Skinny cows in New Zealand

A team in New Zealand have identified a Friesian dairy cow that naturally produces lower levels of saturated fat in her milk.

The cow, named Marge, and similar cows were discovered when biotech company ViaLactia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Zealand’s largest dairy cooperative Fonterra, screened New Zealand’s entire herd of four million cows. The animals have since bred and have produced calves with the same traits. The team believes Marge holds the key to providing full-tasting milk without the high levels of saturated fat and that these .unusual characteristics could be bred into other herds.
Not only could these cows produce “natural” skimmed milk but the low-fat content will create butter that does not become a solid brick when put in the fridge. Health and weight concerns about the saturated fat in normal milk means only 25 per cent of the UK market involves milk as it comes from the cow.
The team is also working to ensure the milk of Marge and her descendants will be higher in so-called good fats – polyunsaturates and monounsaturates.