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GENERAL BOARDS => DAIRY FARM - Animals => Topic started by: Dorchestercheese on June 17, 2018, 12:00:43 PM

Title: Water content in milk
Post by: Dorchestercheese on June 17, 2018, 12:00:43 PM
Does the water content in milk change between seasons?
Title: Re: Water content in milk
Post by: Kern on June 17, 2018, 03:39:53 PM
Sure in a minor sort of way.  Let's say that a milk contains 12% solids.  Half this (Jersey Cows) is fat because the it's spring and the cows have been eating grass.  So, the fat content is 6%.  Now it's fall and the fat content drops to 5% so the total solids drop to 11%.  The grand total still has to be 100% so the water content increases to make up for the drop in the fat content.  Got it?
Title: Re: Water content in milk
Post by: River Bottom Farm on June 17, 2018, 04:05:31 PM
It can also change daily depending on how hot it is because a cow will drink more water and lay around more (eat less) on hot days so generally if a cow is on pasture you will have more water and less solids during the summer compared to winter.