Biotech crops for the dairy and livestock industries

摘要

Crops produced using techniques of modern biotechnology have been available to the dairy and livestock industries since their commercial release in 1995. Initially, biotech crops constituted only a small fraction of feedstuffs for the livestock industry, however today biotech soybeans, corn, cottonseed, and other commodities represent significant portions of livestock rations. During 1996, transgenic Bt corn accounted for approximately 1 percent of commercial corn acreage in the US, and by the 1998growing season, Bt corn represented 22 percent of US corn acreage (James, 1998). To date, more than 45 biotech plant products have successfully completed the regulatory review process in the US (CAST, 2001). Herbicide tolerant and insect and disease protected products have prevailed to date, and future products are expected to include crops that confer more direct benefits to livestock. Currently available biotech crops have been studied quite extensively as part of the regulatory process and by independent researchers in the US and globally. Findings from these studies have indicated no differences for nutrient composition, digestibilities, and animal performance when livestock were fed diets containing conventional and biotech crops. In addition, independent researchers have reported that milk, meat, and eggs from livestock fed conventional and currently available biotech crops cannot be differentiated scientifically. Future biotech crops are expected to improve health and nutrition for livestock and humans, further environmental stewardship, and provide renewable sources for basic resources. Moreover, capturing greatest potential value from current and future markets requires agriculture (crop and livestock industries) to move beyond commodity markets and focus on producing identity preserved products with unique characteristics for specialized markets, Biotech crops can be an integral part of value-added agriculture for producing improved and enhanced animal products.