Low-Fat Milk - Straight From the Cow

by J. Foster

cow.jpg

Scientists in New Zealand have been breeding a herd of cows that produce milk that is low in saturated fat. The cows are not the result of genetic modification - but have been bred from a single cow (name Marge) who was found during a large screening program.

Marge was discovered in 2001 when Fonterra's researchers bought her from her owner for $330 and moved her to a secret location. (via)

Apparently, butter from the milk is spreadable straight from the fridge.

New Zealand approach could be used to breed cows that still produce full-fat milk but with only the good fats, which could swing things back in favour of full-fat milk. (via)

Could this revolutionize the entire dairy industry?

More like this in Science

Comments

rpm2004

A natural defect in 1 cow (calves wouldn't survive without the right amount and type of fat in the milk) will benefit humans.

Yay for exploitation of bovine mutations!

Reply
dro

There we are again, with our bad nose for nature's ailments, seeing only what's right under it and not a breath farther.

Reply
Ryan
rpm2004 said:
A natural defect in 1 cow (calves wouldn't survive without the right amount and type of fat in the milk) will benefit humans.[...]

Like the process of reducing fat in whole milk, this does not benefit humans.

Reply
Ryan

Please, will someone destroy this cow? I don't want to wake up one day and find my butter is loaded with unsaturated fats. While I like the idea of being able to spread butter easily, I want my saturated fat for optimal health.

Reply
Kailash

Ryan, synchronize watches... Operation "How NOT Brown Cow", it's on!

Notice how the article mentions extra omega-3's. I suppose they must not use feedlots in New Zealand. Because here in the US, these cows would be pumped full of corn and soy. Then that "magic milk" would be full of the true heart disease bandit which are excess omega-6 pro-inflammatory fats.

Bunk that sat fats get the bad rap.

Reply
Kirk VandenBerghe

At least this doesn't sound like the usual "Frankenfood" genetic toying. Still, I'll stay with my rice, almond, and oat "milks" (not soy, which is junk food).

Reply
Jim
Kailash said:
I suppose they must not use feedlots in New Zealand. [...]
Kailash - as far as I'm aware - all beef and dairy cows in NZ are grass-fed. Reply
Crabby McSlacker

Hmm. If it's not just a lot of hype, I wouldn't mind there being a healthier full-fat milk out there.

I've pretty much made the switch to nonfat milk for most things, but would love to put half-and-half in my coffee again, use more "real" butter, and eat the occasional hot fudge sundae. Wish it wasn't 5-10 years away.

(And selective breeding of animals based on particular mutations has been around forever, hasn't it? Otherwise we'd probably be stuck milking buffalo for our ice cream? But I'm no biologist and could well be misunderstanding it. Anyway, that aspect doesn't worry me too much).

Reply
Ryan
Crabby McSlacker said:
Hmm. If it's not just a lot of hype, I wouldn't mind there being a healthier full-fat milk out there.[...]

This will not be healthier; that's the problem.

Reply
Sally

It may have a different effect because of the unlikely source.
Since they are still on the process of breeding the cows, I think there are factors that could affect the outcome of what they are expecting.

Reply
Brandy


Kailash said:
Bunk that sat fats get the bad rap.[...]

A few more lyrics and I doo (get it? like moo?) believe you have the makings of a song. Sweet music to my ears.

Reply
Oscar

I think it's too early to consider that it will revolutionize the entire dairy industry. It's not yet sure that they will be successful in breeding a herd of cows to produce milk that is low in saturated fat.

Reply
Vic

If they can do it, then there won't be any problems with saturated fat which is a controversial topic. It's better to avoid something suspicious, especially if we don't know anything about it.

Reply

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