Egg enquiry from Malaysia

Today we had an email enquiry about eggs from a Malaysian restaurant chain. Not sure if they are planning to set up in Australia, or they are hoping we can export!
The request was about whether or not our eggs are Omega 3.
Alhough we have not sent our eggs away for analysis, it's likely that they are higher in Omega 3 oils than most eggs as our hens range all day on pasture which includes the plant, Purslane.
Some strange people regard Purslane as a weed. But Purslane contains more omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid in particular) than any other leafy plant. Purslane has 0.01 mg/g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA is an Omega-3 fatty acid found mostly in fish, some algae, and flax seeds. It also contains vitamins (mainly vitamin A, vitamin C, and some vitamin B and carotenoids), as well as dietary minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron.

Food from grass-fed animals is best for your health

Research on essential fatty acids has only been available for a few years and it really hasn't been getting the press it deserves. The main results of the research shows that by concentrating animal feeds using grains, instead of grasses, our corporate feed producers have manipulated the food chain so much that degenerative diseases are now a greater part of our future.

This is because our essential fatty acids, which control myriad bodily functions, fall into two families: the Omega-3's and the Omega-6's. The Omega 3 group comes from the leaves of green plants (and plankton in the ocean), while the Omega 6 group comes from seeds, such as grain used in animal feeds. Animals that eat quantities of green plants have very high levels of Omega 3 which are not seen in animals fed largely on grain.

Ideally, we should have about equal amounts of Omega 3 and Omega 6 in our bodies, or at maximum, not much more than twice the Omega 6 as Omega 3. But many Australians have ten times more Omega 6 than Omega 3 – a result of the widespread use of grains in fattening cattle.

The way we can all rectify this imbalance is to only eat animal products raised on grass. Don't buy grain fed beef raised in feedlots, don't buy farmed fish which has been fattened on grain and don't buy eggs from caged hens, those in barns, or so-called 'free range' hens which have been beak trimmed.

If the tips of the hens' beaks have been cut off, they can't eat grass, worms and the bugs which form a vital part of their natural diet. They can only eat the feed provided for them in automated feeding systems - which is exactly the same diet as hens in cages.

So only buy eggs from farms which are accredited by the Free Range Farmers Association – it's the only way you can be sure that the eggs really are free range.

If you would like a bit more info just ask, or check out this link:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Grass-Fed-Beef-Delivers-Omega-3-Oil&id=1454458

Purslane - better than colouring additives

We have been doing everything we can to try to maintain yolk colour in our eggs – everything that is short of putting colouring additives in the chook food.


It's always difficult at this time of year when everything is so dry and there is little green in the paddocks.

We are feeding as much green leafy stuff as we can from the veggie garden and encouraging purslane in the pasture.

The plant purslane is regarded by most people as a weed but it is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which everyone seems to want in their diet these days. Some reports say that purslane is one of the most abundant vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty acids such as linoleic acid and palmitic acid have also been identified in purslane seeds.

Purslane is a rich source of vitamins, with vitamins A, B, C, and E contained within the plant. Purslane is high in carotenoid content, including Beta-Carotene. Beta Carotene is one of the natural substances which helps to generate deep coloured yolks. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, and lithium are also found in the plant.

For all those reasons we are trying to grow as much purslane as we can because we reckon it's a much better bet than putting colouring additives in the feed – which is the choice made by virtually all other egg producers. Many of the colouring additives used by egg producers are synthetic but even the one's processed from things like capsicum and marigold can have adverse effects on people with allergies.We sometimes hear people saying that they are allergic to eggs - well it's probably not the eggs they are allergic to it's more likely the additives put in the chook food for cosmetic reasons.