MONTHLY NEWSLETTER May 2021 By: Kevin Burgoon, Ph.D., Senior Nutritionist Purina® Honor® Show Technical Solutions SOURCES: Soybeans, corn, sunflower seed/oil, eggs, HOT TOPIC OF THE MONTH fishmeal, rice bran There is much buzz around Omega fatty acids these days and how they contribute to animal nutrition. These BENEFITS: fatty acids are not new, but they have become of GLA – anti-inflammatory increasing importance. This issue will explore fatty acid CLA – improved leanness and hardness of fat cover contribution both Omegas and Medium Chained Fatty Acids (MCFA). GLA – anti-inflammatory WHAT IS ESSENTIAL? NEGATIVES: You may have heard the term essential as it pertains to Linoleic, AA, and DGLA can be pro-inflammatory nutrition. Essential Fatty Acids, Essential Amino Acids, and more. The term essential simply means that the OMEGA 9 FATTY ACIDS: animal’s metabolism cannot synthesize those nutrients Anti-inflammatory or cannot synthesize them in sufficient quantities to meet the animal’s requirements. Therefore, these nutrients Can be pro-inflammatory (depending upon ratios) MUST be included in the animal’s diet. Improved insulin sensitivity WHAT ARE OMEGA FATTY ACIDS? SOURCES: Soybean oil, canola oil, fish oil, grains The indication OMEGA refers to position of the final double bond from the Omega or the tail end in the IMPORTANT: The proper balance of Omega fatty acids chemical structure. Omega 3 is 3 carbons from the tail has been identified as increasingly important to prevent end. Omega 6 refers to 6 carbons and Omega 9, 9 negative effects. carbons from the tail end. The Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated, while Omega 9 is monounsaturated. WHAT ARE MEDIUM CHAINED FATTY ACIDS: Medium chained fatty acids (MCFA) are simply neither short chained nor long chained fatty acids and are OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS: important to animal nutrition. Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) Caproic acid (C:6) Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Caprylic acid (C:8) Only ALA is essential. Essential simply means that the Carpic acid (C:10) animal’s body cannot synthesize this or cannot synthesize it in sufficient quantities to meet the animal’s Lauric acid (C:12) requirements. So, it MUST be provided in the diet. SOURCES: Milk, coconut oil and palm oil. SOURCES: Fishmeal, flaxseed, rice bran, canola oil, soybean oil, green grass. BENEFITS: positive effects on health, production, feed digestibility, hair and skin, and body fat. Research with BENEFITS: Improved feed intake and anti-inflammatory MCFA reported antimicrobial, anticoccidial, and antiviral properties. effects as well. ® ® OMEGA 6 FATTY ACIDS: For more information on PURINA HONOR Show feeds and PURINA® HIGH OCTANE® supplements, contact Linoleic acid your local Purina Animal Nutrition representative or Arachidonic acid (AA) Kevin Burgoon, Ph.D. at [email protected]. Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid (DGLA) Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) Gamma linoleic acid (GLA) .