Fat & protein
Cows milk consists of solids (milkfat, protein, lactose and minerals) in water, with water making up about 87 percent of the volume.
Companies base farmgate payments on fat and protein components.
Milk composition varies between regions due to a number of factors, such as cow breed and age, nutrition and feed quality.
Average protein/fat composition by state (%)
| |
NSW |
VIC |
QLD |
SA |
WA |
TAS |
AUST |
| Milkfat |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2003/04 |
3.94 |
4.16 |
3.95 |
3.96 |
3.98 |
4.32 |
4.10 |
| 2004/05 |
3.89 |
4.12 |
3.99 |
3.94 |
3.87 |
4.28 |
4.07 |
| 2005/06 |
3.91 |
4.08 |
4.00 |
3.88 |
3.91 |
4.29 |
4.05 |
| 2006/07 |
3.88 |
4.09 |
3.98 |
3.90 |
3.92 |
4.25 |
4.05 |
| 2007/08 |
3.97 |
4.14 |
4.01 |
3.95 |
3.95 |
4.20 |
4.10 |
| 2008/09 |
3.93 |
4.22 |
3.97 |
3.93 |
3.99 |
4.25 |
4.15 |
| 2009/10 |
3.97 |
4.20 |
4.05 |
4.05 |
3.91 |
4.34 |
4.15 |
| 2010/11 (p) |
3.92 |
4.15 |
4.00 |
3.82 |
3.96 |
4.28 |
4.10 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Protein |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2003/04 |
3.26 |
3.34 |
3.21 |
3.27 |
3.15 |
3.36 |
3.31 |
| 2004/05 |
3.23 |
3.32 |
3.23 |
3.24 |
3.11 |
3.35 |
3.29 |
| 2005/06 |
3.25 |
3.33 |
3.33 |
3.25 |
3.15 |
3.37 |
3.31 |
| 2006/07 |
3.24 |
3.33 |
3.22 |
3.25 |
3.19 |
3.37 |
3.30 |
| 2007/08 |
3.25 |
3.34 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.19 |
3.39 |
3.32 |
| 2008/09 |
3.26 |
3.38 |
3.28 |
3.28 |
3.24 |
3.39 |
3.35 |
| 2009/10 |
3.27 |
3.35 |
3.33 |
3.27 |
3.20 |
3.41 |
3.34 |
| 2010/11 (p) |
3.26 |
3.38 |
3.31 |
3.28 |
3.23 |
3.44 |
3.35 |
Source: Dairy manufacturers