Researchers tested whether adding a special supplement made from flaxseed and peas to cow feed could help produce milk with more omega-3 fatty acids—the healthy fats that are good for your heart. They used a laboratory system that mimics how a cow’s stomach works to test four different amounts of the supplement. The good news: the supplement successfully increased omega-3 fatty acids that could end up in milk without harming the cow’s ability to digest food or get enough protein. This suggests farmers could use this supplement as a simple way to make dairy products healthier for people to eat.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can adding a flaxseed and pea supplement to cow feed increase the amount of healthy omega-3 fats that pass through the cow’s digestive system and could end up in milk?
  • Who participated: The study used 8 laboratory fermenters (artificial stomach systems) that simulated how real cows digest food, testing four different amounts of the supplement over four separate 10-day periods.
  • Key finding: Adding the supplement increased omega-3 fatty acids that could reach milk by more than 7 times (from 0.48% to 3.47%), even though the cow’s stomach broke down most of the fat. Importantly, the supplement didn’t reduce protein or amino acid availability.
  • What it means for you: This research suggests it may be possible to make regular dairy products contain more heart-healthy omega-3 fats simply by changing what farmers feed their cows. However, this is early laboratory research, so more testing in real cows is needed before this becomes common practice.

The Research Details

Scientists created an experiment using 8 artificial stomach systems (called fermenters) that mimic how a real cow’s digestive system works. They tested four different amounts of a flaxseed-pea supplement (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% of the cow’s daily food) mixed into regular cow feed. Each test lasted 10 days, with the first 7 days letting the system adjust and the last 3 days for collecting samples. They collected samples at different times (3, 6, 9, and 24 hours after feeding) to see what happened to the fats and proteins as they moved through the system.

The researchers carefully designed the experiment so that each supplement level had similar amounts of total protein and fat, just from different sources. This way, any differences they found would be from the supplement itself, not from changing the total nutrition. They used a statistical method that accounts for the different fermenters and time periods to make sure their results were reliable.

Using an artificial stomach system is important because it lets scientists control exactly what happens and measure everything precisely. Real cows are more complicated—they move around, eat at different times, and have different individual digestive systems. This laboratory approach helps researchers understand the basic science before testing in actual animals, which is more expensive and time-consuming.

This study has some strengths: it used a controlled laboratory design, tested multiple dose levels, and measured several important outcomes. However, it’s important to know that this is laboratory research using artificial systems, not real cows. The results are promising but need to be confirmed in actual dairy cows before farmers should change their feeding practices. The study was published in the Journal of Dairy Science, which is a respected scientific journal in this field.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that adding more of the flaxseed-pea supplement successfully increased the amount of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically a type called C18:3n3) that could pass through the cow’s digestive system. When no supplement was added, only 0.48% of the total fatty acids were this type of omega-3. With the highest supplement level (7.5%), this jumped to 3.47%—more than seven times higher.

Interestingly, even though the cow’s stomach broke down most of the fat (between 93.4% and 95.9% was broken down), enough omega-3 still made it through to potentially reach the milk. The supplement also reduced the amount of saturated fat (the less healthy type) that passed through, which is another positive finding.

Surprisingly, adding the supplement did not harm the cow’s ability to digest protein or produce amino acids (the building blocks of protein). This is important because farmers need to make sure cows still get enough nutrition. The supplement didn’t reduce nitrogen balance, amino acid flow, or bacterial protein production—all measures of healthy digestion.

The study found that the supplement reduced the outflow of saturated fatty acids, particularly a type called C16:0 (palmitic acid). This is beneficial because saturated fats are linked to higher cholesterol levels in humans. The supplement also didn’t negatively affect how efficiently the cow’s stomach bacteria worked, which is important for overall digestive health.

Previous research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids have important health benefits for people, including protecting the heart and potentially reducing cancer risk. This study builds on that knowledge by showing a practical way to get more of these healthy fats into the food supply through dairy products. Other studies have tried different methods to increase omega-3 in milk, but this flaxseed-pea supplement approach appears promising because it works without disrupting normal digestion.

This research has several important limitations to understand. First, it was done in laboratory fermenters, not in real cows, so the results may not be exactly the same in actual animals. Second, the study didn’t measure whether the omega-3 actually made it into the milk—it only measured what passed through the digestive system. Third, the sample size was small (8 fermenters), which limits how confident we can be in the results. Finally, the study didn’t test how long these effects would last if cows ate this supplement for months or years.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, the flaxseed-pea supplement shows promise as a way to increase omega-3 fatty acids in dairy products. However, the evidence is still preliminary (this is laboratory research, not real-world testing). Before farmers should use this supplement, more studies are needed in actual dairy cows to confirm the results work in real conditions. If you’re interested in getting more omega-3 from dairy, eating products from grass-fed cows or choosing fish and plant-based sources remains the most proven approach right now.

This research is most relevant to dairy farmers, dairy product manufacturers, and people interested in getting more omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. If you’re concerned about heart health or omega-3 intake, this research suggests a potential future option, but it’s not ready for practical use yet. People with dairy allergies or those following vegan diets should focus on other omega-3 sources like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and fish.

If this research leads to practical use, it would take several years. First, scientists need to test the supplement in real dairy cows (1-2 years). Then, if successful, dairy companies would need to develop products and get regulatory approval (1-2 years). So realistically, if this works out, consumers might see omega-3-enriched dairy products from this approach in 3-5 years at the earliest.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your omega-3 fatty acid intake by logging dairy products consumed and noting the source (grass-fed, omega-3 enriched, or regular). Record weekly totals and compare to recommended intake of 1-2 grams per day.
  • Set a goal to include one omega-3 rich food daily (such as fatty fish, flaxseeds, walnuts, or chia seeds). Use the app to log these foods and track streaks of consistent omega-3 consumption.
  • Monitor your overall omega-3 intake from all sources monthly. As new omega-3 enriched dairy products become available, log them separately to track adoption of new products. Set reminders to review your omega-3 sources quarterly and adjust based on new research and product availability.

This research is preliminary laboratory work and has not been tested in real dairy cows or confirmed to actually increase omega-3 in milk. The findings are promising but should not be used to make farming or dietary decisions without consulting with a veterinarian, nutritionist, or healthcare provider. This study does not constitute medical advice. Anyone with specific health concerns about omega-3 intake should speak with their doctor or registered dietitian. Dairy product recommendations should be personalized based on individual health status and dietary needs.