On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 08:55 thetasig <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>There exists the same ratio
>imbalance problem in grain-fed versus
>grass-fed red meat animals as in
>farmed versus wild-caught fish.
>
>-=mark=-

If only it were that simple.  The proportion of omega-3s in the fats of
fish is not dependent on whether they are farmed or not.  Farmed fish fed
on soy meal and other unnatural foods have lower omega-3s than wild fish.
Farmed fish fed fish meal have higher omega-3s than wild fish.  For
example, here are the results of analysis done on a popular fish here:

First the SAT/MUFA/PUFA ratios:

Barramundi cod-wild: SAT:37.7%; MUFA:21.7%; PUFA:40.7%
Barram
undi cod-cultured on fish oil: SAT:26.9%; MUFA:44.1%; PUFA:29.0%
Barramundi cod-cultured on veg oil: SAT:28.3%; MUFA:36.5%; PUFA:35.1%

Next, the omega-3/omega-6 profiles:

Barramundi cod-wild: AA:45; EPA:22; DHA:112
Barramundi cod-cultured on fish oil: AA:125; EPA:1000; DHA:1800

Reference: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation: 'Seafood - the
Good Food', 'Seafood - the Good Food II'

US researchers last month showed that it may be possible to insert a worm
gene into cattle so they produce more omega-3s.  They found it worked with
mice.  Why not insert the worm gene directly into humans and stop this
shilly-shallying?

I don't have any comparisons of the fatty acid content and profile of
popular sources of red meat between, for example:

(a) wild cattle
(b) grass-fed farmed cattle
(c) feedlot
cattle raised on different foods (for example, with and
without a significant fish-meal component).

Does anyone know of such sources?

Keith