 to 35 eggs per gram of faeces, in cows and buffaloes, respectively. The study demonstrated that feeding a balanced ration not only helped in improving SNF content of milk, but also resulted in improving daily income of small-holder milk producers. Thus, large scale implementation of ration balancing programme can help in improving SNF content of milk and overall profitability from dairying, in various milk-sheds.