Fatty acid profile data were compiled into classes of
FA to ease interpretation of results (Table 6). Addition
of molasses (in the form of a coating or liquid) decreased
the proportion of odd-chain FA (C11, C15, C17) and
tended to decrease the proportion of unsaturated FA
in milk fat. Odd-chain FA are typically produced when
propionate, rather than acetate, is used as a precursor
for FA synthesis in the mammary gland (Vlaeminck et
al., 2006) and can be used to assess relative differences in
plasma propionate concentration. The effect of molasses
may reflect a minor shift in ruminal fermentation away
from propionate production and, presumably, toward
greater production of acetate and butyrate. The ten