Why?
Omega-3
fatty acids are important for human health. Many
crops grown in Northern Ireland are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 rich
crops can be fed to animals to produce omega-3 meat, milk and eggs.
Detail
- Review
of literature conducted to examine dietary sources of unsaturated fatty acids for animals and their
subsequent availability in milk, meat and eggs.
- Dietary sources of unsaturated fatty
acids examined were linseed, hemp, chia seed, marine algae, fish oil, fish meal, lupin, oilseed rape,
soya, grass and clover.
- Studies examined where these feeds were offered to dairy
cows, beef cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.
Result
- Increase
in the omega-3 content of meat, milk and eggs
- Worldwide meat consumption is expected
to increase
- Producing for niche markets will become increasingly more important
in
future farming post Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
