9/11/00

Contacts:
F.C. Parrish, Animal Science, (515) 294-3280
Barbara McManus, Agriculture Communications, (515) 294-0707

CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID TOPIC OF MINI-SYMPOSIUM

AMES, Iowa -- New developments in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) research will be presented at the third annual CLA mini-symposium at Iowa State University. The meeting will be held Sept. 18 beginning at 8 a.m. in the Ensminger Conference Room, 1204 Kildee.

Studies in which CLA was fed to animals have shown potential health benefits. CLA is a natural fatty acid that may be beneficial in fighting cancer, atherosclerosis and obesity. It also may have positive effects on the productivity and efficiency of livestock production, and on the nutritional quality of animal foods.

The substance is available in health food stores as a supplement and occurs naturally in some foods, milk products being the most concentrated food source. F.C. Parrish, ISU animal science professor, said the meeting will give scientists, producers, feed manufacturers and the public a chance to learn about new developments in CLA research.

"We're breaking ground, but we still need to find out how to incorporate the proper amounts into food," Parrish said.

The morning session will include recognized authorities from throughout the nation, including Richard Adlof, USDA; Mark Cook, University of Wisconsin; Bruce Watkins, Purdue University; and Beverly Teter, University of Maryland. The afternoon will feature animal scientists from ISU including Donald Beitz, Min Du, Josep Bassaganya-Riera, Chris Sparks, Allen Trenkle and Parrish. Terri Boylston from ISU's food science and human nutrition department will also speak.

The meeting is sponsored by several industry and commodity groups, the Iowa Beef Center, the Iowa Pork Industry Center, the ISU College of Agriculture, ISU's Department of Animal Science and ISU's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.

No registration is required and the public is welcome to attend. For more information contact, F.C. Parrish at 515-294-3280 or e-mail fparrish@iastate.edu.

News Releases Agriculture in Action Ag Online Communications Skills Home