Beef: From a Good Source of Nutrients to a Functional Food

Invited speaker- CSAS symposium: Healthy animals producing healthy foods.

Abstract

Let food be thy medicine” is a quote attributed to Hippocrates. Moving a link down the food it might be more appropriate to say “Let feed be medicine for thy food and thy food be medicine for you”. We live in times when links between diet and health are being recognized more and more as the first line of support to promote longevity and quality of life in later years. The content and composition of nutrients in feeds can play a role in animal health and productivity, and in turn the content and composition of animal derived foods can influence human health and wellness. The objectives of the current presentation will be to outline the effects of diet on the nutrient content and composition of animal derived foods, and to review how animal derived foods can functionally contribute to human health and wellness. Emphasis will be on the content and balance of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids in beef, the potential for accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid biohydrogenation products in beef, and our current understanding of how these may influence consumer health and wellness.