Bovine somatotropin and lactation: from basic science to commercial application

¹Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4801, USA. deb6@cornell.edu

|October 20, 1999

Summary

Bovine somatotropin (bST) significantly boosts milk production and farm efficiency by regulating nutrient metabolism. Despite consumer concerns, bST use has not impacted milk consumption, benefiting producers economically.

Area of Science:

Animal Science
Endocrinology
Dairy Science

Background:

Bovine somatotropin (bST) has been investigated since the 1930s for its effects on milk yield and efficiency.
Research has explored animal and consumer factors, including nutrition, metabolism, milk quality, and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the physiological effects of bST on nutrient metabolism and milk production.
To assess the impact of bST on animal well-being and consumer perspectives.

Main Methods:

Review of scientific literature on bST's direct and indirect physiological effects.
Analysis of data on commercial bST adoption and market impact.

Main Results:

bST enhances milk yield and efficiency through metabolic adaptations and hormonal regulation (IGF system).
It optimizes nutrient utilization and supports secretory cell function in the mammary gland.
Commercial bST use since 1994 has improved farm income without affecting overall milk consumption.

Conclusions:

bST acts as a key homeorhetic regulator of nutrient partitioning and animal performance.
The bST/IGF system is crucial for animal productivity and welfare.
Consumer concerns about bST have not materialized, with a niche market for bST-free products.

Related Experiment Videos

Bovine somatotropin and lactation: from basic science to commercial application

Related Concept Videos

Potential involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in the inhibition of mammary lipid synthesis during diet-induced milk fat depression.

Short communication: Field study to investigate the associations between herd-level risk factors for milk fat depression and bulk tank milk fat percent in dairy herds feeding monensin.

TRIENNIAL LACTATION SYMPOSIUM/BOLFA:Historical perspectives of lactation biology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

A 100-Year Review: Regulation of nutrient partitioning to support lactation.

Short communication: Milk fat depression induced by conjugated linoleic acid and a high-oil and low-fiber diet occurs equally across the day in Holstein cows.

Short communication: effect of trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid on activation of lipogenic transcription factors in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Association of intra-follicular melatonin with reduced oxidative DNA damage and improved oocyte quality in water buffalo: Effect of season and follicular size.

Light wavelength and duration modulate visfatin, chemerin and oxidative status in broilers.

Post-collection environmental conditions of blood samples affect concentrations of progesterone but not pregnancy-associated glycoproteins or prostaglandin F2α metabolite.

Effects of quercetin supplementation on antioxidant capacity, inflammatory status, ovarian reserve and steroidogenesis in juvenile and reproductively aged rabbit does.

Periparturient metabolic disease in small ruminants: interactions among maternal adaptation, nutrient partitioning, and placental-mammary function.

Nicotinamide enhances lipid deposition and thermogenesis in goat brown adipocytes.

Related Experiment Videos

Bovine somatotropin and lactation: from basic science to commercial application

Area of Science:

Background:

Purpose of the Study:

Main Methods:

Main Results:

Conclusions:

Related Concept Videos

Related Articles