In the 1950s, a competition was held to create the “chicken of tomorrow” through selective breeding. This is the path that got us to the modern broiler chicken. Unlike their recent ancestors (and much unlike their distant ones) these birds grow so large so quickly that they are prone to health issues and disease.
I’m all for selectively breeding crops. It’s selectively breeding animals where it gets ethically murky for me.
Should we be supporting the breeding of snub-nosed dog breeds, for instance, considering the respiratory issues they have? What about broiler chickens that can’t stand up and are prone to cardiac issues? What about egg-laying hens that commonly develop osteoporosis, egg yolk peritonitis, and cloacal prolapse? Cows bred to produce so much milk they display severe discomfort and are prone to mastitis?
Like I said, the lines get blurred quite a bit when you have to also consider the health and comfort of animals.
In the 1950s, a competition was held to create the “chicken of tomorrow” through selective breeding. This is the path that got us to the modern broiler chicken. Unlike their recent ancestors (and much unlike their distant ones) these birds grow so large so quickly that they are prone to health issues and disease.
This is a quick and interesting read: https://exhibits.library.cornell.edu/backyard-revival-american-heritage-poultry/feature/the-chicken-of-tomorrow
I saw a nutjiub once protesting selective breeding, calling it ‘Eugenics for Plants and Animals’, saying we should all return to the planet.
He returned to the planet pretty fast after I pushed him in a well.
Source: Entirely made up
I’m all for selectively breeding crops. It’s selectively breeding animals where it gets ethically murky for me.
Should we be supporting the breeding of snub-nosed dog breeds, for instance, considering the respiratory issues they have? What about broiler chickens that can’t stand up and are prone to cardiac issues? What about egg-laying hens that commonly develop osteoporosis, egg yolk peritonitis, and cloacal prolapse? Cows bred to produce so much milk they display severe discomfort and are prone to mastitis?
Like I said, the lines get blurred quite a bit when you have to also consider the health and comfort of animals.
I think selective breeding of animals is just as bad as arranged marriage.
Wait a minute, are selective breeding and arranged marriage the same thing?