Biotechnology in Livestock Production

Definitionthe science of altering

genetic and reproductive processes in plants and animals

Two areasgenetic engineeringembryo transfer

Genetic Engineeringis based on a technology

involving recombinant DNADeoxyribonucleic acid

Genetic Engineeringinvolves taking a tiny bit of

DNA containing the desired gene from one organism and splicing it into the DNA strand of another organism

Genetic Engineeringpurpose - to have the

recipient organism take on the characteristic controlled by the transferred gene

Examplesdisease resistant animalsgrowth regulatorsnew drugs and vaccines

Examplesspecify size and sex of

animalsorganism that “eats” oil used

in the Persian Gulf

BSTBovine Somatotropin

(Bovine Growth Hormone)Somatotropins are proteins

that affect the utilization of energy in the body

BSTcauses energy derived from

feed to be used for milk production rather than weight gain

BSTdoes not reduce energy

available for body maintenanceincreases energy available by

improving breakdown of fat and increasing appetite

BSTsmall amounts of BST are

produced naturally in the cow by the pituitary gland

BSTpreviously, the only source

of BST for research has been from pituitary glands of dead cows

BSTnow, because of genetic

engineering, large quantities of BST can be produced

BSTgene that controls BST

production is spliced into the DNA of a bacteria “Agrobacteria”

is injected into a cow

BSTcausing increased BST

production in the cow

BSTresearch at the University of

Wisconsin-Madison and Cornell University in New York has showed an average increase of 40% over lactation (305 days)

Formula20,000# X 40% = 8000# of

extra milk8000# @ $10/cwt =$800

Porcine Somatotropinis produced naturally by the

pituitary gland of the pigit acts as a growth regulator

PSTproduction decreases as an

animal matures

PSTproduced through RDNA

technology

PSThow it works

A. causes an increase in cell division in muscle tissue.

B. causes decrease in fat storage and increases in accumulation of protein.

PSTC. improves feed efficiency

and decrease fat deposition

ResultsA. increase in feed efficiency

29%B. increase daily gain 19%C. increase loin eye area 12%D. decreases fat 33%

Resultsmust be injected daily

Opposition to “Biotech” people fearproduction of new

uncontrollable diseasefreak animals

Opposition to “Biotech”long term adverse effects of

environment from products

1. Two primary areas of biotechnology

A. genetic engineering and tissue culture B. tissue culture and rDNA technology C. genetic engineering and embryo transfer D. rDNA technology and plasmid mapping

2. BST stands for:

A. Been Seen Talking B. Bovine Somathing C. Bovine Somatotropin

Biotech in Crop Productionlowered costs and increased

yieldsimproved feeding valuesnew corn plant

3. BST is produced naturally in the cow in the ____

A. pituitary gland B. endocrine gland C. spleen D. thyroid gland

4. The use of BST has shown the following results in dairy cattle:

A. increased milk production by 35% each day

B. Decreased milk production by 15% over the lactation

C. Increased fat deposition D. Increased milk production by 40% over

a 305 day lactation

Biotech in Crop Productionproduces higher levels of

tryptophanamino acid essential for

protein formation in an animals body.

5. BST and PST are produced through:

A. selective breeding of livestock B. genetic engineering and rDNA

technology C. splicing the gene that controls BST or

PST production into agrobacteria and injecting into the animal

D. both B And C

Biotech in Crop Productionthe first plant patented

6. Functions of PST are:

A. increasing feed efficiency B. increasing cell division of muscle tissue C. decreases fat storage and increases the

accumulation of protein D. All of the above

Other areas researchedherbicide resistancepest resistancefrost resistancesalt tolerantdrought resistance

7. The first plant to be patented was:

A. Wheat B. Rice C. barley D. sorghum E. corn

8. Corn plants have been developed that:

A. have increased levels of creatine B. have increased levels of tryptophan C. have decreased levels of tryptophan D. have increased levels of argenine

Embryo Transferwell established in cattle

industry, especially dairy

Processcow is treated with hormones

to cause “superovulation”can produce as many as 25

eggs

Processdonor cow then artificially

inseminated

Processduring this process,

“Recipient” cows or heifers are treated with hormones to synchronize their heat cycle to be the same as the donor cow.

Processafter the eggs are fertilized

and before they leave the oviduct, the cow is “flushed” with a saline solution or a solution of egg yolk and D.M.S.O.

Processovaries and oviducts are

massaged & flushed with fluid-which washes the fertilized eggs out of the body into a cylinder

Processindividual embryos are

located under a microscope and put into a straw

Processembryos may be frozen

much the same as cattle semen samples

first research in the U.S. was done in central WI in 1982

Processfreezing protocol now widely

usedmost transfer work is done

non-surgically with success rates of approximately 75%

Splittingresearch has also

successfully split embryos resulting in as many as 5 identical calves

Slow Progressmany characteristics are

controlled by multiple genes instead of a single gene

Slow Progresslack of money for researchgovernment regulationsenvironmental groups filing

lawsuits to stop research and testing

Slow Progressmany farmers don’t support

genetic engineering because they feel we already have surplus production