ANSC 1401 - Safety

Dr. Jackson

The world population increases by how much each year?

• 1.7%

In 1978, Thomas Malthus predicted that

• The world population would exceed the amount of resources

  • He also predicted that war, disease and famine would decrease the population

Is food running out?

• No, it seems it may be but really, it’s just difficult to acquire resources to cultivate food

  • It’s also difficult to distribute food to those who need it

How can we feed the population?

1. Increase the amount of land dedicated to food production

2. Increase the efficiency of yields

What is the common goal of Agriculturalists?

• Obtain or create new technologies that will increase the utilization of available resources in a sustainable manner.

  • These technologies have been perceived negatively by the public

Why do we use growth promotants?

1. Can increase performance by 5-25%

   • ADG, milk or egg productions are all examples

  2. Can increase performance efficiency by 5-15%

What are the 2 hormonal promotants we discuss?

1. Recombinant Growth Hormone (rBST)

2. Estrogenic and Androgenic implants

Recombinant Growth Hormone… What is it? Where is it produced naturally? What industry are they used in?

• Naturally, it is a protein hormone that is produced by the Pituitary Gland

• Used in Dairy Cattle

Recombinant Growth Hormone… the synthetic form

• Scientists created a synthetic form that is almost identical to the real hormone

  • Only difference is an added amino acid

  • So similar you cant tell the difference when viewed in the bloodstream

• Will circulate to the liver where it will attach to its receptors to increase insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)

  • IGF-1 stimulates cell-growth and prevents cell death

• It essentially increases the growth in general of an animal

Does rBST harm people?

• All milk will contain a small amount of BST

• rBST is not active in the human body (35% difference in the hormones, therefore will not act against the human body)

• rBST is a protein and will be digested in the GI tract

• The amount of IGF-1 consumed in 1 glass of milk is ~0.03% of your body’s naturally produced IGF-1

• Consumers overall have the power… they’ve stopped the sell of milk from animals given rBST

Does rBST harm cows?

• 20-30 years ago, it was assummed so

  • Recent research says otherwise

• rBST is administered to cattle twice a day through an injection

• rBST can also be used to help cows who may not be able to produce as much BST as they should be

Estrogenic/Androgenic Implants… What do they do? What industry are they used in?

• They increase levels of somatotropin and IGF-1 which promote increased growth

• They are used in the beef cattle industry

Where are Estrogenic/Androgenic Implants placed? When are they removed?

• In the middle third of the ear

• Removed at harvest which reduces any risk of hormones from entering the food supply

Do Estrogenic/Androgenic Implants harm humans? How do estrogen levels compare across non-implanted beef and soymilk?

• Estrogen and Androgen are lipid hormones and are not digested in the GI tract, rather, they are absorbed whole

  • Nothing harmful occurs unless one eats ≥ 1% of what is naturally produced in their body.

• Non-implanted 3 oz serving: 1.2 ng of estrogen

• Implanted 3 oz serving: 1.9 ng of estrogen

• Soymilk 3 oz serving: 11.25 million ng of estrogen

Why do we use antibiotics and antimicrobials?

• To treat and prevent illnesses and infections

  • Used to [prevent epidemic diseases and improve herd health

Do milk and meat products contain antibiotics?

• There is an extremely small chance

  • Livestock are required to go through their withdrawal period before slaughter and/or milk collection

• Producers are required to limit antibiotic use and go through the withdrawal process for many reasons:

  • Allergies

  • Toxicities

  • Antibiotic-resistant bacteria

How do consumers know their products are antibiotic free?

• FDA produced and approved assessments to test products before they are marketed

• FDA works in cooperation with the USDA and CDC

• Both FDA and USDA utilize a surveillance prgram to ensure antibiotic residues are below the safe limits

Why do we use pesticides/herbicides in plant agriculture?

• We compete for foodm supply with organisms, weeds, and diseases

  • Pesticide/herbicide use increases plant productivity 20-50%

What are the risks of pesticides/herbicides?

• Acute poisoning from single or short-term exposure

• Chronic impacts of exposure

• Natural resources degraded by them in earth/water

• Can drift and harm/kill non-targeted plants and animals

How does the EPA regulate pesticide/herbicide residue?

• Lab animal studies

• “Safe tolerable dose” - dose that does not cause any issues divided by a safety factor

• FDA constantly monitors residue in all sources, but they are not always inspected properly

Which food source contains the highest amount of pesticide/herbicide residue? Are imported or domestic foods at a higher risk of residue?

• Veggies contain the most at 73.9% residue with 2.4% being volatile

  • Milk, dairy, and eggs had none

  • Animal feed at 25% with 0.8% volatility, but no residue found in animal meat.

• Imported food is at a higher risk

Which food is most likely to get people sick?

• Lettuce

Which meat type has the least antibiotic resistance?

• Veal

Where is BST produced in cattle?

• Pituitary Gland

Estrogenic/Androgenic implants are used in which industry?

• Beef cattle

rBST is most used in which industry?

• Dairy cattle

How many types of growth promotants were discussed?

• 3

  • Antibiotics, rBST, Estrogenic/Androgenic implants