Milk Quality
Cows & Buffaloes
Low Milk Fat Percentage — Causes and Feed Correction
Updated 08 Jul 2026 • By Falah Nutrition Desk, Animal Nutrition Advisor
Milk fat percentage directly affects what you're paid per litre — and it responds quickly to feeding changes, for better or worse. A sudden drop in fat percentage is one of the most common milk-quality complaints dairy farmers raise.
Common Signs
- Milk fat test result lower than usual on the same animal
- Milk appearing thinner or more watery than normal
- Lower price per litre from the dairy/collection center despite similar volume
- Fat drop coinciding with a recent feed or fodder change
Possible Causes
- Too little effective fibre in the diet relative to concentrate/grain
- Sudden switch to very lush, low-fibre green fodder (spring flush effect)
- Fine-ground concentrate fed in large single meals, altering rumen fermentation
- Overall ration imbalance — too much rapidly fermentable feed, too little structural fibre
What the Farmer Should Check
- Is dry fodder or straw still part of the daily ration, or has it been reduced?
- Has the animal recently moved onto very lush pasture or fresh-cut green fodder?
- Is concentrate feed split into multiple smaller feeds rather than one large one?
- Has the feed brand or formulation changed recently?
Feed Guidance
Restoring milk fat starts with restoring fibre balance — make sure dry fodder or good-quality straw remains a real part of the daily ration even when green fodder is abundant, mixing the two rather than replacing dry fodder entirely. Split concentrate feed into 2-3 smaller feeds through the day instead of one large portion, which helps maintain stable rumen fermentation. GOKA Smile and GOKA Star are formulated with milk-fat maintenance in mind and are a good base ration during periods when fodder quality is inconsistent, such as the spring flush.
Relevant GOKA Products
Dairy Cows & Buffaloes
12-18 liters/day
NDF-rich feed for healthy digestion
Dairy Cows & Buffaloes
10-15 liters/day
Maintains milk fat, prevents repeat breeding
When to Contact a Veterinary Doctor
For serious symptoms, consult a qualified veterinary doctor. Feed support can help overall nutrition and recovery but should not replace veterinary treatment.
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