AIQ-Lancastw Farming, Saturday, May 3, 1997
OPINION
By now, almost everyone has beard about Dolly, a cloned sheep.
Dr. lan Wilmut, a 52-year-old embryologist, is believed to be the
first to create a clone using DNA from an adult animal. Wilmut
fused a cell from the mammary gland of a six-year-old sheep with
another ewe's egg cell. The genetic material from the former
directed the egg frpm the latter to grow and divide. After implant
ing the embryo into a third sheep, the process created an animal
with nuclear genes identical to the original.
Others have divided embryos soon after egg and sperm fusion,
creating identical animals, but no clones had been successful
until Wilmut. He and his colleagues have produced nine sheep
through cloning, and they have cows pregnant with cloned
calves.
While this is the latest and possibly the biggest medical
breakthrough of the century, it is also the hottest ethical debate at
present. Plastic surgery, organ transplants and test tube babies
have prepared us for this development. Gene targeting in lives
tock should now be feasible by nuclear transfer from modified
cell populations and will offer new opportunities in
biotechnology.
In the future, scientists will be able to clone an animal to meet a
certain niche. Maybe they will cross tropical cattle with cattle
suited to colder climates. Using current reproductive practices a
hybrid is created and the end of the line for reproductive possibi
lites. With the new technology of clonging, that hybrid could be
used to create more animals with its unique combination of traits.
But its not that simple. In the transfer of fertilized eggs of cattle
and sheep, researches have discovered prolonged gestation and
abnormally large offspring. This suggests that not all characteris
tics are linked to nuclear DNA. In addition, it is not likely that any
given individual animal will have perfection in all traits of impor
tance and the cloned animal is not guaranteed to produce the same
as the original.
What was the prerogative of nature has now become the prero
gative of the researcher. At many junctures along the path to the
perfect animal the scientist becomes God, deciding what dies and
what is alowed to reproduce. And suppose the genetic material
gets twisted so the lamb becomes a lion.
In a New York Times article, Wilmut is said to want to create
animals that could be used for medical research and he dismissed
the notion of cloning humans. But even in dismissing the notion,
the question has been raised.
On the other hand, when you read the daily news of what hide
ous atrocities people inflict on other people we wonder if some
inhuman researcher has already injected some animal genes into
the human spirit.
val, Charming Forge Farm,
Womclsdorf, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Adams County Apple Blossom
Festival, South Mountain Fair
grounds, Arendtsville, 9 a.m.-S
p.m.
Plant Discovery Day, Secrest
Arboretum, Ohio Agricultural
Research and Development
Center, Wooster.
Delaware County 4-H Spring Fair,
Garrett Williamson Founda
tion, Newtown Square, 10
Mund.n, M l\ > I
thru May 7.
Fulton County Agribusineis
Breakfast, American Legion
Post 361, McConnelUburg, 8
a.m.-9 a.m.
Hello Dolly
Penn State University Ag Area,
State College, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
thru May 11.
Western Pa. Sheep and Lamb Sale.
Mercer 4-H Park.
Capital Area Beekeepers’ Assoc.
Short Course, Dauphin County
Agricultural and Natural
Resources Center, Dauphin, 8
To Change Feed
For Cattle
On Pasture
Glenn Shirk, Lancaster County
extension dairy agent, reminds us
that the rations of dairy cattle can
change drastically as they are
switched from a barn feeding prog
ram to a pasture-supported feeding
program.
This is a change that should be
made gradually as adjustments are
being made to the nonpasture por
tion of the ration.
Initially, limit the amount of
time cows are on pasture. Lush
pastures are higher in soluble pro
tein and total protein and lower in
fiber and dry matter content.
Therefore, it is generally benefi
cial to reduce the protein levels in
the rest of the ration and to feed
mote soluble energy and more
fiber.
Feeding more fiber to pastured
cattle can help slow down the rate
of feed passage, so die rumen has
more time to digest it and make use
of it
To Control
Excess Protein
Excess protein may be toxic and
stressful to cows, according to
I ucml.i\. M,i\ I.<
duction to the Llama, New Bol
ton Center, Kennett Square, 7
p.m.
Pa. Fair at Phila. Park, Bensalem,
Opportt Ity,
and Technology Center, 9
a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Mercer County 4-H Market Lamb
Weigh-In, Mercer 4-H Park.
Idlewild Ruritan Plow and Field
Day, Bridgeville, Del., 9 a.m.-4
p.m.; raindate May 24,
Pa. Emu Farmen Association*
Annual Spring Seminar, Farm
and Home Center, Lancaster, 9
Mond.n, M.i\ l‘>
Sale, Mercer 4-H
tion Si
Butler Fairgrounds, also May
24.
Glenn Shirk, Lancaster County
extension dairy agent
Extra energy is consumed to
metabolize and excrete the excess
protein. This energy is no longer
available support milk production
or keep cows in good flesh.
The lack of flesh and the toxic
affect of excess protein may also
have a negative impact on
reproduction.
