Report: GMO Soy Feed devastates the health of hogs

May 6, 2012

Kathy Deboer forwarded this study to me from the Institute for Responsible

Technology:

Danish farmer reports malformations, ill health in pigs fed GM soy

For our upcoming documentary, we've been documenting serious health problems in

US livestock fed GMOs, and astonishing recoveries when the animals switch to

non-GMO diets. An example of such effects were recently reported by Danish pig

farmer lb Borup Pedersen, who has gone public with revelations that GM soy feed

had devastating effects on the health of his animals and on his farming

profitability. On GM soy, his pigs suffered a higher disease and death rate, and

a large number of birth defects. Many of the malformations were of the same type

as those found in babies born in GM soy-producing regions of South America,

which are linked with Roundup exposure.

When Mr Pedersen switched to non-GM soy starting in April 2011, within two days,

his pigs' massive problems with diarrhea virtually disappeared. Death from

ulcers and bloat, which had claimed 36 sows (out of about 450) over the previous

two years, also vanished. And deaths from loss of appetite dropped from 2 the

previous year, to zero. The average number of piglets born per sow over an eight

month period also jumped by about 2 pigs (from 28.1 to 29.9).

Mr Pedersen said that though non-GM soy was more expensive, the extra cost was

more than compensated for by the lower medication costs for his healthier

non-GM-fed pigs. And he needs less man hours. He is now making about $100 more

profit per pig than when feeding GM soy.

The Danish newspaper that broke the story carried an editorial arguing that it

would be irresponsible for the authorities to ignore the discoveries made by the

farmer. Read a report on the farmer's experience and that of a second Danish

farmer here: [Read the Report]

Ib Pedersen has placed online a video of one malformed piglet. Please be warned

that many people will find this video extremely distressing. [Watch the Video]

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