I wanted to follow up my The " Chicks" Have Arrived Blog, regarding Ocean Omega 3 Eggs; with some further information:

Because of its high omega-3 content, Ocean Omega fish oil is a natural 'functional feed'
providing health and welfare benefits to livestock. Meat, milk and egg
products from farmed animals fed high omega-3 fish oil are, in turn,
functional foods which benefit human health.

About 6.5 million tons of fish oil is produced world-wide each year.
Fish oil is included in the diets of many farm animals including poultry,
pigs, cattle and sheep, usually at levels of 2 to 10% of the ration and also
in the diets of most carnivorous farmed fish, for example at a level of 35
to 40% in fish oil feed.

Ocean Omega fish oil is a natural balanced feed ingredient that is high in protein,
energy and minerals, vitamins and micronutrients. It contains high levels of the health promoting omega-3 very long chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, often referred to as 'omega-3s'.

Omega-3 is essential and beneficial in both human and animal diets. The
ratio of omega-6: omega-3 (n-6:n-3) fatty acids in human and animal diets is
also important. In the Western human diets this is currently typically 10:1
or 12:1, compared with the desirable ratio of 4:1 or 5:1. In short, western
human diets are deficient in omega-3 compared with omega-6.

In the human health context, omega-3 prevents or reduces the chances of
developing coronary heart disease. It also reduces high blood pressure,
kidney disorders, inflammatory bowel disorders and autoimmune disease. The
fish oil fatty acids are essential to the growth and development of unborn
and newly born babies and toddlers. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and
babies should include oily fish or fish oil in their diets.

Scientific research has shown that eating products from animals fed on
fishmeal or fish oil increases the consumer's intake of omega-3 fatty acids
and so benefits health.

Health authorities recommend a six fold increase in dietary intake of
omega-3 in the typical Western diet from about 0.2g/day to 1.25g/day.

There is also considerable evidence of health and welfare benefits to farmed
animals from having sufficient omega-3 in their diets, and from consuming
more than they typically have now. There is evidence that omega-3s are
antinflammatory, improve fertility and reduce stress. When fish oil is fed
to animals it not only benefits the animals but also increases the omega-3
content, and improves the balance of omega-6 to omega-3 in their meat, milk
and eggs. Eating these products in turn increases omega-3 and improves the
ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the human diet.

Increased fish oil in animal diets offers a way in which consumers can
increase their intake of omega-3 without drastically altering their diet.

The content of omega-3s in menhaden respectively
is 26, -35g/100g fatty acids. The omega-6: omega-3 ratio of this
fish oil is about 1:10, which means that fish oil rectify the
imbalance of omega-6:omega-3 and can be used to achieve the desirable ratio
of 4:1 to 5:1 in the finished feed ration.

In this respect
fish oil is unique. They are now the sole direct source of the very long
chain omega-3s for animal diets . Formerly (now banned) meat and
bone meal and other animal products could have provided a dietary source of
omega-3s.

Other vegetable feeds may supply alpha linolenic acid (ALA) an 18-carbon
omega-3, which can be used by the animal to synthesise EPA and DHA; but,
with the exception of linseed and fresh grass, it is present at levels much
lower than the omega-3s in fish oil.

The human population can increase its omega-3 intake by consuming more oily
fish, by taking fish oil in the form of capsules, or by buying food products
with added omega-3. However many experts believe that the most palatable and
acceptable option is to consume meat, milk and eggs from poultry and animals
feed whose diet includes fish oil.

There is enormous contemporary interest in 'functional foods' which maintain
health and prevent disease. This approach to diet is also described as
'positive nutrition'.

Because of its high omega-3 content Ocean Omega fish oil is a natural 'functional feed'
providing health and welfare benefits for livestock. Meat, milk and egg
products from animals fed fish oil, are functional foods which benefit human
health.

Quite literally "Food" For Thought

BH
Promoting Good Health In ALL Pets!
www.oceanomega.com