Diverse Pastures Offer Equivalent Fatty Acid Concentrations and Increased Nutrient Content

Strategic Insights -

Botanically diverse pastures rotationally grazed by ruminant livestock in Ireland have been found to offer equivalent fatty acid concentrations and increased levels of tocopherols and carotenoids compared to conventional pastures. Research from the University of California has shown that multi-species pastures, which include a mix of perennial ryegrass, timothy, white clover, red clover, chicory, and plantain, can produce equivalent concentrations of fatty acids, as well as higher levels of gamma-tocopherol and lutein, a type of carotenoid. This finding suggests that diversifying pastures can have beneficial effects on the nutritional content of livestock products.

Key Takeaways:

  • Multi-species pastures in Ireland produce equivalent fatty acid concentrations compared to perennial ryegrass pastures.
  • Higher levels of gamma-tocopherol and lutein were observed in multi-species pastures compared to perennial ryegrass pastures.
  • Late-season pastures in all experimental conditions showed higher levels of fatty acids, tocopherols, and carotenoids.
  • Gamma-tocopherol and lutein concentrations were higher in multi-species pastures for all seasons.
  • Perennial ryegrass pastures showed higher levels of C18:3n-3c in mid- and late-seasons compared to multi-species pastures.
  • The study suggested that diversifying pastures can have beneficial effects on the nutritional content of livestock products.

Statistics:

  • Fatty acid concentrations in perennial ryegrass pastures were equivalent to those in multi-species pastures (average C16:0: 1.5%, C18:2n-6c: 3.1%, C18:3n-3c: 2.3%).
  • Gamma-tocopherol concentrations were higher in multi-species pastures by 12.2% compared to perennial ryegrass pastures.
  • Lutein concentrations were higher in multi-species pastures by 15.1% compared to perennial ryegrass pastures.
  • All pastures showed higher levels of tocopherols and carotenoids in late-season (average a-tocopherol: 1.7%, g-tocopherol: 2.5%, lutein: 1.1%).

Sources:

  • Fatty acid, tocopherol and carotenoid content of botanically diverse pastures rotationally grazed by ruminant livestock in Ireland. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2025,22():102050.
  • Elsevier: https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102050.