Warning over fast-growing chickens
10 December 2001
Warning over fast-growing chickens
By Adrienne Francis
THE quest among poultry breeders for cheaper meat is more worrying than genetically modified (GM) food, reports The Independent.
A front-page investigation by the paper claims broiler chicken weight has “ballooned” from 1kg (2.2lb) to 2.6kg (5.72lb) in 25 years.
The expanded feature on page seven includes detailed pictures contrasting the life cycle of broiler and battery hens.
Welfare campaigners claim poultry lameness and heart failure are increasing with the growth rate, a point of dispute for breeders, the paper reports.
Animal welfare minister Elliot Morley told the paper that concerns are justified, and there are legitimate questions for the breeders to answer.
“It would be sensible for breeders to answer current concerns on welfare before they start accelerating growth even more,” he said.
The papers comment piece claims popular alarm over GM is misplaced when “breeding alone can produce walking blocks of oven-ready meat”.
“This progress has been achieved at too great a cost,” it says.
Animal welfare campaigns should be allowed to advertise on television, it argues, supporting the idea of consumer awareness as the key to change.
It concludes by urging readers to demand supermarkets provide more and cheaper free-range chicken.