Cows Producing Skimmed Milk?

Cows Producing Skimmed Milk?

According to scientists in New Zealand, we’re just five years away from cows that will produce skimmed milk. That’s right – skim – straight out of the cow.

In a NutraIngredients-USA report, the scientists add that among New Zealand’s four million bovines there are already cows that “contain genes that could be used to make them produce only skimmed milk.”

Just how these cows happen to “contain” such genes isn’t detailed, but it’s easy to imagine there may be some genetic engineering going on behind the scenes.

Of course, it’s not as if consumers have been demanding new cow varieties that will bypass the process that produces skim milk. This innovation will be a boon only for dairy farmers who will probably have to charge more for milk that comes from the uniquely bred cows.

My favorite comment on skimmed milk heifers is this one from Michele Cagan who writes the HSI on the Spot blog: “When they come up with a gene to make them produce chocolate milk, I’ll get excited.”

You can find Michele’s blog at this link: http://www.hsionline.com/redir/blog.html