… From a Low-Fat Cow

Posted by Matt Cipriano | 1 Comment

Does anyone else remember the commercial from the 80’s for Heshey’s chocolate milk? Basically the gist of it was that Chocolate Milk Came from a chocolate cow. Well, now when folks ask where low-fat milk comes from, apparently a valid answer actually will be “from a low-at cow.”

Fonterra, the # 1 dairy exporter, and ViaLactia, “a leader in global biotechnology-based products, services and technologies for the dairy industry,” have issued a press release about Marge, a cow they have with a genetic mutation that produces milk with only 1% fat (regular, good old fashioned cows produce milk with 3.5% fat). Not only does the milk have less fat in it, but according to the head research scientist, Dr. Russell Snell ““Her milk is also reduced in saturated fatty acids and higher in omega 3 fatty acids, while butter made from her milk is spreadable straight from the fridge.”

And being that all of these changes are “naturally occurring” there is no worries about hormones or any of that stuff effecting the milk or the drinker.

While it is going to be a while before Marge’s milk (or her offspring’s milk… some of them also have this trait) hit the market, Dr. Snell says: “This kind of research is a great example of the benefits of belonging to an integrated co-operative with farmers and scientists working together.” That would probably be because Fonterra ows ViaLactia… He did say they are working on figuring out how to best use the information they have attained “for the benefit of all Fonterra shareholders.”

Still, naturally occurring Low-Fat Milk… Kind of cool.

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