Good point on the comparison between A&P and WMT plus the decentralized nature of chicken farming in 1948. The press today would likely be beside themselves and screeching at the top of their lungs.
Because of the problems associated with over specialization, to avoid chickens becoming like turkeys, it would likely be a good idea to have a program to create more diversity in the species.
The USDA did it with wheat, creating strains that could thrive in less than ideal places. So why not do it with chickens?