The level of the natural pigment carotene in milk, derived from the diet of cows, is the strongest determinant in whether butter appears yellow. For areas preferring butter that is more on the yellow side, coloring can be used. At Idaho Milk Products, IdaPro Cream is pasteurized and shipped on the very day of milking.

What makes butter yellow?

The science behind this is the beta-carotene (yellow pigment) found in the grass eaten by cows; which is stored in the cows' fat and carried into the milk. ... After butter is churned, the beta-carotene (pigment) is exposed as the butter fat is separated leaving a beautiful yellow butter product.

When did butter become yellow?

When milk or cream is churned, as is required when making butter, the membrane is broken and beta-carotene is released, turning the butter solid yellow. Interestingly, other animals don't store beta-carotene in the same way that cows do, so butter made from sheep's milk or goat's milk is white.