Originally published May 22 2014
GM soy causes deformities and health issues in pigs
by Jonathan Benson, staff writer
(NaturalNews) A Danish pig farmer has admitted on national television that Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans harmed his herd and he is now calling for a ban on all transgenic feed treated with glyphosate. Ib Borup Pedersen says his pigs grew ill, lost their appetite and developed diarrhea, among other symptoms, after he fed them genetically-modified (GM) soybeans treated with Roundup, a mistake he says he will never make again.
The feed switch occurred after Pedersen's normal non-GM feed stock ran dry, requiring him to substitute GM feed instead. Almost immediately, Pedersen's pigs began developing stomach ulcers and bloat, a side effect also seen in cows and other livestock fed GMOs. The switch also caused many of Pedersen's pigs to lose their appetite and develop loose stools, which in turn resulted in lower milk yield.
A recent televised report on Denmark's TV 2 OSTJYLLAND told Pedersen's story to a national audience, explaining how the effects of GM soy and Roundup also harm reproduction. As it turns out, many of Pedersen's GM soy-fed pigs bore piglets with birth defects and other health problems, raising questions about the validity of the safety assessments used by national governments permitting the continued use of glyphosate and GM feed products.
"It shocks me that the industry does not take the evidence of Roundup's and glyphosate's harmful effects more serious than it does," stated Pedersen to reporters. "The National Institute of Animal Science already showed 25 years ago that Roundup could harm animals. But the unfortunate and incredible [thing] is that the authorities do not take this evidence seriously."
Non-GMO feed still available, but at a price
It is generally known within agriculture circles that some traces of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, will end up on crops and in crop feed. And governments around the world, relying mostly on information provided to them by the industry, have continually reassured the public that these trace levels are safe and do not substantially affect the end product.
But based on Pedersen's experience, this is simply not the case. Though GM soy and other transgenic feed products are not actually grown in Denmark, or really anywhere in Europe for that matter, these products are routinely imported from South America and the U.S.. In fact, much of the animal feed stock now used in Europe contains GMOs, which for those paying attention, is having disastrous effects.
"Here are my deformed piglets that I have from the pig house," said Pedersen during an interview, pointing to his farrow. "Typically the deformities are cranial and spinal. This is one that was born with a hole in the head between the eyes."
Pedersen says when he switched back to the non-GM feed, his litter experienced a dramatic recovery. Not only are the pigs healthier now, but they are also more productive. And in the long run, this improvement is saving Pedersen money, despite the fact that non-GM feed is typically more expensive than GM feed.
"Of course it can be purchased, and the price premium is 40-50 kroner ($7.50-$9.50) per 100 kg, but then Denmark can set an example in providing food that does not harm consumers," he added.
In the meantime, Pedersen is working to expose the immense dangers of GM soy and Roundup, which are surely having similar effects in other farmers' herds. He has even sent tissue samples of his previously affected pigs to labs for analysis, revealing the presence of Monsanto's chemicals at disturbing levels.
"We have sent some of them to Germany to be examined and they have actually been found to contain glyphosate in their internal organs, in their muscles, liver, kidneys and intestines," explained Pedersen.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.gmwatch.eu
http://www.gmwatch.eu
http://www.tv2oj.dk/arkiv/2014/04/15?video_id=46247&autoplay=1
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