You’ve heard of the alpha dog. Get ready for the omega cow.
Chinese researchers say they’ve reared beef rich in the beneficial fatty acids associated with fish oils, according to Biotechnology Letters. The researchers, based in the Shaanxi province, said that while much more study is needed, they managed to breed some cows with more than five times the normal levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Such research might eventually help the beef industry, which could use a marketing boost. In the US the cultural tide is flowing steadily in the direction of eating less meat. And Nutrition Australia, in its newly updated food pyramid, discouraged the consumption of foods that—like beef—have lots of saturated fat. Instead it encouraged foods with “healthy fats,” such as nuts, avocados, and salmon. Beef producers, naturally, would like to add their product to that list.
Meanwhile a startup in Colorado is feeding cows algae in another attempt to produce beef with more omega-3 fatty acids.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Quartz