Table 3.
Summary of LA, ALA, DHA, and EPA concentrations (% of total FA), LA:ALA ratios, and n-6:n-3 FA ratios in commonly used ingredients in commercial canine and feline diets
| LA | ALA | LA:ALA | AA | DHA | EPA | n-6:n-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grains and pulses | |||||||
| Barley flour2 | 53.4 | 5.87 | 9.10 | — | — | — | 9.10 |
| Chickpea flour2 | 55.5 | 2.13 | 26.1 | — | — | — | 26.1 |
| Corn gluten3 | 55.5 | 2.12 | 26.2 | — | — | — | 26.2 |
| Corn flour, whole grain, yellow2 | 51.5 | 1.60 | 32.2 | — | — | — | 32.2 |
| Green peas, whole, raw2 | 51.2 | 12.0 | 4.27 | — | — | — | 4.27 |
| Lentils, raw2 | 47.0 | 12.6 | 3.73 | — | — | — | 3.73 |
| Millet flour2 | 62.5 | 1.08 | 57.9 | — | — | — | 57.9 |
| Oat flour2 | 40.7 | 1.92 | 21.2 | — | — | — | 21.2 |
| Rice flour, white2 | 25.7 | 5.55 | 4.63 | — | — | — | 4.63 |
| Rice protein3 | 38.9 | 1.39 | 28.0 | — | — | — | 28.0 |
| Rice, whole3 | 34.6 | 1.30 | 26.6 | — | — | — | 26.6 |
| Sorghum flour2 | 46.7 | 2.13 | 21.9 | — | — | — | 21.9 |
| Wheat flour3 | 58.3 | 3.41 | 17.1 | — | — | — | 17.1 |
| Meats and animal-based ingredients | |||||||
| Beef meal3 | 5.51 | 0.53 | 10.4 | 0.62 | 0.11 | 0.02 | 9.29 |
| Chicken liver, raw2 | 11.4 | 0.14 | 81.4 | 7.79 | — | — | 137 |
| Chicken meal3 | 14.7 | 0.60 | 24.5 | 1.37 | 0.11 | 0.02 | 22.0 |
| Egg, whole, dried2 | 17.3 | 0.42 | 41.2 | 1.76 | 0.49 | — | 21.0 |
| Lamb meal3 | 2.01 | 1.05 | 1.91 | 0.62 | 0.23 | 0.21 | 1.77 |
| Turkey, ground, raw2 | 27.1 | 1.48 | 18.3 | 1.41 | 0.12 | 0.09 | 16.9 |
| Turkey liver, raw2 | 26.7 | 0.91 | 29.3 | 9.00 | 1.07 | 0.21 | 16.3 |
| Fish | |||||||
| Atlantic salmon, farmed, raw2 | 8.40 | 1.40 | 6.00 | 0.86 | 10.3 | 8.03 | 0.47 |
| Herring meal3 | 4.48 | 0.94 | 4.77 | 0.67 | 11.3 | 5.49 | 0.29 |
| Whitefish, mixed species, raw2 | 5.34 | 3.56 | 1.5 | 4.41 | 18.6 | 6.33 | 0.34 |
1n-6:n-3 = (LA + AA):(ALA + EPA + DHA).
2Fatty acid profiles sourced from U.S. Department of Agriculture (2023a).
3Fatty acid profiles sourced from NRC (2006a).