Milk Fat & SNF Rate Calculator

Most dairy cooperatives and private dairies in India no longer pay a flat price per litre. They use a two-axis pricing system: you are paid for the kilograms of fat and the kilograms of solids-not-fat (SNF) in your milk. Richer milk earns more per litre, and watered milk earns less – automatically.

The collection centre measures two things:

• FAT% – from a milk analyser or the Gerber test.
• CLR – the corrected lactometer reading, which shows how dense the milk is.

SNF is then worked out from these two numbers with the standard formula used in Indian dairies. This calculator repeats the society's arithmetic so you can check your slip, compare the value of cow and buffalo milk, or see what a 0.5% rise in fat is worth to you over a month.

Why the rates on the chart matter

Each union sets its own price per kg of fat and per kg of SNF, and revises them several times a year. The rates filled in when this page opens are only an example – replace them with the rates printed on your society's current chart. If your society publishes a ready-made rate table per litre, the result here should match it closely.

SNF% = CLR ÷ 4 + 0.21 × FAT% + 0.36
Milk (kg) = Litres × (1 + CLR ÷ 1000)
Fat (kg) = Milk (kg) × FAT% ÷ 100
SNF (kg) = Milk (kg) × SNF% ÷ 100
Amount (₹) = Fat (kg) × Fat rate + SNF (kg) × SNF rate

The SNF formula is the one given in the Indian standard for milk testing and used by most cooperatives. Some societies use a slightly different constant; if your slip shows a different SNF, enter the society's SNF-based rates and compare.

• Temperature affects CLR. The lactometer is calibrated at 27 °C. Readings at other temperatures must be corrected, which the collection centre normally does.
• Minimum standards. Many unions do not accept, or heavily deduct, milk below a minimum fat or SNF (for example 3.2% fat and 8.3% SNF for cow milk). Check your society's rules.
• Feeding raises solids. Enough fibre in the ration and a balanced mineral mixture help keep fat and SNF up.
• Never add water or anything else. It lowers SNF, is easily detected and is an offence under food safety law.