Modern Meat Chickens & Turkeys are Genetically Altered?

[seramas]

It is very true; they are researching ('tinkering') with genetic alterations. I fear this will lead to a catastrophic collapse after breeding several generations of these animals/birds. They know there is only 3/10ths of 1 per cent of all the genes that separate all species apart. Each gene can and does effect many changes in the DNA chain. Currently they are studying these effects. At some point greed will come into play and things may happen before they are fully understood.

This is were we the little man can make a big difference by maintaining pure bloodlines for as many different breeds as we each can. There should be an association started that can coordinate and maintain purity of each breed among its members. Each member should agree that the association has the right to inspect your flock, breeding records and have the right to cull out non-standard birds.

This would take truly motivated and will individuals. The way it is now; we just grump (not the word I used but more appreciate for this forum) about this and do nothing to protect against it.

 

[Puck-Puck]

Jumping in late as I just saw this thread now. Not heavy on research, but:

-maf2008, Rochester Hatchery sells hatching eggs for Broilers/Cornish Rock Giants.

-PatandChickens, thank you for your post. All I would add to that is the (rhetorical) question, "and do we really need to be dumping more Roundup etc. into the soil, to get into the water table?"

-As Buster52 notes, patented breeds (and plant hybrids) belong to the companies that invented them, and must be purchased from them. (Some plants even have a terminator gene in them, meaning they can't breed and must be re-purchased next year.) My comment to any who sing the praises of national independence won of yore, while supporting the patented breeds of today: take note. The obligation to purchase patented breeds from the inventor company, takes power, choice, and control out of the hands of the individual farmer. Through genetic patenting, the threat to individuals' independence now lies within.

 

[CoopmasterK]

I can't speak to the livestock issue but I've read a number of recent research papers (results) which indicate that today's fruits and vegetables have anywhere from 20 to 50 percent fewer vitamins, minerals and nutrients than the same fruits and vegetables 50 years ago. The reason is selective "breeding". Modern produce farms select fruits/vegetables varities for appearance, sturdiness (for transportation) and longevity (stays fresh longer) rather than for taste or nutrition. The result is produce which yields more profit, less loss and lower nutrition. I grow all my own produce and I eat seasonally. I can, dry and freeze to preserve my harvest and I can attest that these activities are not brain surgery. If I can do it, anyone can.

 

[seramas]

It is not so much the selective breeding of veggies and fruits. The necessity to selectively breed them came from the raping of the nutrients from the soil that they grew in. Lacking key nutrients made plants/trees weak and sickly, unable to hold their own against diseases and such.

In all their wisdom, instead of building the soil up they opted to selectively breed plants/trees that will tolerate depleted nutrient levels in the soil. Sort of like, let’s empty the lake so the boat won’t leak any more.

 

[j.luetkemeyer]

For those of you who say GM foods have no effect on us, you may want to do some more research. I have children that have had multiple allergic reactions to GM food. Same foods fed to them in organic form and no reactions. I have done a lot of research and understand why; however, the only way you will be convinced is to do your own research.

 

[hilandfrog]

Just reading the "organic" guidelines shows how pervasive the "industries" are in making rules that the law makers should be.

Organic, got dumbed way down in congressional hearings or what ever body makes such rulings.

While organic IS way better at not having foods exposed to radioactive particles or modern chemicals.
The # of years for soil to be "clean" and certified organic has little to do with the half lives of the chemicals previously used in said soils.
Lots of back and forth for the # of years, what we have was the best compromise WE could get out of those making monies from us.

This does not mean Organically grown stuffs are free from pesticides.

Repo

 

[fla_native]

Lets see....
Iowa State Daily...."Animals engineered for disease resistance

Status: Chickens and turkeys have been engineered to resist avian diseases. None have been commercialized. "

http://uaddit.com...
"Two featherless chickens peck around in some grass at the Hebrew University in Rehovot. Israeli scientists at the Agriculture department of the university have genetically engineered bare-skinned chickens as part of a research project to develop succulent, low fat poultry that is environmentally friendly. The naked chicken, as the bird has been dubbed, would also save poultry farmers large amounts of money on ventilation to prevent their chickens from overheating. "

go.ucsusa.org...

".....In the past, the procedures for obtaining transgenic chickens involved injecting foreign DNA into embryos and allowing the new genes to be randomly picked up and integrated into chicken chromosomes. This has proved to be an extremely inefficient process--less than one-half of one percent of injected embryos typically resulted in transgenic germline birds, that is, transgenic chickens that produce transgenic offspring......"

More?

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
Yes your right... and I knew they were doing it on a scientific research level... but I think he was referring to animals in our food system. I don't think animals like this have hit the shelves at supermarkets yet.

Good info though... I think it's interesting.

 

[fla_native]

Yep, at this point its not really cost effective.
To me the bigger issue is whats out there right now....poultry, cattle, swine thats pumped full of growth harmones and antibiotics. We have entire breeds that if ever left to their own devices would expire within weeks simply because they have absolutely no immune system.
I understand that this approach increases profit margines but at what cost?
My Key West chickens dont grow to 8 pounds in six weeks but they will survive pretty much anything you throw at them. These "chemically treated" birds wouldnt last a month in our back yards!

 

[AHappychick]

whether they do it or not rest assured they have thought about it. I don't know if the birds are created that way through selective breeding or something else, I suspect a little from plate A & B. They are certainly not opposed to doing whatever it takes to make a bigger bird so if they tinkered with the genetics I would not be suprised. There is a lot that goes on "Behind the scenes" so much so that if we knew it would make our skin crawl. We have genetically altered corn and tomatoes so I dont think it is a long shoot to think that they have been doing the same with our meats as well. Heck I saw them growing meat in a peatree dish once!