Abstract: A method for the preparation of a rumen stable bypass feed ingredient which is a fatty acid/crude lecithin calcium salt matrix derived from products of the alkali, caustic or “wet refining” processing of vegetable oils. In which, an admixture is formed of reactive ingredients consisting of: (a) a C.sub.10-C.sub.22 or higher fatty acid mixture having greater than about 30 weight % of the C.sub.10-C.sub.22 fatty acid content in the form of mixed vegetable fatty acids or fatty acid glycerides. (b) from about 10 to about 30% of the total admixture weight of calcium oxide. (c) 10 to about 45% crude lecithin derived from the alkali, caustic or wet refining processing of vegetable oils. Water is then added to the admixture in an amount between about 10% and about 100% by weight relative to the amount of calcium oxide. And the admixture is then heated to a temperature at which the fatty acid glycerides saponify to form fatty acid calcium salts in the presence of the crude lecithin.