A method for feeding a ruminant, the method comprising: determining a body weight of the ruminant and a milk yield of the ruminant; and providing a ruminant feed product to the ruminant for ingestion according to a feed program; wherein the ruminant feed product comprises at least one fatty acid component comprising at least 70% of a palmitic acid compound by weight; wherein the feed program comprises: feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a first level during a first time period, wherein the first level does not exceed 0.04 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the first time period comprises a far-off dry cow period in a range of six to three weeks before calving, feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a second level during a second time period, wherein the second level comprises at least 0.04 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the second time period comprises a close-up dry cow period in a range of three weeks before calving to calving, and feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a third level during a third time period, wherein the third level comprises at least 0.4 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the third time period is from calving to a far-off dry cow period. determining a body weight of the ruminant and a milk yield of the ruminant; and providing a ruminant feed product to the ruminant for ingestion according to a feed program; wherein the ruminant feed product comprises at least one fatty acid component comprising at least 70% of a palmitic acid compound by weight; wherein the feed program comprises: feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a first level during a first time period, wherein the first level does not exceed 0.04 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the first time period comprises a far-off dry cow period in a range of six to three weeks before calving, feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a second level during a second time period, wherein the second level comprises at least 0.04 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the second time period comprises a close-up dry cow period in a range of three weeks before calving to calving, and feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a third level during a third time period, wherein the third level comprises at least 0.4 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the third time period is from calving to a far-off dry cow period. feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a first level during a first time period, wherein the first level does not exceed 0.04 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the first time period comprises a far-off dry cow period in a range of six to three weeks before calving, feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a second level during a second time period, wherein the second level comprises at least 0.04 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the second time period comprises a close-up dry cow period in a range of three weeks before calving to calving, and feeding the ruminant feed product to the ruminant at a third level during a third time period, wherein the third level comprises at least 0.4 grams of the fatty acid component per kilogram of the body weight, wherein the third time period is from calving to a far-off dry cow period.