AGRICULTURE REPORT - Featherless Chickens

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AGRICULTURE REPORT
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June 11, 2002: Featherless Chickens

By George Grow

A featherless female
This is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.

Humans have long wanted to change animals to meet their needs. Now, an Israeli
scientist is developing chickens without the feathers that cover a bird’s body.

The new chickens have red skins. They look unusual. Yet the
scientist says they have less fat and may grow faster than other
chickens. He adds that the lack of feathers will keep the birds cool
in the Middle East and other warm climates.

Avigdor Cahaner (AH-vig-dor cah-HA-ner) is a genetic¹ scientist at
Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He also is a vice² president of the World Poultry³ Science
Association, an industry trade group. Mister Cahaner hopes to create what he believes the
world needs -- a meaty, low-fat chicken.

Other scientists have developed chickens that gain weight quickly. These large birds are called Adult males
broiler chickens. Mister Cahaner notes that broiler chickens must eat a lot of food in order to have red skin.
grow quickly. This means they also produce a lot of body heat. The birds will die if their body temperatures rise
too high.

In warm climates, farmers who raise chickens often are required to use air-cooling systems in buildings where the
birds live. Mister Cahaner says poor farmers in developing countries often do not have the money needed for the
cooling equipment.

The Israeli scientist has already produced a number of chickens without feathers. He started with a natural
version of a featherless chicken discovered fifty years ago. He has been mating these birds with normal chickens.

Mister Cahaner says the new chickens will save money in processing costs because they do not need to have their
feathers removed. He notes that feather removal requires the use of large amounts of water and electric power. He
says the birds are better for the environment because they produce less waste in the form of feathers. He also says
the chicken meat is more nutritious⁴.

Animal rights activists⁵ have criticized his experiments. The activists say chickens without feathers suffer more
than other birds. They say feathers help protect chickens from harmful organisms and sunburn.

Mister Cahaner says his featherless birds are not designed for cooler climates. Currently, his birds are smaller
than other chickens. He hopes that additional experiments will help increase their size.

This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.

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