fbpx
Sign up now!
Don't show this again
Sweepstakes Rules

We’re glad you’re enjoying Poultry Health Today.
Access is free but you’ll need to register to view more content.
Already registered? Sign In
Tap to download the app
X
Share
X
REPORTSCollect articles and features into your own report to read later, print or share with others

Create a New Report

Favorites

Read Later

Create a new report

Report title (required) Brief description (optional)
CREATE
X
NEXT
POULTRY
follow us


You must be logged in to edit your profile.

Sponsored by Zoetis

Sponsored By Zoetis

.
Playicon

Should we tap the brakes on slow-growth chicken?

Video Play Logo

Watch the full interview

Consumers advocating the use of slow-growth chickens mistakenly assume these birds have better welfare conditions, Terrence O’Keefe, editor and content director, Watt AgNet, told Poultry Health Today.

Put another way: “…they make the assumption that current genetics are incapable of producing animals with good welfare. And, I guess to me, that’s just an absurd argument,” he said.

O’Keefe pointed to performance in the US broiler industry achieved with modern genetics. There is record live-ability in the field and less use of feed is needed to produce more pounds of meat per bird. Condemnations are at a record low.

There’s always room for improvement, but “We’re in a better situation than we’ve ever been in terms of how many resources it takes to produce a pound of edible chicken,” he continued.

A return to slower-growing birds with alternative genetics means that to produce the same amount of meat, more birds would have to be raised and they would need more feed. More poultry houses and more growers would be needed. Growers would have to be paid more per pound of live-weight because there’s less meat on each bird, he said.

O’Keefe asked why the US industry should take that huge step backwards from an environmental impact standpoint and a cost standpoint by switching to the alternative genetics.

“Chicken meat is relatively much less expensive than it used to be to buy. We’re in a better situation than we’ve ever been in terms of how many resources it takes to produce a pound of edible chicken,” he said.




Posted on June 28, 2017

tags: , , ,
RELATED NEWS
  • Environmental enrichments increased broiler activity in study

    Environmental enrichments in broiler houses may improve bird welfare by increasing natural behaviors, according to a University of Maryland study.

  • Study: Day length during brooding did not impact broiler performance

    Extended day length during the brooding period is thought to benefit broilers’ long-term performance and well-being. However, a University of Georgia study has re-evaluated that idea.

  • Breed may impact broiler response to Salmonella infection

    Research at the University of Arkansas suggests broiler breed could affect birds’ immune response to Salmonella exposure, according to Shawna Weimer, PhD, director of the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing.

  • ILT vaccine choices: A closer look

    With continued wild-type ILT challenges in the field, we are faced with a choice of two vaccine options with proven results — with different priorities affecting the final decision.




You must be logged in to edit your profile.

Google Translate is provided on this website as a reference tool. However, Poultry Health Today and its sponsor and affiliates do not guarantee in any way the accuracy of the translated content and are not responsible for any event resulting from the use of the translation provided by Google. By choosing a language other than English from the Google Translate menu, the user agrees to withhold all liability and/or damage that may occur to the user by depending on or using the translation by Google.