Improving Feed Efficiency with Envirolac
Bentley Ford Farm has always focused on improving the efficiency of its dairy system. Alongside producing high-quality home-grown forage and maintaining high cow performance, the Higgins family continually seeks practical ways to improve feed efficiency while reducing the environmental impact of milk production.
As part of this approach, the farm had already removed soya from the ration and was exploring ways to further reduce the carbon footprint of its feeding programme without compromising milk yield, cow performance, or overall efficiency.
At the same time, independent research at the University of Nottingham, led by Professor Phil Garnsworthy, was evaluating a lower-carbon alternative to conventional palm-derived protected fats. The research demonstrated that this lower-carbon alternative reduced the carbon footprint of the protected fat while also improving milk yield and feed efficiency under controlled research conditions.
Following these findings, Bentley Ford Farm agreed to participate in a commercial evaluation to determine whether the improvements in feed efficiency and reductions in carbon footprint observed during the university research could be replicated under everyday farming conditions.
About Bentley Ford Farm
The Trial
Following the University of Nottingham research led by Professor Phil Garnsworthy, Bentley Ford Farm participated in a commercial evaluation of Envirolac to assess whether the production responses observed under research conditions could be replicated on a commercial dairy farm.
Unlike conventional protected fats, Envirolac is formulated using UFAC's precision fatty acid nutrition approach. Rather than focusing solely on fat percentage, the formulation is designed to support efficient nutrient utilisation while maintaining productive performance.
The farm replaced its existing protected fat with Envirolac while monitoring milk production, feed efficiency and overall cow performance through its normal management system. Unlike conventional protected fats, Envirolac is formulated using UFAC's precision fatty acid nutrition approach. Rather than focusing solely on fat percentage, the formulation is designed to support efficient nutrient utilisation while maintaining productive performance. The farm replaced its existing protected fat with Envirolac while monitoring milk production, feed efficiency and overall cow performance through its normal management system.
Performance Results
The results were sufficient for the farm to continue feeding Envirolac immediately after the evaluation had concluded.
The herd achieved:
- Around 2 litres more milk per cow per day
- More than 1.5 litres additional energy-corrected milk (ECM) per cow per day
- Improved milk solids compared with the previous protected fat programme
Rob Higgins, Bentley Ford Farm
The day we finished the trial, we went straight back onto Envirolac because we felt it made such a big difference in milk yields. We couldn't afford not to feed it."
Rob Higgins, Bentley Ford FarmHefin Richards, Nutrition Consultancy
"The numbers backed up the gut feeling that Rob and David had. The cows were performing, they were healthy, and it was a positive move."
Hefin Richards, Rumenation Nutrition ConsultancySustainability Through Efficiency
Improving feed efficiency not only supports farm profitability but can also help reduce the carbon intensity of milk production.
University of Nottingham research found Envirolac, formulated using rapeseed oil and fish oil as an alternative to conventional palm-derived protected fats, to have a substantially lower carbon footprint than traditional palm-based protected fats. Applying these findings to Bentley Ford Farm's 210-cow herd, fed Envirolac throughout a whole lactation, indicates a potential saving of 55 tonnes of CO₂.
To put this into perspective, 55 tonnes of CO₂ is broadly equivalent to the annual emissions from around 39 average UK family cars. More importantly for dairy businesses, it demonstrates how producing more milk from the same feed inputs through improved feed efficiency can reduce both carbon emissions and production costs. Rather than treating sustainability and profitability as separate objectives, the evaluation demonstrated how improving feed efficiency can support both commercial performance and lower carbon intensity through the same nutritional strategy.
Results Summary
| Measure | Outcome |
| Herd | 210 pedigree Holsteins |
| Additional milk yield | ~2 litres/cow/day |
| Energy-corrected milk | >1.5 litres/cow/day |
| Milk solids | Improved |
| Cow observations | Improved body condition and coat condition |
| Carbon saving | 55 tonnes CO₂ |
| Adoption | Continued feeding Envirolac after the evaluation |
Conclusion
By supporting greater milk production from the existing feeding programme, Envirolac helped improve feed efficiency while maintaining cow performance. Combined with its lower-carbon formulation, the evaluation demonstrated that improving production efficiency and reducing carbon intensity can be achieved through the same nutritional strategy.
The results gave Bentley Ford Farm sufficient confidence to continue feeding Envirolac once the commercial evaluation had concluded.
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