In India’s booming dairy landscape, quantity is no longer king. Fat is!

Ask any progressive dairy farmer and they’ll tell you: today, what matters most is the quality of milk — measured by Fat and SNF. These two numbers determine how much a farmer gets paid for every litre. And it’s changing the economics of rural livelihoods.

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What are Fat and SNF?

• Fat (%): The creamy, energy-dense part of milk — vital for ghee, butter, and full-cream products.
• SNF (Solids-Not-Fat %): Everything solid other than fat — proteins (casein), lactose, vitamins, and minerals.

Together, these define the density, nutrition, and market value of milk.

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Why are Farmer Earnings tied to Fat & SNF?

In most procurement systems now — especially through cooperatives, dairies, and chilling centers — milk pricing is based on Fat and SNF content, not just volume.

Here’s why:

1. More nutritious milk = more valuable for processors. High-Fat milk yields more ghee or paneer per litre. High SNF ensures better curd, milk powder, or ice cream quality.
2. Processors save costs on fortification. Low-fat or low-SNF milk needs to be adjusted or mixed, increasing cost and reducing efficiency.
3. More reliable quality for end consumers. As buyers demand purer, richer milk, dairies incentivize farmers who can provide it.

Sample Payout Structure:

Component	Base Level	Incentive
Fat	4.0%	+₹0.50 per 0.1% extra
SNF	8.5%	+₹0.30 per 0.1% extra

A farmer who improves from 4.0% to 5.0% Fat and 8.5% to 9.0% SNF could earn ₹4–5 more per litre.

That’s ₹1,500–₹2,000/month more on a 10-litre/day herd — without increasing herd size or feed quantity, just improving feed quality.

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How Fat & SNF Linked Payments Curb Milk Adulteration

In the past, when milk was bought per litre, farmers (or intermediaries) had incentives to dilute milk with water to increase volume.

Now, since payouts depend on Fat & SNF, adulteration actually reduces the price per litre.

This means:

• Adding water lowers SNF and Fat → less money.
• Removing cream to sell separately? → less Fat = penalty.

Result? The system now rewards purity, not manipulation.

Milk testing at collection centers using Lactometers, Ekomilk or Gerber machines ensures that each litre is instantly evaluated, and payment is based on real nutritional value.

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The Feed Connection: Why Shunya Nutri Ankurit Feed can make a Difference

While genetics plays a role, nutrition is the most powerful lever to increase Fat & SNF.

Shunya’s Nutri Ankurit Feed (NAF) — hydroponically grown hybrid feed (grains + leaves) — is designed for this.

NAF is:

• High in digestible fiber
• Moisture-rich
• Naturally enzyme-active
• Balanced with protein precursors

Within 2–3 weeks of feeding NAF, the following changes can be observed

• Fat can improve by 0.5%–1.0%
• SNF shows a 0.3%–0.5% bump
• Animals show better dung consistency, less bloating, and increased appetite

And all this without costly manufactured supplements, leading to lower input costs + higher payout per litre.

And we are now collaborating with our customers to test these impacts statistically under our Doodh Darpan Program. Starting off small, our intent is to scale it so that any farmer who wants to understand impact of NAF on their animals’ productivity can participate and get a detailed report.

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When Fat Increases, Everything Changes

• Farmer income rises without scaling herd
• Dairy processors get better yield per litre
• Consumers get higher quality milk
• Adulteration incentives disappear
• Animal health improves through better digestion

This is the circular win — and it starts with nutrition.

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Because in today’s dairy business,

Litres are vanity.

Fat is sanity.

And SNF is your stability.

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