Studies on solids-not-fat content of milk of crossbred cows under village conditions and organized farms of Kerala

The data on solids-not-fat (SNF) content of milk of 1 284 samples, obtained from 222 crossbred cows, under village conditions and organized farms of K erala, calved during 1995-96, were analyzed. The average solids-not-fat con tent of morning and evening milk was 8.568 +/- 0.041 and 8.537 +/- 0.040 fo r early lactation, 8.593 +/- 0.061 and 8.524 +/- 0.040 for middle lactation and 8.518 +/- 0.048 and 8.502 +/- 0.039 for late lactation. Least-squares analysis revealed that the effect of sire, centre and season on SNF were no nsignificant. SNF percentage of milk did not exhibit much variation, with t he progress of lactation. Around 47% of cows, irrespective of stage of lact ation and time of milking, recorded SNF percentage below the legal standard s of 8.5.