Question

Explain eight factors that influence the composition of milk in a dairy cow.

Answer 1

1. Age of the animal
2. Condition of the animal i.e emaciation, sickness and pregnancy
3. Stage of lactation and pregnancy: butter fat content in milk tends to be higher at the middle phase of lactation period.
4. Completeness of milking
5. Breed differences
6. Season of the year
7. The type of food eaten by the animal
8. Presence of diseases such as mastitis and if the animal is under treatment through use of different drugs will produce milk with variable composition.