Feeding canola oil to dairy cows may result in healthier milk for consumers, according to a study by Agriculture Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre and Alberta Agriculture.
Results of a two-month study near Pickardville, Alta., show that adding canola oil to goat diets improves the fat composition of goat’s milk. It increases the level of healthier fatty acids and reduces those linked to cholesterol.
The same results are likely in dairy cows, said researcher Zahir Mir of Agriculture Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre, who conducted the study with Laki Goonewardene of Alberta Agriculture and Erasmus Okine of the Western Forage/Beef Group in Lacombe, Alta.
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“This study confirms that we can improve the fatty acid profile of milk with dietary supplements,” said Mir. “And it highlights the specific potential with canola oil.”
Some producers add fats to cow diets to increase dietary energy, he said. But in the scientific community there is a growing push to add beneficial fats to make milk healthier for consumers. Milk is generally considered healthy, but it contains some fatty acids that contribute to cholesterol.
Canola oil helps by increasing the milk levels of conjugated linoleic acids, said Mir. CLAs are parts of linoleic acid that mitigate the effects of undesirable fatty acids and have other health benefits.
“CLAs are good for both humans and cows,” he explained. “They stimulate the immune system, protect against heart disease and may have a role in cancer prevention.”
The study has applications for goat’s milk, an alternative for people allergic to cow’s milk. Further study is needed to pinpoint the best applications levels for dairy producers.
In the study, accepted for publication in the journal Small Ruminant Research in 1998, researchers examined canola oil effects on four open, late lactation Alpine does. The does received two kilograms of rolled barley during each morning milking and half received rations treated with the canola oil.
CLA levels were directly proportional to dietary increases in canola oil. Adding two percent canola oil increased CLA levels in milk to 19.42 from 10.35 milligrams per gram of fat, and adding four percent canola oil increased CLA to 32.05 from 10.35 mg per gram of fat.
Other studies are under way to find out what happens to milk fat when dairy cows are fed safflower and cottonseed oils.
