Sam McDonald 4/23/12 Wischmeyer

The use of hormones to stimulate cows and increase their milk production has been used by dairy farmers since February of 1994. BGH is a natural protein hormone found in the cows pituitary gland. The hormone controls how much milk the cow produces. Scientists genetically alter this hormone and inject their artificial hormones into the cow which thus produces more milk. Recent studies have discovered that this popular process can create serious health problems for both the cows and the consumers. Due to a rising population and an increase in the demand for milk, dairy farmers began to struggle to supply the consumers with enough milk. Throughout world war two, there were many failed attempts to use BGH to increase milk production. In 1979, two private companies, Monsanto and Genetech began researching and developing a functional form of BGH. In 1994 they released their product to farmers under the name of POSILAC Bovine Somatotrophin. The product was a success by increasing milk output by more than twenty percent. Calves born to cows treated with rBGH were found to have higher natural levels of BGH. In order to create rBGH or POSILAC, Monsanto uses gene splicing. They combine certain sections of each organisms plasmid and then reinsert back into the bacterium. They use natural BGH which they splice into the genetic information of an E.coli K-12 bacterium. They choose this bacterium because of its rapid growth rate. Using the genetic codes from the BGH the E.coli produces the artificial form of the protein, rBGH. Once the manufacturing process begins the E.coli are killed which leaves them BGH to be harvested. The BGH is further

purified to remove bacterial constituents, including membranes, DNA and proteins. This now pure rBGH is mixed with a slow release formula (POSILAC). The product can now be injected into dairy cows. POSILAC is sold in every state in the US. One-third of the 9 million dairy cows in America belong to herds that are stimulated with this artificial hormone, Bovine Somatotrophin. Since its introduction in 1994, POSILAC has become the largest selling pharmaceutical product for dairy animals in the United States. Millions of Americans consume milk from these artificially supplemented cows each day. Any health hazards caused by the hormone would harm a large amount of people. Although the FDA approved the use of rBGH in November of 1993, the artificial hormone is seen to many as a serious health hazard. In February of 2007 the US movement against the use of rBGH began. Safeway stopped buying milk from farmers who used rBGH which took a toll on those farmers profits. Many organic milk companies choose to be artificial hormone free. Although some may advertise as hormone free, all milk still contains natural hormones. Around the world POSILAC is illegal in Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and every country in the European Union. These countries based their laws off of the alarming results found from studying cows treated with rBGH. Monsanto, the company that created rBGH, conducted a seven year study on the effects of their product. Cows showed an 80% increase of mastitis which is an inflammation of the mammary glands which causes pus in the milk. Supplemented cows also showed a suppressed immune system and a decrease in fertility. Monsanto was forced to release that their product created 20 veterinary heath problems.

BGH is not natural. The FDA now admits that it is up to 3 percent different in molecular structure from the normal hormone. Increased BGH levels in milk and blood have been found in injected cows. BGH and its digested products could be absorbed from milk into blood, particularly in infants, and produce hormonal and allergenic effects. Increased levels of cellstimulating growth factors, apparently identical to those in humans, have been reported in BGH milk. These could induce premature growth and breast stimulation in infants, and possibly promote breast cancer in adults.