You need genetically engineered hormones, in fact you probably use products
which have genetically engineered hormones in them currently. You have the
typical overreacting, uniformed opinion that makes any and all of the
legitimate concerns about rBST sound irrational. Genetically processed rBST is
exactly the same as the BST which is currently present in the make up of a
Dairy cows DNA. I know the dairy industry has spent millions of dollars in
promoting this wholesome pure image of milk to the consumers, and this new
technology is something which some people find will change that image. But the
fact of the matter is that rBST is one of the most rigorously tested and
retested bits of tecnology ever. Another fact is that currently rBST milk is
labled so you do not have to buy it. You can help create a niche market for
organic milk, and make the poor Dairy farmers a little more money.
Your concerns should be on how this new technology will be priced and who will
be able to afford it and use it in their opperations. You will find it is not
all that popular and probably in the single digits % of all producers in the
U.S.. If dairy farmers limit their production as you spoke of they will
increase profits thru lowering their implicite costs, if they let production
increase they will increase profit thru greater market share, short term: long
term drive down the prices so the consumer will benefit. Currently, Monsanto
is the largest producer of rBST maybe you should direct your concerns to them
and the FDA and not to academia, we have heard it all before!
Curtis Miller
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Agricultural Economics
Business and Industry