Econ, Dr. Tilak Dhiman has probably done more research on the actual production of omega-3 and CLA in real world production models than anyone in the USA. His research started with dairy because of the ability to have an immediate medium to measure changes in the fatty acid complex. He found that it took between three and four weeks for cows on pasture only to max out their o-3 and CLA concentration in their milk...it took only four days on grain to lose it all. Obviously, studying beef is much more difficult and will take several years of replicated studies to get conclusive facts, but he has ongoing studies. He says, to get maximum amounts of o-3 and CLA in beef (or other ruminants), the animals should spend their entire life on green pasture and never any grain. That is because o-3 and CLA are derived from chlorophyll, which degrades quickly in any form other than growing pasture. This is one of the reasons real grassfed beef is so difficult to produce(insulates the niche from the big boys). This is also why I question the results of studies that MRJ sites...the complete history of the animal must be taken into account or results will vary greatly.(Easy to 'prove' negligible difference, if that is your goal.) N.Z. pioneered the grassfed industry(because they couldn't afford grain feeding) and their research is probably the most accurate.
That fellow producer wouldn't be Jon Taggart, would it? I think I have been to some conferences with him.