Rumen bypass calcium salts of C18:1 and C18:2 fatty acids

1. A free-flowing unsaturated fatty acid calcium salt comprising from about 0.1 to about 1.5 equivalents of calcium hydroxide relative to the fatty acid content, said fatty acid content consisting essentially of:

(a) from about 40 to about 95% percent by weight of unsaturated C:16-C:22 fatty acids; (b) from about 5 to about 60% by weight of saturated C:14-C:22 fatty acids; and (c) no more than about 6% by weight of moisture, insolubles and unsaponifiables; with no more than about 20% by weight being in the form of glycerides;

wherein from about 40 to about 65% by weight of the total product weight consists of trans-C18:1 and C18:2 fatty acids; provided that when less than 0.75 equivalents of calcium hydroxide is present, said fatty acid content is at least 25% by weight saturated fatty acids.

2. The fatty acid calcium salt of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of trans-C18:1 and C18:2 fatty acids is between about 60 and about 80% by weight of trans-C18:1 fatty acids to between about 20 and about 40% by weight of C18:2 fatty acids.

3. The fatty acid calcium salt of claim 2 , wherein the ratio of trans-C18:1 and C18:2 fatty acids is between about 65 and about 75% by weight of trans-C18:1 fatty acids to between about 25 and about 35% by weight of C18:2 fatty acids.