TWC G6 Livestock Production
Livestock Feed : Natural Feed vs Genetically Modified Feed
Natural Feed
Natural Feed - A feed derived solely from natural plant, animal or mined sources
Natural Feed - A feed derived solely from natural plant, animal or mined sources
Genetically Modified Feed
GM Feed – A feed or ingredient that contains antibiotic resistance genes or made from genetically modified plants. Some GM feed are produced with genetically modified microorganisms.
Prevalence of GM feed
Animal feed accounts for a huge proportion of the world’s harvest; estimates range from one third to nearly half of the world harvest. The two crops used in European animal feed that are most likely to be genetically modified are soya and maize, and almost all is imported. Imported soya and maize by-products account for about 20 per cent of raw materials used by UK feed manufacturers and farmers The table below shows the worldwide percentages of soya, maize, cotton and oilseed rape crops that are GM:
Although widespread consumer concerns have forced major supermarkets and food manufacturers to eliminate GM ingredients from human foods, GM crops continue to be fed to farm animals on a large scale.
Effects of GM Feed on Livestock
The US Government’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has said that “unlike the human diet, a single plant product may constitute a significant proportion of the animal diet...therefore, a change in nutrient or toxicant composition that is considered insignificant for human consumption may be a very significant change in the animal diet. “
Yet there has been little long term safety testing for GM animal feeds, and there are concerns that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which provides scientific advice to the European Commission and member states on food and feed safety, has failed to address genuine concerns over the safety of GMOs.
Source : http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/processed_foods/153.animal_feed_genetic_engineering.html
GM Feed
Top 8 GM Crops producing countries
Global GM Crop Area (1996-2008)
