Milk Components and Feeding the “One Ton” Dairy Cow

By Dr. Dwight Roseler

The one-ton dairy cow is not a cow’s body weight but a measure of performance of a dairy cow’s ability to produce a ton (2000 pounds) of milk components in a single lactation.  Historically, dairy farmers were paid for pounds of milk with little economic benefit from increased milk fat and milk protein.  As consumer demand has shifted from drinking milk to eating cheese, ice cream, butter and protein drinks, the demand for milk protein and butterfat has increased.  Dairy farmers have increased their herd component production as evidenced by Federal Order 33 regional component changes.  In the past 25 years, milkfat percentage has increased from 3.65 to 4.30% in 2025.  Milk protein percentage has increased from 2.98  to 3.28%.  

The dairy farmer’s milk check now is weighted to payment on pounds of milkfat and milk protein.  Elevated milk components are attributed to improvements in genetics, nutrition, forages, feeding, and housing. This article highlights strategic opportunities with forages and nutrition that can yield a ton or more of milk components.  

One Ton Milk Components

How does a dairy cow produce one ton of milk components?  Some simple math will show evidence. A Holstein cow that produces 85 lb/day of milk (~27,000 lb yearly) at a 4.2% butterfat and 3.2% milk protein will make 6.3 lb/day of components.  A lactation length of 320 days (45 dry days) will annually calculate to 2000 lb of combined milkfat and milk protein.  A Jersey cow producing 67 lb/day of milk (~22,500 lb yearly) at a 5.5% butterfat and 3.7% milk protein over a 320-day lactation will generate 2000 lb of components. Several top performing Holstein herds are producing milk with 4.8% fat and 3.5% protein and producing in excess of a ton of yearly components. 

A high production 3800 cow NY Holstein herd with a 4.3% milk fat and 3.2% milk protein and a tank average of 100 lb/cow/day is producing 7.5 lb/day of components (2400 lb annually). This is proof that high milk volume and high components can occur. An average dairy herd producing 5.1 lb/day of components produces 1600 lb of components per year. What is the economic benefit to the dairy farmer of improved milk components?