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WHAT KINDS OF HARMFUL

CHEMICALS DO THEY FEED
CHICKENS?
By Shannon Ankeny | Updated September 26, 2017

There are different kinds of chicken feed available for different breeds, ages and culinary uses of chickens, but
not all feeds are created equal. Some contain ingredients that are dangerous, and can actually be harmful to
both the livestock that consume it and the humans that consume the livestock.

Steroid Hormones
Steroid hormones are added to some chicken feeds, speci�cally those fed to chickens that need to grow faster
for more mature muscle content before butchering. This helps chicken farmers raise and sell chickens ready
for slaughtering faster and with less cost to their operation due to a reduction in feed costs. However, these
hormones are still present in chicken meat even after slaughtering and cooking, which means humans are
getting this extra dose of steroid hormones too.

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Roxarsone
Roxarsone is an arsenic-based chemical added to some chicken feeds, designed to �ght parasites, increase
growth rates and improve the pigmentation in the meat. Roxarsone is harmless on its own, but when it is
ingested by a chicken and then ingested by humans, it turns into a malignant form of arsenic. The American
Chemical Society reported at the time of publication that an estimated 9 billion broiler chickens a year are fed
feed containing roxarsone. Its effects on humans are still unknown.

Melamine
Melamine, a chemical used to manufacture plastics, is sometimes added to chicken feed unknowingly by way
of contaminated wheat products. Any feed that is found to contain melamine is recalled and the poultry that
consumed it is not sold for human consumption.

Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals that help to control insect infestations on agricultural products, such as the grains
and seeds that are ingredients of chicken feed. According to SustainableTable.org, at the time of publication
approximately 66 percent of America's grain production is used in livestock feed. Pesticide contamination can
come in the form of residues on grains in feed or in genetically modi�ed grains that are grown with pesticides
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as part of their genetic makeups.

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COW
of Animals Eat Soybeans?
FEED INGREDIENTS
Type of Chicken Used for Supermarket
Types of A
Eggs
By Dennis Hartman | Updated September 26, 2017

Cows, like other types of cattle, have speci�c nutritional requirements that must be met if they are to stay
healthy and produce calves or milk of good quality. However, farmers are always looking for more convenient
and less expensive ways of keeping their cows fed. The cattle feed industry is large and offers a huge variety of
products. Despite an overwhelming number of options, most types of cattle feed contain many of the same
basic ingredients.

Grains
Grains serve as the base of most commercially produced and homemade cattle feed. The most commonly used
grain in cattle feed is corn, due to its low cost and relatively high nutritional content. Soy and barley are also
used to supplement corn and provide a greater variety of nutrients. Grain should be introduced into a cow's
diet gradually because overconsumption can lead to health problems. Also, grain should either be rolled or
cracked to reduce the amount of undigested waste.

Silage
In some cases silage, or stored grass, is substituted in part or in full for corn. Though more expensive, silage is
closer to the grass that free range or grazing cows would naturally eat. This is especially bene�cial for beef
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cattle, but it holds true for dairy cows as well. Hay, alfalfa and clover also all fall into this category.

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Supplements
Most commercial cattle feed includes a long list of supplements. Vitamins and minerals are added to feed to
promote health and encourage growth. Likewise, antibiotics are used to prevent the onset or spread of
diseases, although this is a controversial process because the antibiotics may be passed on to human
consumers of the beef or milk. Finally, chemical preservatives help ensure that the feed will remain fresh.

Salt
Some feed intended for cows, though not all, contains salt. Besides enhancing �avor and therefore promoting
consumption, a certain amount of salt is essential to a cow's overall health. When feed does not contain salt,
the cows must be fed salt in another way, either added in the appropriate amount to the commercial feed or by
providing a salt lick.

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