At Ripley Cove Farms, we’ve always said that nature doesn't have a "final version." It only has cycles of improvement.
When we received our latest metabolomics report from Dr. Stephan van Vliet at Utah State University, the data confirmed something we felt in the fields: our management practices are working. Specifically, our Omega 6:3 ratio hit 1.11.
To put that in perspective:
- Grain-fed beef typically sits at 7.22 or higher (highly inflammatory).
- Standard grass-fed beef averages around 2.13.
- Ripley Cove is currently at 1.11.
A 1:1 ratio is often considered the "ancestral gold standard"—the biological balance our bodies were designed to thrive on. At 1.11, we are essentially there. But for us, this isn't a signal to stop. It’s a signal to double down.
Why the Ratio is Moving
The Omega 6:3 ratio is a direct reflection of what an animal eats and how it lives. When cattle are moved frequently to fresh, diverse forage—clovers, chicory, diverse grasses, and native forbs—their bodies store more Omega-3s. When they are stressed or fed grain, the Omega-6 levels spike.
Our 1.11 ratio is a "biological receipt" proving that our cattle are living their best lives on the most diverse pastures we’ve ever managed.