Top Rumen Bypass Fat Brands – Nutripid, Megalac, Berg + Schmidt

What are Rumen Bypass Fats?

Fats are often added to diets to improve ruminant performance. They are the most energy-dense feed ingredients available, resulting in greater production in terms of meat and milk, as well as enhancing fertility. They can reduce the incidence of heat stress and improve body condition.

Some fatty acids are added to enhance the quality of meat or milk, creating healthier products. Others can decrease methane production thus reducing energy loss from livestock and their environmental impact.

However, fats can have a negative impact on the rumen. Fibre digestion is inhibited as fat can coat fibre particles, preventing bacteria from breaking them down. They can also be toxic to some rumen microbes, reducing bacterial growth and, ultimately, rumen function.

Rumen bypass fats are fats that are not broken down in the rumen and instead are absorbed further down the digestive tract. These give the benefits of supplementary dietary fats without inhibiting rumen function.

Here we discuss the Top 5 Brands of Rumen Bypass Fats

1. Nutripid.com.my

Nutripid.com. my is a Malaysian-based company that produces high-quality rumen-bypass fat from their own palm oil plantations. This means that they have complete control over the whole process from the raw material through to the finished product. Nutripid is a Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified company.

The proprietary formulation of Nutripid TG100 is designed for cattle. It contains 75% palmitic acid, a Triglycerides-based non-calcium bypass fat, which provides high-energy solutions to increase milk yield and quality. As a result, this all-rounder formulation produces Rumen bypass fat that is aromatic and easily digestible by animals, which helps to keep costs down as there's no need for additional additives to be added, whilst also delivering high quality energy. Palmitic acid has a melting temperature of 55°C which is significantly higher than the rumen (39°C). After the fat travels through the rumen and into the lower digestive tract, it is then broken down by fat-digesting enzymes. Palmitic acid has a high palatability and therefore does not negatively affect feed intake, ensuring less food waste.

Nutripid has focused on one product that is suitable for all stages of lactation in dairy cows. This makes it cost-effective for farmers without the need to buy multiple products for livestock at different stages of lactation. It is naturally high in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that improves the function of the immune system, reduces incidences of mastitis, and enhances the overall health and reproductive performance of cattle. It is fragrant making it highly palatable unlike some other additives.

Brand Name: Nutripid Malaysia
Website: https://www.nutripid.com.my
Email: sales@nutripid.com.my

2. Megalac

Megalac is produced by UK-based company Volac who have teamed up with Singapore’s Wilmar. They are also a member of the RSPO in which only palm oil grown from sustainable sources is used.

They produce a variety of rumen-protected products fit for different stages in a ruminant’s lactation cycle. The aims of their products are to boost ruminant energy whilst supporting high yields without compromising body condition or fertility.

Megalac contains 84% total fat, of which 48% is palmitic acid. It is primarily used for early lactating dairy cows. Mega-Fat 88 contains 88% palmitic fatty acid and Mega-Fat Extra contains 97% with their purpose to improve milk fat production.

Megalac is composed of chemically bound calcium and fatty acids from palm fatty acid distillate. These are stable at rumen pH levels but dissociate from each other in the abomasum and duodenum, allowing fat absorption lower down the digestive tract. The soapy taste and smell from the calcium soaps can reduce the palatability of the diet.

3. Nutrilac

Produced by UK-based feed company, Trident Feeds, Nutrilac is a rumen-protected fat created from calcium soaps. It contains 48% palmitic acid and 50% stearic acid. It is produced in a granular form which simplifies feeding, enabling it to be mixed into a feed ration easily. Being made from calcium soap can make the product unpalatable but it is considerably cheaper than 100% fats.

Other rumen-protected fats produced by Trident Feeds are Golden Flake and Butterfat Extra. Golden Flake is made from 100% palm fat, making it not only high energy but also highly palatable. It maintains dry matter intakes for ruminants and is Green Palm Certified.

Butterfat Extra contains 85% palmitic acid. High concentrations of this fatty acid increase the amount of free fatty acids available to the mammary gland to increase butter fat content without the need for using body fat reserves. Feeding 400g of Butterfat Extra to a 30-litre producing cow could increase profits by 30 cents per cow per day.

4. Berg + Schmidt

Hamburg-based company Berg and Schmidt have specialised in functional lipids for more than 60 years. They produce products for the cosmetic industry as well as the animal nutrition market. They produce fat powders for monogastric livestock and rumen bypass fats for cattle.

They have 4 variations around their bypass fat called BergaFat. Some are made from high levels of palm fatty acid and others from rapeseed oil.

The fat powders increase the quality of the milk without negatively impacting the level of protein. The fat absorbed after the rumen reduces loss of body weight and condition typical of dairy cows and increases fertility. It also improves the quality of beef.

Research shows that BergaFat dosage changes throughout lactation. Early lactation requires a low to moderate dose of 250g per animal per day whilst mid-lactation requires a medium to high dosage of 450g per animal per day.

5. Musim Mas

Musim Mas is an Indonesian company that began in 1932 and branched into the palm oil industry in 1970. They are 100% RSPO certified and aim to be the world’s preferred supply chain partner for palm oil and its derivatives. The list of downstream products that Musim Mas are involved with is long and extensive.

MaxiFat is one of the animal nutrition brands produced by Musim Mas. It is composed of a high palmitic acid content and just like other rumen bypass fats, it improves milk quality, butterfat content, body conditioning, and enhances fertility. A benefit of this product is its availability in a range of forms from prills or beads to flakes and liquid. This provides a practical feeding solution for different farmers.

Conclusion

Profits can be significantly increased through supplying ruminants with rumen-protected fat. Adding 0.5 kilograms to a total mixed ration could increase milk yields by as much as 2 litres per cow. Improving fertility and reducing calving intervals by just one day can save costs of around $4 per cow, saving $1200 for a 300-cow herd.

Although there are clear benefits to supplying livestock with rumen bypass fats, they need to be included at optimal levels to achieve success. When rumen bypass fats are added at 3-5% of total ration dry matter, milk yield is increased but 6% or more can start to have a negative effect on the rumen and subsequent production. It is important to consider the financial returns from using dietary fats. Many other factors play a role in the profitability of livestock such as forage type, body condition score, farming costs, and animal health.

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.