The objective of this study was to compare the effects of oilseed-based supplements, rapeseed and linseed, against a barley-based control, on the fatty acid composition, and subsequent solid fat ratio, of the milk fat from dairy cows. In addition, as a means of understanding the digestive processes which in¯uence the milk fat composition, ruminal extracts were collected from the cows and analysed for fatty acid composition. Four lactating dairy cows each ®tted with a rumen ®stula were provided with silage and one of four concentrate diets. The main constituent of the concentrate supplements was either rapeseed (ground or unground), linseed (unground) or a barley control. The diets were offered in accordance with a 4 Â 4 Latin square arrangement. The oilseed-supplemented concentrates provided the cows with 620±640 g fatty acids day À1 . Experimental treatments were provided to the cows for 2 weeks, after which ruminal extracts were collected over a 24 h period and a milk sample was taken. All extracts were analysed for fatty acid composition. The diets fed in¯uenced the long-chain fatty acid composition of the ruminal extracts and milk fat. The proportion of C18:1n-9 in the ruminal extracts increased from 202±224 to 282±321 g kg À1 of the total fatty acids when the cows were provided with the rapeseed-based diets. The linseed-based diet increased the C18:1n-9 proportion of the ruminal extracts from 164 to 218 g kg À1 of the total fatty acids. Both rapeseed-based diets also resulted in a higher proportion of C18:0 in the ruminal extract, possibly owing to biohydrogenation of the dietary fatty acids. This proportion of C18:0 in the ruminal extract was lowest immediately after feeding, increasing to a maximum 4±6 h later. Both rapeseed-based concentrates increased the proportion of C18:1n-9 in the milk fat to approximately 300 g kg À1 of the total fatty acids as compared with 214 g kg À1 for the control. The proportion of C18:1n-9 in the milk fat from the cows offered the linseed-based concentrate was 246 g kg À1 of the total fatty acids. There were also signi®cant decreases in the proportions of C16:0 in the milk fat from the cows offered all oilseed-based concentrates. There was no difference between the fatty acid compositions of the milk fats from the cows fed the ground or unground rapeseed-based supplements. The oilseed-based supplements also resulted in signi®cant decreases in the solid fat content of the milk fat at temperatures ranging from 0 to 35°C, which would be indicative of a softer, more spreadable butter.