The production of milk rich in protein and low in fat, the fat having a high polyunsaturated fatty acid content

In two experiments, dairy heifers were offered a basal diet of ground dried grass cubes and flaked maize. In Experiment 1, the diet contained equal amounts of these components whereas, in Experiment 2, the proportions were varied from all-grass to equal amounts of grass and flaked maize. Before and after the main part of each experiment, the animals were offered a diet containing hay, molassed sugar beet pulp and barleybased concentrates. Compared to this diet, the grass cubes-flaked maize diet reduced the fat content of the milk and increased the crude protein content. The proportions of all the milk fatty acids up to 18:0 were reduced and those of 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 were increased. In Experiment 1, the basal diet of grass cubes and flaked maize was supplemented with 180 and 360 g day^?1 soya bean oil given as crushed, unextracted soya beans or with 180 g day^?1 soya bean oil given as a formaldehyde-treated caseinoil preparation but none of these supplements had any effect on the composition of the milk. In Experiment 2, the crude protein content of the milk increased as the proportion of flaked maize in the diet was increased. Otherwise, there were no differences between the different diets.