BLACKSBURG, Va., March 17 (UPI) -- Pasture-fed beef has less fat and more conjugated linoleic acid than grain-fed beef, meaning it may be a healthier choice, a new study has found.
Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is a combination of different types of fatty acids transformed in animals' digestive systems. Studies have been ongoing regarding its impact on human health. Tests on mice and rats have shown anti-oxidant and anti-tumor properties, and reportedly in humans there is an association between CLA consumption and reduced body fat.
The preliminary results, from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, were from the fourth year of a 10-year study.
The goal of the study is enhancing the efficiency and profitability of grassland-based beef production in the Appalachian region. The study is partially supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service.
