Commercial poultry 'more vulnerable' to flu

A university study has suggested commercial chickens may be more vulnerable to avian influenza because of a lack of genetic differences.

Certain kinds of chicken have been bred dependant on the amount of meat produced and the size of their eggs.

Purdue University in the US found three breeds were used commercially for meat in the US with one breed for eggs, ScienceDaily reported.

Animal sciences professor, Bill Muir, who is currently leading a $10 million project on breeding strategy, said: "Recent concerns over avian flu point to the need to ensure that even rare traits, such as those associated with disease resistance, are not totally missing in commercial flocks."

He recommended increasing the number of breeds used for meat and eggs commercially.

Poultry is the most popular meat in the US and it is consumed by many households in the developing world.

As food prices rose, health experts were concerned more people would be forced to raise cheap chicken meat, increasing the risk of avian influenza.

The World Health Organization is concerned the virus could mutate into a human form.

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