Evaluation of Milk and Butter from Commercial Dairy Herds Fed Canola-Based Protected Lipid Feed Supplement

No deleterious effects on milk and butter quality were observed from the prolonged feeding of protected lipid feed supplements to commercial dairy herds. Milk from two farms where "Protec", 3 a canola-based protected lipid feed supplement, had been fed for the preceding 2.5 yr were compared with milk from two farms where Protec had never been fed. The feeding of "Protec" did not affect flavor characteristics of milk and butter produced. A slight butter-softening effect was apparent from measurements of hardness, softening point, and oilingoff. The prolonged feeding of canolabased protected lipid feed supplements did not appear to have any deleterious effects on animals or on quality of milk and butter.