Fat and Protein
Milkfat, protein, lactose and minerals are the components which make up cows' milk, with the remaining 87% consisting of water.
Milk processors base their farmgate prices on milkfat and protein. Protein has traditionally been the most valuable component.
Milk composition can vary between regions and seasons. This may be due to several factors, such as cow breed, age, nutrition and feed quality.
Average protein composition by state (%)
|
YEAR |
NSW |
VIC |
QLD |
SA |
WA |
TAS |
AUST |
|
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 |
3.92 |
4.15 |
4.00 |
3.82 |
3.96 |
4.28 |
4.10 |
|
2011–12 |
3.90 |
4.08 |
4.00 |
3.85 |
3.86 |
4.25 |
4.05 |
|
2012–13 |
3.92 |
4.12 |
4.02 |
3.81 |
3.87 |
4.32 |
4.08 |
|
2013-14 |
3.91 |
4.10 |
3.98 |
3.80 |
3.88 |
4.30 |
4.07 |
|
2014–15 |
3.93 |
4.15 |
4.01 |
3.77 |
3.89 |
4.35 |
4.11 |
|
2015-16 |
3.92 |
4.12 |
4.00 |
3.77 |
3.92 |
4.30 |
4.08 |
|
2016–17 |
3.91 |
4.13 |
4.00 |
3.84 |
3.92 |
4.34 |
4.10 |
|
2017–18 |
3.93 |
4.12 |
4.05 |
3.80 |
3.91 |
4.31 |
4.09 |
|
2018–19 |
3.89 |
4.12 |
4.05 |
3.84 |
3.90 |
4.39 |
4.10 |
Average fat composition by state (%)
|
YEAR |
NSW |
VIC |
QLD |
SA |
WA |
TAS |
AUST |
|
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 |
3.26 |
3.38 |
3.31 |
3.28 |
3.23 |
3.44 |
3.35 |
|
2011–12 |
3.28 |
3.36 |
3.31 |
3.27 |
3.16 |
3.44 |
3.34 |
|
2012–13 |
3.27 |
3.36 |
3.29 |
3.26 |
3.20 |
3.47 |
3.35 |
|
2013-14 |
3.28 |
3.39 |
3.29 |
3.27 |
3.18 |
3.47 |
3.37 |
|
2014–15 |
3.29 |
3.40 |
3.32 |
3.29 |
3.22 |
3.49 |
3.38 |
|
2015-16 |
3.29 |
3.40 |
3.32 |
3.28 |
3.23 |
3.48 |
3.38 |
|
2016–17 |
3.28 |
3.41 |
3.30 |
3.31 |
3.24 |
3.50 |
3.39 |
|
2017–18 |
3.30 |
3.41 |
3.31 |
3.28 |
3.24 |
3.51 |
3.39 |
|
2018–19 |
3.25 |
3.40 |
3.29 |
3.29 |
3.22 |
3.50 |
3.38 |
