Recently published research, says Michigan State’s Dr. Adam Lock, has helped further define the optimal balance of FA for supplementation in high producing cows at mid-lactation (ranging 40-50 kg/d milk yield).
Lock says, “This study focused on multiple combinations of FA supplement blends containing different ratios of palmitic (C16:0) plus stearic (C18:0) fatty acids used in mid-lactation diets.
“Results showed that supplements higher in C16:0 and lowest in C18:0 improved milk yield and milk fat concentration the most. Increasing C16:0 did not affect the yield of de novo milk FA. Moreover, it linearly increased the yield of mixed FA and decreased the yield of preformed milk FA.”
Also, Lock notes: “It’s not that stearic reduces NDFd (neutral detergent fiber digestibility) but rather palmitic constantly improves it.”
“From what we know so far,” Lock says, “there appears to be no reason to supplement stearic acid to support mid-lactation production. The focus should be on palmitic and oleic acids in supplemental fats.”
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