Katie Cordrey
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Israeli scientists have been working to perfect cross-bred chickens so they don’t produce feathers. The result is a naked bird that won’t have to be plucked once it is killed for food. The scientists argue that many warm-weather countries can’t grow chickens because of the heat and this breed would solve that problem in addition to reducing processing costs due to their lack of feathers. Animal rights advocates object to the naked chicken, saying that feathers help protect chickens’ tender skin from bruising and sunburn. They also object to the idea of advocating factory farming in developing nations. I find the entire project disturbing and shall have to purchase some veggie burgers immediately—a chicken offset credit of sorts.  But critics say past experience with feather-free chickens resulting from random genetic mutation shows they suffer more than normal birds. Males have been unable to mate, because they cannot flap their wings, and "naked" chickens of both sexes are more susceptible to parasites, mosquito attacks and sunburn.
(newscientist)References: newscientist, nextnature.net Filed In: |
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