The Science Behind GoNutri Energy

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Posted: Jun 24, 2026 • 2 minute read • GAR • 1 Likes

The GoNutri Energy range delivers a highly concentrated energy source for ruminants. It meets a wide range of dietary objectives by providing the right balance between increasing milk production, milk fat percentage, fertility and energy.

Palmitic acid: The key to maximising milk production and butterfat

GoNutri Energy contains high amounts of palmitic acid, a long-chain saturated fatty acid that occurs naturally in many animals, plants and microorganisms. It was first isolated from palm oil, which is how it got its name.

Because palmitic acid is naturally present in ruminants’ milk and meat, it’s a safe addition to their diets, and a scientifically proven way to increase both yield and milk fat, boost yields and deliver a stable economic return.

GoNutri Energy helping cows meet energy demands for better productivity and resilience.

How palmitic acid works

Fats are one of the essential nutrients for animals. As well as providing a concentrated source of energy, they’re also indispensable for forming cell membranes and bacteria and are involved in the synthesis of hormones and vitamins. Palmitic acid is readily digested in the ruminant intestine, making it an effective source of dietary energy for lactating dairy cows. Besides increasing yields, it also has a positive effect on the animal’s fertility and body condition.

By adding palmitic acid to ruminants’ diets using GoNutri Energy, farmers and mills can get consistent and predictable results – from animal behaviour to levels of milk fat.

Recommended doses

A proven relationship exists between palmitic acid intake and milk fat production, with research establishing guidelines to maximise benefits and returns.

A recommended dose (about 300 grams per cow, per day), in a cow with about 35 litres of production, increases the production of milk fat by approximately 5%-8%. With a standard payment of milk fat by the dairy industry, this equates to a ROI of about £0.10/€0.12/$0.14 per cow, per day.

Other benefits

The first three weeks after calving is the most metabolically demanding phase of a dairy cow’s production cycle, during which palmitic acid supplementation becomes especially relevant.

During early lactation, energy requirements for milk production can exceed cows’ natural feed intake, causing a negative energy balance. This energy deficit limits milk production and draws on stored energy and nutrient reserves which compromises the animal’s metabolic and reproductive health.

Supplementing palmitic acid during this critical period provides a highly efficient and concentrated source of net energy for lactation without increasing dietary bulk. GoNutri Energy delivers this energy in a digestible form, making it particularly effective for post-calving cows with reduced appetite and limited rumen capacity. This characteristic also makes it especially valuable under heat stress conditions, where dry matter intake is further depressed.

[1] Based on standard dairy industry milk-fat payments of €3–€3.5 per tonne for each 0.1% increase in milk fat above 3.7%, and an average milk price of €0.32 per litre. Spain 2021.

Better animal performance starts with understanding what farmers face on farm.

Read Alicia´s insights on how GoNutri support milk productivity, efficiency, and healthier herds.