Cottonseed supplementation increases milk fat

Despite the decline in fluid milk consumption in the United States, the appetite for dairy products such as cheese and butter remains high, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This change in habits has encouraged the dairy industry to value the production of fat and protein in milk—essential components of these foods. In response to this demand, researchers at Pennsylvania State University found that including 15% whole cottonseed in the diet of dairy cows significantly increases the concentration and production of fat in milk. The study, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, was conducted with 16 multiparous cows fed with and without the supplement for 21 days. Cows that received whole cottonseed produced milk with 0.2% more fat and a 5% daily increase in total fat production, without showing a reduction in feed intake or changes in milk protein. Cottonseed is a byproduct rich in unsaturated fatty acids and essential proteins, releasing fat slowly in the ...