The Original Rumen-Protected Fat: Why Science Still Sets Megalac Apart

Where Science Meets the Shed

Energy underpins everything in dairy farming, from yield and fertility to cow health. But pushing for performance often comes with a trade-off: more starch means a higher risk of rumen upset.

Rumen-protected fats changed that equation, delivering concentrated energy without overloading the rumen with acid.

And it’s this very idea that has shaped Megalac since the 1980s. Born from a calcium salt breakthrough, it’s now one of the most researched supplements in the industry. Decades of independent trials and peer-reviewed studies show clear, consistent gains, including an average of 2.3 litres more milk per cow per day.

In 2025, this science still sets Megalac apart.

The 1980s Breakthrough

Back in the early 1980s, dairy farmers faced a familiar problem: how to give cows the extra energy they need for milk production without upsetting the delicate rumen balance. At the time, the only real options were cereal-based feeds, effective, yes, but not without their risks. High starch levels could easily push cows towards acidosis, negatively impacting yields and cow health.

That’s when Prof. Don Palmquist, a researcher at The Ohio State University, made a discovery that would change dairy nutrition. Binding fatty acids to calcium enabled Palmquist to create a ‘rumen-protected’ fat source. He found a way to deliver concentrated energy from fat directly to the small intestine, avoiding the negative effects on fibre digestibility associated with standard vegetable oils.

The result became the first commercial rumen-protected fat: Megalac. Farmers could now feed higher-energy diets more safely, supporting yield and fertility without compromising rumen health. What started as a lab breakthrough quickly became a trusted feed solution on farms around the world.

Four Decades of Proof

Since that original calcium salt breakthrough, Megalac has become the most extensively researched rumen-protected fat in the world. More than 40 years of independent trials and peer-reviewed studies have consistently shown its impact on the three things that matter most to dairy farmers: milk yield, fertility, and efficiency.

1.    More Milk from the Same Cow

Original data from Penn State University, USA, across 18 independent studies, reported Megalac to deliver an average uplift of around 2.3 litres of milk per cow per day. That extra energy helps cows sustain yield without overloading the rumen with starch, a particularly valuable benefit during early lactation or periods of forage variability.

2.    Fertility That Keeps Herds on Track

Reproductive performance is often one of the first casualties of negative energy balance. Decades of research have shown that Megalac supports improved egg quality, higher progesterone levels, and improved conception and pregnancy rates. In studies, cows receiving Megalac achieved higher pregnancy rates, keeping calving intervals tighter and milk flowing.

3.    Feed Efficiency Without Compromise

Unlike starch-based energy sources, rumen-protected fats deliver concentrated energy directly to the small intestine. This boosts energy intake without increasing acidosis risk and helps farmers get more production from the same dry matter input.

4.    Environmental Benefits Built In

Aside from performance, Megalac also supports sustainability goals. Research shows that supplementing with Megalac can reduce methane emissions by 15.5% per litre of milk, helping farmers lower their carbon footprint while improving output.

5.    Milk Quality for Modern Markets

Recent work has shown that including rumen-protected fats can be supplemented to alter  the fatty acid profile of milk, lowering saturated fat content and increasing the proportion of unsaturated fats, or changing the properties of manufactured dairy products e.g. to manufacture a softer or harder butter. That’s a growing consideration as processors look for milk that meets specific quality or nutritional targets.

Why Megalac Still Leads in 2025

Megalac’s early success wasn’t just sheer luck; it was built on continual innovation. Today, we still lead thanks to continuous research and product evolution.

A recent study at Cornell University, USA, reported that replacing fibrous ingredients with Megalac can cut methane emissions by 15.5 % per litre of milk, and boosting milk yield by 3.8 kg/day.

In our more recent work, higher concentrations of palmitic acid (C16:0) supplements have been shown to shift milk fatty acid profiles positively, reducing saturated fats and improving unsaturated proportions, all without hurting milk output.

Alongside, Volac Wilmar’s 2025 ROI Calculator 2.0 is based on over 65 peer-reviewed trials, helping farmers tailor fat inclusion for the best return.

Science hasn’t stood still, so neither have we.

Turning Science into Simple Steps on the Farm

But all this lab work means little if it doesn’t translate to the farm. Here’s how dairy farmers make the science work:

• Fit it in smartly: Use Megalac especially when energy is tight, such as early lactation, low-quality forage or feed budget pressures.
• Keep doses practical: Megalac has shown very high digestibility in research studies, meaning most of what you feed contributes to energy supply.
• Be consistent: Ideally introduce over a few daysto enable a cows rumen ecosystem to adjust gradually.
• Monitor response: Track milk, body condition, fertility metrics (e.g. calving intervals), that’s how you confirm you’re getting return on investment.

Proven Then, Proven Now

Four decades on from that first calcium salt breakthrough, Megalac remains the benchmark in rumen-protected fats. Its legacy is a heritage, built on continuous science, independent proof, and real on-farm results.

Margins are tight and efficiency matters more than ever, so proven solutions count. If it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed your fat strategy, now’s the time to revisit how Megalac fits in your ration or put it to the test on your farm.

Contact us today to discuss how Megalac and other products in the Megalac range can deliver energy, fertility, and efficiency on your farm.

Proven by science. Trusted by farmers.