Seasonal and Regional Differences in the Composition of Cows\u27 Milk in South Dakota

Payment for milk on the basis of fat content has been the common practice for many decades. Very logically the fat and/or SNF content will affect the yield of manufactured dairy products made from a given supply of milk. The Dairy Science Department at South Dakota State University has received reports of lower than average product yields in some dairy plants in the state. Such low product yields have occurred most often during summer months. An investigation was conducted to determine in detail the characteristic composition of milk from various parts of South Dakota during the four seasons of the year while also providing more information which might affirm or refute a need for updating the Jacobson formula and /or other formulas for computing milk SNF content from the milk fat percentage