Bovine Growth Hormones: Should We Use Them?
Bovine Growth Hormones: Should We Use Them?
Michelle Szalasny
Dr. Juan Bouzat
Sarah Wofford
Biology 2040H
Fall 2013
Introduction
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, also referred to as Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), is a genetically engineered growth hormone most commonly manufactured by Monsanto. Monsanto sells this drug under the name of “Posilac” to dairy farmers who choose to use the growth hormone. Although most of these bovine growth hormones onl y differ from the natural milk-producing hormone by one amino acid, it creates many differences in various areas (Hansen 1995).
Not only does it increase the milk-producing hormone, rBGH is filled with high levels of the natural growth factor, IGF-1. This is a hormone that if occurs in higher levels, has shown to increase rates health problems in humans (Furstenberger 2002). rBGH is injected into the dairy cows to increase their milk production. As a result of the increased milk production, the cows have been treated with rBGH, have shown increased health problems, the main one being mastitis. The FDA, Federal Drug Administration, commercialized Posilac in 1993, even though it was a controversial drug (FDA). The FDA official, Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto attorney, oversaw the process. Later on he became the Vice President of Monsanto after leaving the FDA (Burton, 1993). The GAO, the Government Accountability Office, made their decision based on summaries of internal tests, which many opposed views claim that it was a summary of manipulative science and lacked data on human health effects (Burton 1993). However, the FDA included a package insert in the Posilac packages listing 16 harmful physical effects on cows (Polisac Insert). This product was originally marketed in the United States, and since 1993 it has been banned in several countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the European Union (American Cancer Society).
Michelle Szalasny
Dr. Juan Bouzat
Sarah Wofford
Biology 2040H
Fall 2013
Introduction
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, also referred to as Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), is a genetically engineered growth hormone most commonly manufactured by Monsanto. Monsanto sells this drug under the name of “Posilac” to dairy farmers who choose to use the growth hormone. Although most of these bovine growth hormones onl y differ from the natural milk-producing hormone by one amino acid, it creates many differences in various areas (Hansen 1995).
Not only does it increase the milk-producing hormone, rBGH is filled with high levels of the natural growth factor, IGF-1. This is a hormone that if occurs in higher levels, has shown to increase rates health problems in humans (Furstenberger 2002). rBGH is injected into the dairy cows to increase their milk production. As a result of the increased milk production, the cows have been treated with rBGH, have shown increased health problems, the main one being mastitis. The FDA, Federal Drug Administration, commercialized Posilac in 1993, even though it was a controversial drug (FDA). The FDA official, Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto attorney, oversaw the process. Later on he became the Vice President of Monsanto after leaving the FDA (Burton, 1993). The GAO, the Government Accountability Office, made their decision based on summaries of internal tests, which many opposed views claim that it was a summary of manipulative science and lacked data on human health effects (Burton 1993). However, the FDA included a package insert in the Posilac packages listing 16 harmful physical effects on cows (Polisac Insert). This product was originally marketed in the United States, and since 1993 it has been banned in several countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the European Union (American Cancer Society).