A MAJOR milestone was reached in May of 2005 when the billionth acre

of biotech crops was sown, capping a decade of plantings in 18 countries and capturing headlines around the globe.

“While the fi rst generation of plant biotech products directly benefi ted farmers and the en-vironment, the next genera-tion of plant biotech research is focused on providing con-sumer benefi ts, including the development of biotech plants that offer increased nutrition and health benefi ts,” says Sean Darragh, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

Generally overlooked in the biotech/genetic engineering debate is animal agriculture. Again, knowledge gains have been made in both plants and animals through genome se-quencing projects, though at-tention has been on crops.

For example, in 2005, the rice and dog genomes were mapped, and projects to sequence soy-beans, corn and sheep genomes were announced.

The spotlight is on re-searchers to use these genetic

Animal biotechnology hits milestones

maps to improve the nutrient quality of food crops and strengthen plants’ abilities to resist drought conditions, insect infestation and plant disease. That the focus has been on plants is highlighted by the $36.8 million in grants to research projects focused on improving nutrition and health through biotech by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Even so, by understanding the makeup of animals at a cellular level, scientists can develop leaner and more nutri-tious dairy and meat products, as well as help animals to live healthier lives.

Biotech successesHere is a look at animal-ag and endangered-animal biotech ad-vancements:

■ USDA biotech researchers announced a breakthrough

that will help cows be naturally resistant to mastitis, a bacterial infection of cows’ milk glands that causes infl ammation, swelling and a loss in produc-tion. The biotech cows pro-duce the protein lysostaphin, which decreases the likelihood of developing mastitis.

■ Chickens, cows and pigs were improved through bio-technology as part of research to better human health. In June 2005, Scottish scientists devel-oped a method of producing antibodies that treat malignant skin cancer in chicken egg whites. The new production technique could allow for the development of a wide range of cancer treatments in greater volume than conventional man-ufacturing techniques.

■ In Argentina, cows were improved with biotechnology to produce human growth hor-mones in their milk. Scientists estimate that just 15 of these Jersey cows could produce enough human growth hor-mones to meet the world demand for the hormone.

■ Work continued in South Korea on xenotransplantation with swine that contain an

“HLA-G” gene. The gene gives an increased chance of accep-tance of transplanted organs into humans.

■ An endangered species of Mongolian gazelle was cloned for the fi rst time. Other 2005 cloning fi rsts include water buffalo and an Arab endurance champion horse. In addition, the United Kingdom announced approval to clone horses for research using somatic nuclear transfer techniques.

■ A study by the University of Connecticut and Japan’s

Key Points■ Animal agriculture is often

overlooked in the biotech debate.■ Scottish scientists are using egg

whites to treat skin cancer.■ Argentine cows can produce

human growth hormones in milk.

Kagoshima Prefectural Cattle Breeding Development Institute found that meat and milk prod-ucts from cloned cattle are safe for consumption.

■ In April, Science maga-zine published a study by re-searchers at Rutgers University and the University of California-Davis who found that biotech rice in China could decrease farmers’ production costs, in-crease harvest yields, reduce the use of pesticides by as much as 80% and improve farmer health.

THE FUTURE: Plant biotechnology garners headlines, butanimal-ag biotechnology will play a key role in the future, too. Consider Gem, the transgenic cow that resists mastitis.

44th Annual SHOW ANDSALE

SALE HEADQUARTERSHoward Johnson’s

Just off I-24 at exit 81B at Murfreesboro

For sale books or information contact:SALE MANAGER

Jim Hinton • TFL-3906PO Box 246, Trezevant, TN 38258

(731) 669-5277

SALE SPONSORTennessee Angus AssociationPO Box 218, Trezevant, TN 38258

AUCTIONEERCol. Tommy Barnes - TAL No. 5125

Saturday, March 11, 2006at the Tennessee Livestock Center on the MTSU Campus, Murfreesboro, TN

Schedule of Events:

March 11, 2006Show 12:30 p.m. Sale 3:30 p.m.

Please make plans to attend.

The state show and sale has long been known as an excellent place to buy quality angus from leading breeders.The sale this year will present a golden opportunity to purchase a herd bull or replacement females of the highest caliber.

Selling 10 Bulls · 40 Females

31Livestock

Mid-South Farmer ◆ March 2006