Feeding additional soluble ener
gy may help cows utilize mote of
the soluble protein in lush pas
tures. Thus, less of the protein is
wasted and there is less risk of tox
icity problems.
The milk urea nitrogen (MUN)
test, offered by Lancaster or Pen
nsylvania DHIA, is a good tod for
helping to monitor how effectively
the protein in the ration is being
utilized.
To Provide
Water To Horses
According to Chester D, Hugh
es, Lancaster County extension
livestock agent, water is as essen
tial to good nutrition as any solid
HY LAWHI NCI VJ ALIHOUSI
f ISIS2p
OPENING THE SCROLL
May 4, 1997
Background Scripture:
Revelation 4:1-11
Devotional Reading:
Revelation 4 through 5
I am not saying that it does not
exist, but I have viewed a lot of re
ligious art over the year* and nev
er seen a depiction of John’s vi
sion in Revelation 4 and 5. Why?
Because his vision defies visual
ization. It is too grand, too com
plex, too mysterious to be reduced
to an artist’s representation.
And that stands as a warning to
us: don’t get too caught up in the
details of John’s vision. Rather,
concentrate on what that vision
meant to him and can mean to us.
So, looking beyond the heaven
ly throne of God—to the rainbow
round the throne, the seven torch
es of fire, “the sea of glass like
crystal,” the 24 thrones of elders
in white garments and golden
crowns, the flashes of lightning
and peals of thunder, the “four liv
ing creatures.” the scroll with sev
en seals, the seven-eyed and
homed Lamb, the myriads of sing
ing angels, and "every creature in
heaven and on earth” how does
this vision speak to us today?
THE SEALED SCROLL
Obviously, “he who sat there”
on the throne is God. The slain but
victorious Lamb is, of course,
Christ. But what is the meaning of
the “scroll... sealed with seven
seals?"
Biblical scholars point out that
the scroll is a symbol that appears
at various places in the Hebrew
literature. In Ezekiel 2:9,10 the
prophet is handed a scroll of
lamentations by God who sits on
his throne. In Isaiah 29:11 the
prophet writes; “And the vision of
all this has come to you like the
words of a book that is sealed.
When men give it to one who can
read, saying, ‘Read this/ he says,
‘I cannot for it is sealed.*” And in
several books of the Appocrypha
there is mention of a heavenly
scroll that tells of the destiny of
the world before the end of time.
In Revelation the scroll with
seven seals rapresents tha mind of
God in which there lies the know-
feed. It should be fresh, clean, and
available to the hone at all times.
Horses may be watered before,
after, or during feeding. However,
hones should not be given water if
they are overheated.
Normally a mature horse drafts
10 to 12 gallons of water a
When the temperature is higror
during work periods, the amount
consumed is considerably greater.
Some authorities state that a
hone may produce about 10 gal
lons of saliva per day. Saliva starts
the digestive process, so ample
water is necessary for good
digestion.
Water cools the horse by carry
ing off excess body heat. In cold
weather it assists in conserving
heat and helps to maintain body
temperature.
Water is also the compo
nent of blood that carries nutrients
to all parts of the body.
Feather Prof.'s Footnote:
"There are many things in Itfdki .t
will catch your eye, but only
will catch your heart. . . pursue
those."
ledge of things to come, especially
the destiny of the world and hu
mankind. The scroll is sealed and
thus is a mystery. The number
seven was the number of comple
tion and perfection, so the scroll
contains what from the beginning
of time we have sought so desper
ately and variously. Why are we
here? Where is life headed? When
we get where we’re going, where
will we be?
UNIVERSAL QUESTION
You and I may never have a vi
sion like that, but we all want to
know what is inside that scroll. It
contains the key to the meaning of
our existence and the universb into'
which we ate bom, live and die!
v And the question which Mb*
hears raised by a “strong an|Bff
a universal one; “Who is worthy t»
open the scroll and break its
seals?" (Rev. 5:2).
You may never have phrased it
just like that, but l am confident
you have raised the question. Who
can see and explain the mind of
God? Who can tell me what it’s all
i about? Whom can I believe and
follow? And our experience ii
pretty much what John saw; “And
no one in heaven or on earth was
able to open the scroll or to look
into it” (5:3,4). Despite the claims
of some, there has never been any
one able to enter into the mind of
God and know his secrets.
With one exception! The Lamb:
“Worthy ait thou to take the scroll
and to open its seals ...” (5:9).
Only the Christ who offered
self for us is worthy and
break the seals and read to us the
scroll. Only Christ can reveal to us
the mind of God and the destiny of
humankind. Only Christ can give
us “good news” that remains
“good" for the rest of time and
eternity.
(The Althouses will walk in the
footsteps of Paul and John oj
Revelation, leading a tour to Tur
key next Oct. 17-Nov.2,For infor
mation write: 'Turkish Delight,"
4412 Shenandoah Ave., Dallas,
TX 75205 (214) 521-2522.)
Lancaster Farming
Eatabllnhad 1988 a' v.
Publlahad Evary Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
r IV. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17523
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Lanoaater Farming, ine.!
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