rbST and Environmental Issues

Critics of rbST contend that its use has deleterious effects on the environment. These negative bovine somatotropin risks include the consumption by rbST-supplemented cows of more food and water, as well as increased manure generation by these animals. Defenders of rbST reply that its use actually has positive effects on the environment. These positive effects stem from the production of increased amounts of milk with relatively fewer inputs of land, food, water and other scarce resources. To judge for yourself, click on the document titles related to rbST milk research below.

A Step by Step Guide to Nutrient Management
Richard Wolkowski

Biology of Dairy Cows During the Transition Period
University of IllinoisJames Drackley - 1999

Bovine Somatotropin Technology
NIH - 1990

BST:Fact Sheet
Food & Drug Administration

Cows Given BST Remain in Herds, Stay as Healthy as Non-supplemented Cows
Feedstuffs MagazineMichael Howie - 1999

Dairy Herd Management Practices that Impact Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency
Journal of Dairy ScienceJonker, Kohn - 2002

Defining and Managing Special Cows
Cornell UniversityBill Stone, DVM - 1997

Economic and Farm Benefits of Posilac
various

Enviromental Benefits of Rbst Supplements
Errors in Dairy Farm Management Decision Making
University of Pennsylvania
Galligan, Chalupa

Factors Affecting Dairy Manure System
Michigan State University
William G. Bickert

FDA Responds to Citizen Petition on BSTFood and Drug Admin
Apr-00

Fixed Yield Responsed to Increased Milking Frequency
University of Maryland
Erdman, Varner-11995

Focus on the Fundamentals
Monsanto
Armfelt, Caddy, Weisman

Frequently Asked Economic Questions About Posilac
Monsanto Dairy Group

Handling Sand Laden Manure
Kansas State University
Harner, Murphy, Smith

Herd Management Opportunities For Decreasing Nitrogen Load on the Dairy Farm
Monsanto Dairy Group
Schwab,Durham, Cohn

High Production: Boom or Doom?
Monsanto
Mark Amfelt, DVM - Oct-02

Improving Animal Efficiency
University of Maryland
Richard Kohn, PhD

Increasing Milking Frequency
University of Maryland
Varner, Hale, Capucco

Keeping Cows Cool? Where Do I Start?
Kansas State University
Harner, Murphy, Smith - 2001

Managing Through and Economic Storm
Midwest Dairy Business - Nov-02
Milk and Meat from BST Treated Cows Poses No Danger to Humans
Food & Drug Administration - 1998

Milk-Feed Ratio Faces a Squeeze
Midwest Dairy Business
Dave Natzke - 2002

Milking Frequency
University of Arizona
Dennis Armstrong- 1997

On the Introduction of Supplemental BST
US Federal Gov’t
C.Everett Koop - 1994

Paradox of BST: Why Cows Don’t Burn Out
Cornell University
Bauman, McGuire - 1995

Posilac and Genetics
Posilac and Nutrition
Posilac in Other Countries
Principles of Cooling Cows
Kansas State University
Brouck, Smith

Bovine Somatotropin: Review of Emerging Animal Technology
Cornell University
Dale Bauman, DVM

The Impact of Clinical Lameness on the Milk Yield of Dairy Cows
American Dairy Science
Green, Hedges - 2000

The Impact of Dairy Herd Management
University of Maryland
Richard Kohn, PhD

The Impact of Somatotropin
University of Maryland
Dunlap, Kohn -2000

The Use of BST in Milk Production
US Federal Gov’t
Lieberman, Kwon

Tower Tank Valve Flush System
Kansas State University
Harner, Murphy, Smith

Use of BST in the US: Potential Effects
US Federal Gov’t - 1993

Water, moving air are critical components
Midwest Dairy Business
Dave Natzke - Mar-03