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Rbgh

Recombinant Bovine Growth hormone

Bovine Somatotropin is a naturally produced hormone by cows that aids them in milk production in made in their pituitary glands. This naturally occurring hormone can be chemically reproduced in a lab through the use of Recombinant DNA technology. Monasanto corporation produces this product known as Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone under the name Posilic, for retail to dairy farmers who use it to increase the production of milk in dairy cows. It is given to dairy cows through a needle injection. However with the production of Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone comes the inevitable controversy of its health risks for both Humans and Animals that ingest it. The benefit of the use of this hormone is a significant increase milk production of anywhere between 11% to 16 % increase in milk. Nonetheless it has also been found that “a nearly 25% increase in the risk of clinical mastitis, a 40% reduction in fertility and 55% increased risk of developing clinical signs of lameness” can be attributed to the use of this hormone in dairy cows. This has captured the attention of animal rights activists who believe that animals should not be genetically modified for greater production by while decreasing their quality of life. It is important to note that the sale of Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone has been banned in Canada due to inherent health risks to animals and possible effects on humans. Another controversy that arises with Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is the future effects that it may have on human consumers of this product. Several interest groups have expressed concern about the effects of BST and a by product known as insulin-like growth factor -1. The Company Monsanto believes that since Insulin growth factor -1 is chemically similar to that of the IGF -1 produced in humans and therefore presents no threat to those who consume it. However several interest groups have complained that the levels of IGF -1 consumed via dairy...