Animal Health Flax oil and meal are recognized as valuable components in animal nutrition. When flax is incorporated as an integral component of animal feed, it improves the health and productivity of the animals themselves, and also leads to healthier food products for humans. One prime example is Omega-3 eggs from flax-fed poultry. Both the animal (beef and dairy, poultry and swine) and commercial fish feed markets in Canada offer significant opportunities for flax. Animal health researchers and representatives from the Canadian feed industry, as well as feed and food companies, agree that flax in animal feed rations shows promise as a means to improve growth and lessen disease and stress-related conditions. Product commercialization under FC2015 meets the long-term objectives in developing healthier meat and poultry, egg and dairy products for human consumption. Increased animal and fish productivity, new and improved food products that provide health-promotion nutrients, and an overall safer food supply are achieved by replacing feed ingredients from animal and fish sources with plant-based ingredients. Omega-3 enriched eggs Omega-3 enriched eggs are produced by laying hens that are fed a diet containing 10% - 20% milled flax. Because flax is higher in the Omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and lower in saturated fatty acids than other grains, the eggs produced are higher in total Omega-3s. Omega-3 eggs look, cook, and taste just like regular eggs, and the total fat content and cholesterol levels remain similar. Current research findings suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids help lower blood triglyceride levels and may play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease. Flax Feed Industry Guide