Does (Contlnuad from Rags A 32) contribution from pork to total calories consumed per serving, calories consumed from fat and calories consumed from saturated fat The ratio of saturated to unsa turated fatty acids is not changed in response to somatotropin admi nistration (Prusa, 1989). Choles terol concentration in fresh pork (muscle) is not changed when somatotropin is given even though fat content is markedly reduced. This is explained by the fact that the bulk of the cholesterol in meat is associated with muscle cells (fibers) as a vital, functional com ponent of the cell membrane. Results from the five studies in which porcine somatotropin has been administered to growing pigs here at Cornell have been con firmed at at least twenty other uni versities or research institutes and in many industry efficacy trials conducted here in the United States, in Australia, in several European countries and even in China. Porcine somatotropin repre sents one example of biotechnolo gy application in animal agricul ture which markedly improves efficiency of food production and markedly reduces fat content of a food stuff. It improves the eco nomic competitiveness of an ani mal product (pork) in the market place and maintains the quality of characteristics of a food which we in the U.S. and millions of people around the world have come to enjoy. This is accomplished with out any increased risk to the con sumer, without any increased risk to the producer and without any increased risk to the animal. Run with it BEFORE YOU BUY - COMPARE THE IMPORTANT FACTS. NOT HORSEPOWER! MUSTANG - 9 GENERATIONS OF SKID LOADERS MADE IN THE U.S.A. 4 WAYS TO COMPARATIVELY BUY A SKID LOADER: OPERATING WEIGHT, AXEL TORQUE, TIPPING LOAD, BREAKOUT FORCE. OPERATING WEIGHT ! AXEL TOR* * TIPPING LOAD BREAKOUT FORCE FlvC/IV VwlJtr WJII, Jut I. MXMPt Qml power pio equipment new Holland, pa 17557-780 east main street (717) 354-4241 Fax # (717) 355-2466 milroy, pa 17063 • p.o. box 567 • route 322 (717) 667-6504 Fax * (717) 667-3840 paoli, pa 19301 -37 industrial blvd (215) 640-9222 Fax « (215) 993-9115 Biotechnology Put The Food Supply At Other biotechnology approach es for improving production effi ciency and nutrient composition of foods are being investigated. These include the following: 1. Administration of growth hormone releasing factor, the naturally occurring hormone which stimulates secretion of growth hormone (somatotropin) from the pituitary gland, to increase levels of growth hormone in the blood. 2. Immuno-nentralization of animals against the hormones or receptors of hormones which decrease the secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary. 3. To utilize the animal’s own immune system to produce pro teins which will influence muscle growth and fat deposition in a manner similar to what is seen with somatotropin administration. 4. Gene transfer or gene inser tion techniques may be used to allow the bacteria in the rumen (stomach) of cattle and sheep to more completely digest cellulose, the form of most fiber in most plant food stuffs. Humans cannot digest cellulose, only ruminant animals can. 5. Gene transfer or gene inser tion may someday be used to improve disease resistance of farm animal species. Although efficacy and safety of these potential applications of biotechnology have not been reviewed by the FDA, it is antici pated that FDA will approve use of bovine somatotropin in lactat ing dairy cows and will probably approve use of porcine somatotro pin in pigs. These forms of biotechnology present no risk to •UE *MUSTANG Doesn’t Use Counterweights GUESS WHO CAN’T MEASURE UP 940 MUSTANG *5289 4720 3400 4300 2600 2700 2400 3850 the consumer, producer or animal. This latter statement is well sup ported and documented in the sci entific literature (peer-reviewed published results of independent studies conducted at major univer sities in the U.S. and around the world), in extensive documents, some in excess of 30,000 pages, submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval for commercial use as an animal drug and in proceedings of International Symposia organized to assess the impact of adoption of porcine somatotropin on die pork industry, on the environment and on the consumer. Many aspects of potential risk associated with the use of porcine somatotropin have already been thoroughly tested in the case of requests for approval of bovine somatotropin (bST) in lactating dairy cows. Before approval of a new ani mal drug is granted the FDA must evaluate and verify claims of effi cacy of the drug, safety of the drug to die animal, safety of the drug regarding human consumption of food or food products derived from the treated animal and safety to the environment All negative claims made by consumer and environmental activists Samuel Epstein (1989) and Jeremy Rifkin (1989) have been resoundingly refuted by the FDA (Chesemore, 1990). Careful review of these negative claims, which have been published in several editorial col umns clearly reveals that these claims are not supported by good scientific evidence. Although they are unfounded, often gross distor tions of public information, their seriousness cannot be taken light- 3340 5877 4950 NA 1840 NA 2640 2400 2485 3500 NA 1800 Lancaatr Fanning Saturday, April 21,1990-A33 ly. Consumers are interested in and concerned about food safety. Public perception is of critical importance if somatotropin or any new technology is to be effective ly implemented. This biotechnolo gy and any other must be under stood and perceived as safe and beneficial by the consumer and the farmer before adoption will take place. The media can play a pivotal role in public response to this new technology. It is appro priate that they do so because until a product is approved by the FDA our agricultural extension prog rams cannot and do not take a proactive stance in promoting use of a beneficial management strategy involving an animal drug. Public discussion is warranted, but this discussion must not fall prey to those who promote their own hidden agendas or self serving ideas. The role of the media to fill a need for education, with a concern for public percep tion, must be exercised with care and rigorous investigation so that our biotechnology efforts are not snuffed out for unwarranted politi cal, social or economic reasons. It is better to print no story at all than to unwittingly promote “scare tactics,” half-truths or exaggera tions. No successful research sci entist depends on unrepeatable, Bus Tour Holstein STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) — The Pennsylvania Junior Holstein Association is sponsor ing a bus to the 1990 National Holstein Convention in Charles ton, SC. The bus will leave Pennsylvani a on Saturday, June 23, and return on Thursday, June 28. Plan to visit King’s Dominion Park on the way down. Arrival in South Carolina will be Sunday afternoon. A wide variety of activities have been planned by the South Carolina Junior Holstein Associa- Risk? biased or tainted results from ill conceived or poorly designed experiments for personal gratifi cation. This would undoubtedly equate to professional suicide. If the meaning of new information is not clear, explanations must be sought from more than one source. If the claims are extraordinary, be skeptical. If they are extraordinar ily negative or\ damaging, then investigate credibility. If credibili ty is suspect, look to recognized experts for a second or third opin ion. A wealth of exciting new knowledge is provided by the dai ly activities of thousands of quali fied scientists, however, it can quickly and easily be hidden in the cloud of misinformation perpe tuated by one unqualified indivi dual. I believe that the biotechnology we are attempting to apply to food producing systems does not put our food supply at risk. The pre sence of conservative, govern ment regulatory agencies provides us assurance that this is so here in the U.S. I can think of no better system anywhere else in the world that is better equipped to evaluate food safety than the agency net work we have here in the U.S. Let’s not destroy what took decades to develop. Planned To Convention don. These include a tour of the Boone Hall Plantation, a shelling and crabbing exhibition, Dairy Skillathon, Beach Party, Dances, Junior Awards Program, and a number of other activities. Return is set for Thursday, June 28. Any Junior Holstein member interested in going on the bus trip should call the Pennsylvania Hols tein office for more information and a detailed itinerary of the bus trip at (814) 234-0364 or write: PA Holstein, 839 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers