Kevin Harvatine, PhD
Associate Professor of Nutritional Physiology
Department of Animal Science
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Milk fat yield is important to farm profitability and is responsive to many nutritional factors. Milk fatty acid profile provides insight into regulation of the pathways making milk fat which indicates supply of acetate from rumen fermentation and supply of dietary fat. Analysis of trans isomers also provides an indication of rumen acidosis. We will review regulation of milk fat synthesis and discuss use of new methods to monitor milk fat.