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OK your right none of those 4 have anything to do with Avian Leukosis so what did you want to talk about ??
I didn't say they're unrelated. What they have in common is well-bred high utility stock used to feed America (and the world) are born immune deficient. They are processed in a few short weeks. Other, slower growing meat birds are being reared in exponentially higher numbers to support the localvore food movement. More discerning palates request the slow growing breeds and small family farms across the country are supplying them. High end restaurants along the Eastern Seaboard are alone supporting several small farm cooperatives that I'm aware of including some organic facilities. Here's the rub, these birds are processed several weeks later than the cornish crosses and I've heard from
seven independent farmers about USDA facilities condemning birds for Avian Leukosis. THe symptoms of leukosis don't normally emerge until the birds are older than eight weeks and this is why Cornish Cross are not being condemned at these facilities- they have yet to develop the symptoms of this wide spread malady.
Evidently, and this is from information from one of the countries leading avian pathologists who works for a major poultry supplier- one of the largest suppliers of meat and eggs- it's actually leukosis that keeps the Cornish Cross from developing -she took it apart for me- yes the Cornish Cross grow so fast their organs give out- but that is overly simplistic. It was explained to me that Avian Leukosis is so prevalent in commercial flocks that breeding stock must be vaccinated for several strains of the disease in hopes that they keep it at bay. These birds are maintained on antibiotics- the heirloom breeding stock that produces these super production strains... The Cornish Cross- when not reared on these antibiotics is particularly vulnerable to bacterial infection- name one- all of them- and because leukosis is transmitted vertically, symptoms for the disease can surface- and are responsible for a surprising % or mortalities- unless the birds die from it- and let's face it-most people don't attempt to keep their Cornish Cross longer than eight weeks- in the event that they are kept for longer they will inevitably succumb to organ failure- and sometimes avian leukosis is a factor.
Moving to the slow growing breeds- seven different farms contacted me this year- all with the same problem- strains that had passed with flying colours in previous years- and birds completely healthy all the way to harvest are showing symptoms of leukosis- and it is apparently yet another strain immune to most antibiotics- this is something poultry industry giants are well-equipped for but the small farmer?
This is not an alarmist thread nor do I intend to go into a debate session. Ignoring these four references that anyone and everyone should recognize as factual isn't helpful. Huffington Post renders information into bite size PR sound bites. So what. It doesn't change the message and it doesn't matter what our opinions are as to why we believe that bacterial resistant diseases are on the rise. What is the solution for the small family farm?
if we could please just discuss the phenomenon and collaborate on solutions- not obsess over the problem leading into the tug of war between positions of ideology- derailing this very important topic-
- But rather spend our time and energy delving into objective inquiry and collaborative- investigation into these disease issues- and provide solutions in advance to protect the future small family farm from having a huge chunk of their yearly income buried in a landfill due to plaque on the heart and nodules on the lungs.
There are any number of common diseases ( antibiotic resistant) of industry flocks becoming more prevalent in hatchery stock . These diseases are making their way into backyards across the country and world. Small family farms are the first casualty but we should be concerned and get proactive -in my opinion.
