EVALUATION OF TRANSGENIC EVENT-176 BT CORN IN BROILER-CHICKENS

A 38-d feeding study evaluated whether standard broiler diets prepared with transgenic Event 176-derived ''Bt'' corn (maize) grain had any a dverse effects on male or female broiler chickens as compared to diets prepared with nontransgenic (isogenic) control corn grain. No statist ically significant differences in survival or BW were observed bet ia een birds reared on mash or pelleted diets prepared with transgenic co rn and similar diets prepared using control corn. Broilers raised on d iets prepared from the transgenic corn exhibited significantly better feed conversion ratios and improved yield of the Pectoralis minor brea st muscle. Although it is not clear whether this enhanced performance was attributable to the transgenic corn per se, or due to possible sli ght differences in overall composition of the formulated diets, it was clear that the transgenic corn had no deleterious effects in this stu dy.