Grass Fed vs Corn Fed Omega-3 Levels

Title: Fatty acid content and composition of UK beef and lamb muscle in relation to production system and implications for human nutrition

Journal Source: Science Direct

Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0309174097001447

Authors: M. Ensor, K.G. Hallet, B. Hewett, G.A.J. Fursey, J.D. Wood, G. Harrington

Summary:
        This study examines the types of fats found in grass fed steers vs cereal/corn fed bulls. The study finds that generally the ratio of polyunsaturated fats to saturated fats in meat is relatively low. Despite this, it finds that the amount of polyunsaturated fats (specifically n-6's and n-3's) is high enough to be of significance to human health. The first major finding it makes it that grass fed steers had a higher overall percentage of omega-3's in their beef than the cereal/corn fed bulls. The corn fed bulls however, had a higher overall percentage of omega-6's in their beef than the grass fed steers. The ratio of omega-6's to omega-3's was also "more desireable" in the grass fed beef than in the corn fed. However, the overall ratio of polyunsaturated fats to saturated fats was higher in the corn/cereal fed bulls than the grass fed steers. The study also notes that while the concentrations of the main polyunsaturated fatty acids were much lower in both types of beef than in fish, their presence in beef is still significant since it is more widely consumed.