Dr. Kevin Harvatine: Understanding Milk Fat | Ep. 165

In this episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, Dr. Kevin Harvatine from Penn State discusses strategies to optimize milk fat production in dairy cows. He explains the complexities of dietary fat requirements, feeding behavior, and the biological mechanisms influencing milk composition. Learn how seasonality, cow behavior, and nutritional balance interact to impact milk fat yield. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Milk fat depression isn’t caused by acetate deficiency; it’s the bioactive fatty acids decreasing the cow’s ability to make milk fat."

Meet the guest: Dr. Kevin Harvatine is a Professor of Nutritional Physiology at Penn State University. With a Ph.D. from Cornell and expertise in milk fat synthesis and rumen fatty acid metabolism, his research integrates ruminant nutrition and molecular biology to improve dairy production. He explores how bioactive nutrients affect metabolic regulation.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:36) Introduction
• (03:21) Dietary fat challenges
• (07:49) Rumen function and diet
• (11:26) Feeding behavior patterns
• (19:33) Sodium acetate experiments
• (21:42) Milk fat depression
• (31:46) Final three questions

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