Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), also called recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) is the synthetic form that has been synthesized and manufactured using recombinant DNA techniques to increase milk production without adversely affect the health and reproductive performance in dairy cows.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the rBGH product in 1993 after determining that its use would be safe and effective.
This hormone, both the natural and synthetic forms, stimulates milk production in mammals by increasing the production of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1).
Since higher IGF-1 level is associated with increased cancer risks in humans, especially breast cancer risk, critics have feared that drinking milk from cows treated with rBGH may increase cancer risk.
Recombinant bovine growth hormone was found to increase milk production by 11.3% in primiparous cows and 15.6% in multiparous cows; although there was considerable variation from study to study.
Treatment increased dry matter intake by an average 1.5 kg/day during the treatment period and dry matter intake remained elevated on into the first 60 days of the subsequent lactation.
The use of Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone in dairy cattle
