PALMITIC ACID INCREASES MILK FAT CONTENT AND YIELD IN LACTATING COWS

Abstract

Milk fat is the component responsible for the organoleptic and manufacturing characteristics of the dairy products and also the most variable and affected by the diet. This study was designed to evaluate the lipid supplementation with high concentration of palmitic acid on the milk production and composition. Thirty-nine multiparous Holstein cows weighting an average of 550 kg, with 79 ± 2 days in milk (DIM), producing 29.4 kg milk/day were randomly assigned to each one of the three treatments: 1) 320 g/day of high palmitic acid supplement (Palmitic); 2) 400 g/day of calcium salts of fatty acids rich in linoleic acid (Linoleic) and; 3) Control (no lipid supplementation). Palmitic supplement increased milk fat content in 8.6% (P=0.001) and yield 16.2% (P=0.001) compared to Control. Compared to Control, Linoleic supplement decreased milk fat content in 16.1% (P=0.001). There was an effect of treatment for bonus payment for fat (P=0.01), with the highest payment for Palmitic treatment. There was no effect on milk production and concentrations and yields for milk protein and lactose.