UNNATURAL HARVEST

What are the benefits, if any, of this new hormone, BST, which is used to increase milk production? (Note: BST is sometimes called BGH.)

The first result was inevitable. After the introduction there were four thousand small dairy farmers who simply quit the business in Wisconsin alone.

Its introduction and use obviously will mean fewer cows, fewer dairy farms and fewer farmers, but what else? This is a important question! To many people it appears to be a solution to a non-existing problem. There is already more milk than can be marketed; the US alone spends about one billion dollars per year to purchase excess dairy products.

Bovine Somatatropin (BST) is an artificial hormone; very similar to a natural one made in the pituitary gland. BST, however, has an extra amino acid left over from the gene manipulations, but we are told this is insignificant.

The label on BST packaging carries warnings. These warn of reproduction problems, digestive disorders, foot and leg ailments, persistent body sores and lacerations; warnings that are not generally broadcast to the media, through the glowing company sponsored press releases. (As I noted in last weeks column.)

Additional side effects, including painful udder infections, are treated with additional drugs. The end result; antibiotics often show up in milk products, if the contaminated product is not discarded at source.

It appears that some of the worries of the concerned public were justified. The US FDA received 1459 reports of adverse effects on cows in the first two years after the introduction of BST. Most of the complaints were exactly as noted in the warnings. In addition to these, some people reported death of their cows. Others reported multiple births; not a desirable factor in cattle because of stress to the parent and sterility in the offspring.

It was also reported in a Vermont study that cattle injected with this hormone typically required extra Veterinarian care. Vets prescribed four times the antibiotics to that of non-injected beasts. It also showed that infections lasted six times longer than average, and seven times as much milk had to be discarded due to contamination with drug residues.

It has also been found that cattle injected with this hormone have elevated levels of insulin-like growth hormone (IGF-1). Since the hormone is identical in both bovine and human, we can assume that elevated levels could be a threat. The controversy between corporate interests and independent researchers is unresolved. The manufacturer insists that this is not a problem as the hormone is digested in the gut and doesn't enter the blood stream. Some scientists are not convinced however. They insist that IGF-1 can enter the bloodstream because casein in milk hinders the breakdown of the proteins.

What does elevated IGF-1 do? "It can lead to elevated tumor rates as well as acromegaly, or gigantism, which is characterized by excessive growth of the head, face, hands and feet....Further studies supported a connection between high IGF-1 levels in the blood breast, colon and also prostate cancers....Another published study detailed a seven-times increase in the risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women with elevated levels of IGF-1."

One farmer who obviously is opposed to this 'science advancement' says, "It (BST use) is like running a car with the choke wide open. The cow cannot stand it. You simply burn them out."

Veterinarians in Germany said that they would not administer the drug even if it became legal in Europe. They contend that it violates their code of ethics, which includes an edict not to cause intentional harm to any animal.

When you consider the extra feed, the extra veterinarian care, the potential use of more antibiotics, the early burn out of the cow, the unknown dangers of prolonged ingestion of the hormone by humans, this venture is a risk with a high price tag.

I was pleased to find that Maude Barlow's organization, The Council of Canadians, with its 100,000 members, was very influential in stalling the acceptance of this drug in Canada. I hope that her protest campaign is just as successful at thwarting the continuing onslaught of Genetically Engineered foods that are in the pipeline.

This onslaught of interference with Nature's Gifts has only just begun. When are you going to stop being so passive?

(Most of the above references are from the Cambridge Library book, 'Unnatural Harvest')

Have a nice day.