新西兰:未来5年奶牛直接产脱脂奶

Cows can make skimmed milk, say scientists

摘要：脱脂牛奶是具健康意识消费者的首选食品。新西兰科学家最近培育出了一种能生产出脂肪含量接近脱脂奶的低脂奶的奶牛，并希望大规模饲养这种奶牛以满足市场需求。此外，科学家还期待培育出直接适宜加工涂抹黄油牛乳的奶牛，他们已经选出一头，并命名为Marge，产出的牛奶含有大量不饱和脂肪酸，而饱和脂肪酸很少。

Cows could be bred to produce only skimmed milk within the next five years, researchers have said, offering a new way of meeting consumer demand for lower fat dairy.

Scientistsin New Zealand say some of the country's four millioncowscontain genes that could be used to make them produce onlyskimmed milk. 

Their work, published inChemistry & Industrymagazine, could help the dairy industry meet consumer demand for lower fat products while also reducing wastage.

A first commercial herd"is likely by 2011", according to the scientists, who work for biotech firm ViaLactia. It is reported that Fonterra, New Zealand's largest dairy co-operative, has already made milk from one of the cows carrying the gene.

Low fat dairy products have increased market share in several western markets.

In the UK, consumption of whole milk has dropped 75 per cent in 20 years to roughly 50mls per person per week. Consumption of semi-skimmed milk is double that and skimmed milk is even higher, up at 150mls, according to Milk Development Council (MDC) figures.

As well as skimmed milk, the New Zealand researchers said they plan to breed cows capable of producing milk that is ideal for spreadable butter.

They said one cow identified for this task, named Marge, could produce milk very low in saturated fats, which should also mean high levels of polyunsaturates and monounsaturates - seen as 'good fats'.

Ed Komorowski, technical director at industry body Dairy UK, toldDairyReporterthe findings were interesting but cautioned that"we have not really seen any of the scientific detail".

He said a main advantage of cows producing skimmed milk may be lower costs through less wastage. Producing whole and semi-skimmed milk means there is more fat left over.

"The advantage for some companies is that they would not have any surplus cream, which would minimise the need to dispose of this,"Komorowski said.

But, he warned, some firms wanted the cream for other products or to sell. Cream income this month reached its highest level since October 2003, the MDC said last week.

The rise is part of a general commodity market boom, although reduced EU subsidies for dairy commodities is still expected to wean European firms off them over the next few years.