Medical authorities are increasingly recommending a reduction in the proportion of dietary energy derived from saturated fats (COMA). Milk processors are keen to identify new milk products for niche markets, and the production of 'healthier' milk may be required in the future. Dairy products are a major source of saturated fat in the diet and the work reported here examines the effect of feeding different sources of dietary oil on the fatty acid composition of bovine milk.

In a 4 × 2 factorial experiment 96 Holstein cows were offered complete diets containing one of four oil sources, a calcium soap of palm fatty acid distillate(C), naked oats (O), pressure cooked whole soybeans (S) and partially oil extracted rapeseed (R), at two supplement to grass silage ratios (0.48:0.52 (low) or 0.70:0.30 (high)) in weeks 4 to 13 post calving.