Formulated and reviewed by our veterinary panel.
Start with the basics
Milk yield and butter fat are a reflection of the whole animal: what it eats and drinks, how comfortable it is, how healthy its udder is, and how well it is milked. There is no single product that can replace good feeding and management, but small, consistent improvements in each area add up to a noticeable difference in the bucket.
1. Feed a balanced ration
- Offer roughage before concentrate to keep the rumen healthy
- Split concentrate into two or more feeds rather than one large meal
- Make diet changes gradually over seven to ten days
- Avoid mouldy or spoiled silage and fodder
A milking animal needs energy, protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins in the right balance. Good-quality green fodder such as berseem, maize or sorghum, combined with dry roughage and a suitable concentrate, forms the base of most rations. Fibre is especially important for butter fat: animals that receive too much grain or concentrate and too little long fibre often show a fall in fat percentage.
2. Minerals and salt
Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and trace minerals such as zinc, copper and selenium all play a part in milk production, fertility and udder health. Mineral shortages are common where animals rely mainly on crop residues. Provide a suitable mineral mixture every day and keep salt available, following the quantities on the pack. Ask your veterinarian or a nutritionist if animals show signs such as chewing walls, poor coat or repeat breeding.
3. Water
Milk is mostly water, so a milking animal needs a constant supply of clean, fresh water. Restricting water is one of the fastest ways to reduce yield. Make troughs easy to reach, keep them clean and shaded, and allow animals to drink immediately after milking, when thirst is highest.
4. Comfort and rest
Animals that lie down and rest for long periods produce more milk, because blood flow to the udder increases when they are lying comfortably. Provide a clean, dry, soft lying area, enough space for every animal, and good ventilation. In summer, shade, fans and water sprinkling protect yield; in winter, protect animals from cold winds and damp floors.
5. Udder health and milking routine
- Milk at the same times every day, in a calm and quiet manner
- Wash and dry teats before milking, and use a clean cloth for each animal
- Use the full-hand method rather than stripping with the thumb
- Milk the udder out completely at each milking
- Check the first squirts of milk for clots or changes in colour
- Keep milkers' hands, buckets and equipment clean
Even mild, hidden udder infection can reduce yield noticeably. Hot, hard or painful quarters, or clots in the milk, need prompt veterinary attention.
6. Parasites, health and fertility
Worm burdens, liver fluke, lameness and heat stress all quietly reduce production. Follow a deworming schedule, check hooves regularly, and keep records of calving dates and heats. An animal that calves regularly and on time will produce more milk over its lifetime than one with long gaps between calvings.
7. Keep simple records
Write down each animal's daily or weekly milk yield, along with any changes in feed, health or weather. Records make it easy to spot a drop early and to see which changes actually make a difference on your farm.
Where our products fit
KM Pharmaceutical's feed supplements, such as KM Feed Liquid, Feed Plus and KM Feedolene Plus, together with our udder-care formulations, are designed to support appetite, condition and udder health alongside good feeding and milking practice. They are made in our licensed Khanewal facility and batch-tested. Browse the milk production range or message us on WhatsApp for help choosing the right product.