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"Some of the company’s prized purebred birds can now add a pound of weight for every 1.2 pounds of feed consumed" That's great news. Also compared to cows, chi

by logn 11y ago

"Some of the company’s prized purebred birds can now add a pound of weight for every 1.2 pounds of feed consumed" That's great news. Also compared to cows, chickens emit much less methane and other greenhouse gases, especially if their manure is handled properly. Not to mention they're working on breeding to improve that. And given it takes only ~ 30 days to raise a chicken, that reduces overall energy consumption running the farm. But I think WSJ understated how healthy a vegan diet is, aside from lacking B-12.

beagle3 11y ago
There are a lot of myths about B-12. The most persistent one is that it comes from meat. It's actually made by bacteria. Vegetarians and vegans only lack it in modern society because of (a) antibiotic use, harming bacterial population, and (b) "clean" foods, which fails to reintroduce those bacteria, and which lack b12 themselves. Not so surprisingly, the same is true for modern animals including farmed cows and pigs. I can't find a the source now (and apparently neither can wikipedia editors, cause they deleted it), but a very significant percentage of B12 production today (some say upwards of 80%) goes to animals. Some of it for their well-being, but most of it for the people eating them. A contender for the "least-efficient-way-to-supplement-vitamins", I think. Also, many non-vegans and non-vegetarians suffer from B12 deficiency these days.
- takee 11y ago
  > Also, many non-vegans and non-vegetarians suffer from B12 deficiency these days. As a meat eater with B12 deficiency I agree with this statement.
firass 11y ago
A heritage breed chicken takes 6-weeks to go from hatching to full size. Franken-chickens take around 30 days, but those grow faster than their organs, bones, and muscles can support the speed of the weight gained.
philfrasty 11y ago
„...understated how healthy a vegan diet is...“ One question always crosses my mind when I hear this, maybe someone knows an answer here on HN. It seems easy to tell the negative effects of eating meat (might cause cancer, etc). But are all the effects of not eating animal products at all in the long-term well known? And I don't mean not eating animal products for 1 year or 10 years but for multiple generations. Will people who have not eaten animal products for 1000 years still have a life expectancy similiar to the general population (I guess animal product-eaters)? Will they have more/less diseases, higher/lower IQ, etc.
- dghughes 11y ago
  >It seems easy to tell the negative effects of eating meat (might cause cancer, etc). We've all seen the UN report on red meat but I haven't seen anything negative about poultry or fish.
- zensavona 11y ago
  The China Study[1] is a really good book that contains a lot of research about the effect on chronic disease a vegan diet has. I found it very interesting. [1] http://www.amazon.com/The-China-Study-Comprehensive-Implications/dp/1932100660 http://www.amazon.com/The-China-Study-Comprehensive-Implicat...
  - Evgeny 11y ago
    The China Study[1] is a really good book that contains a lot of research about the effect on chronic disease a vegan diet has. I found it very interesting. Did you read any of the critisism though? Here are some http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/China-Study.html http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/China-Study.html http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/the-china-study-myth/ http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/... http://rawfoodsos.com/the-china-study/ http://rawfoodsos.com/the-china-study/
- copperx 11y ago
  Haven't some or most Indians been vegan/vegetarian for generations? Anectdotally, I have met Indian vegans with really high IQs. Also, Indians in general seem to have short stature. I wonder how much of that is due to genes and how much can be attributed to diet.

by logn 11y ago

beagle3 11y ago

There are a lot of myths about B-12. The most persistent one is that it comes from meat. It's actually made by bacteria. Vegetarians and vegans only lack it in modern society because of (a) antibiotic use, harming bacterial population, and (b) "clean" foods, which fails to reintroduce those bacteria, and which lack b12 themselves. Not so surprisingly, the same is true for modern animals including farmed cows and pigs. I can't find a the source now (and apparently neither can wikipedia editors, cause they deleted it), but a very significant percentage of B12 production today (some say upwards of 80%) goes to animals. Some of it for their well-being, but most of it for the people eating them. A contender for the "least-efficient-way-to-supplement-vitamins", I think. Also, many non-vegans and non-vegetarians suffer from B12 deficiency these days.

takee 11y ago
> Also, many non-vegans and non-vegetarians suffer from B12 deficiency these days. As a meat eater with B12 deficiency I agree with this statement.

firass 11y ago

A heritage breed chicken takes 6-weeks to go from hatching to full size. Franken-chickens take around 30 days, but those grow faster than their organs, bones, and muscles can support the speed of the weight gained.

philfrasty 11y ago

„...understated how healthy a vegan diet is...“ One question always crosses my mind when I hear this, maybe someone knows an answer here on HN. It seems easy to tell the negative effects of eating meat (might cause cancer, etc). But are all the effects of not eating animal products at all in the long-term well known? And I don't mean not eating animal products for 1 year or 10 years but for multiple generations. Will people who have not eaten animal products for 1000 years still have a life expectancy similiar to the general population (I guess animal product-eaters)? Will they have more/less diseases, higher/lower IQ, etc.

dghughes 11y ago
>It seems easy to tell the negative effects of eating meat (might cause cancer, etc). We've all seen the UN report on red meat but I haven't seen anything negative about poultry or fish.
zensavona 11y ago
The China Study[1] is a really good book that contains a lot of research about the effect on chronic disease a vegan diet has. I found it very interesting. [1] http://www.amazon.com/The-China-Study-Comprehensive-Implications/dp/1932100660 http://www.amazon.com/The-China-Study-Comprehensive-Implicat...
- Evgeny 11y ago
  The China Study[1] is a really good book that contains a lot of research about the effect on chronic disease a vegan diet has. I found it very interesting. Did you read any of the critisism though? Here are some http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/China-Study.html http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/China-Study.html http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/the-china-study-myth/ http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/... http://rawfoodsos.com/the-china-study/ http://rawfoodsos.com/the-china-study/
copperx 11y ago
Haven't some or most Indians been vegan/vegetarian for generations? Anectdotally, I have met Indian vegans with really high IQs. Also, Indians in general seem to have short stature. I wonder how much of that is due to genes and how much can be attributed to diet.