Megalac Plus 3%

Megalac Plus combines all the benefits of Megalac protected fat with a source of rumen-protected methionine. The product is available with 3% and 6% methionine inclusion to help meet both the energy and amino acid requirements of the high yielding dairy cow.

Research has clearly established that the essential amino acid methionine is often the first limiting amino acid for milk production. However, in order to increase the supply of methionine to the small intestine, it must be protected from breakdown in the rumen.

Data from research trials has demonstrated improvements in milk yield and milk protein concentration by inclusion of ruminally protected methionine in the diet.

Megalac Plus is available with either 3% or 6% rumen-protected methionine.

Typical fatty acid profile (% of total fatty acids):

Why protected fat ?

Protected fat is essential in rations to increase dietary fat concentration. Unprotected fat e.g. vegetable oils and high-oil ingredients such as brewers grains, reduce fibre digestibility and are directly toxic to some strains of rumen bacteria. These ‘free’ oils can also lead to the production of trans fatty acids which reduce milk fat %.

Megalac protected fat

Megalac is produced by a saponification reaction in which fatty acids from the palm oil industry are reacted with calcium (Ca). This produces rumen-insoluble, rumen-inert Ca salts of fatty acids which have no negative effects on rumen fibre digestion or rumen function, unlike ‘free’, unprotected oils.

Megalac, was the first rumen-protected fat product developed using saponification as a method of rumen protection for the fatty acids. Through our links with Cambridge University in the UK, Volac worked with Profs. Palmquist and Jenkins at Ohio State University in the USA to utilise their newly-developed technology to develop the Megalac product which has remained the world’s leading protected fat for over 25 years.