In the Southeast, milk is priced based on fat and skim milk value, with additional bonuses for somatic cell and bacterial counts. In recent years, butterfat has become more valuable. This 7-page document discusses some of the history behind the changes in milk fat consumption, management factors that influence milk fat content and yield by dairy cattle, and economic implications of changing fat content through the diet in two case scenarios. Written by José E. P. Santos and Albert De Vries, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, January 2019.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an350
Similar to any mammal, newborn dairy calves must consume milk in the first weeks of life because of their inability to properly digest dry feeds. On most dairy farms, milk harvested from cows or reconstituted milk replacer powder provides the primary source of nutrients for calves in the first 4–6 weeks of life before they are able to adequately digest other feeds. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Milerky C. Perdomo and José E.P. Santos, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, June 2011. (AP photo by Tara Piasio/University of Florida/IFAS)
Both natural service and artificial insemination programs can work for managing reproduction on dairy farms. This 3-page fact sheet provides comparison of reproductive performance and economic considerations. Written by Fábio S. Lima, Albert De Vries, Carlos A. Risco, and José E.P. Santos, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, June 2011. (UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright)
Sometimes energy-rich diets formulated to maximize milk production exert negative effects on milk fat. This 4-page fact sheet reviews some of the dietary factors that induce milk fat depression and explains how to troubleshoot this problem. Written by Leandro F. Greco and José E.P. Santos, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, June 2011. (AP photo/University of Florida/IFAS/Josh Wickham)