Controversy

Currently, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the production practices involving cattle, whether they are primarily used for meat or dairy. As consumers, the public is concerned of health issues that may transfer over if consuming these increased amounts of growth hormones. With questions like, "Will my  children reach puberty faster if they drink milk daily", the public is concerned not for the cattle, but for their own well-being. Since these concerns were unearthed, many tests were done and science has proved against these misconceptions. However, there still remains circulating concern that hormones like Bovine somatotropin (BST) or bovine growth hormone (BHG) are harmful to the health of the consumers.

There is still growing concern within the public about the effects of
recombinant bovine growth hormone consumption.

Bovine somatotropin and bovine growth hormone are both naturally-occurring hormones within the cow's normal bodily functions. In fact, it is secreted by the pituitary gland of animals, including humans, and helps in aiding normal growth, development, and even health maintenance. Because production has grown to be a larger feat and demand even greater, once it was discovered that injecting cows with growth hormone would increase milk production, it became acceptable and a normal practice. Initially extracted from cattle pituitary glands, after large amounts of research, the hormone became easier to produce in large quantities as well as cheaper and is to this day, utilized frequently within bovine production practices. In response to this rising concern from the public however, the FDA and NIH review panel released a statement that "milk and meat from cows supplemented with rBST is safe for human consumption" and backed their statement with research. 

Posilac is an rGBH supplement that is injected via the buttocks of the cow.

There is currently no data to suggest that these additional hormones, if ingested, can survive the digestive tract's harsh environment. In fact, oral toxicity studies done with rats demonstrated the inability of rbGH to remain active within their oral environments which consequently means it can not be absorbed into their system. However, there is evidence suggesting that even if BST is absorbed intact into the body, the growth hormone receptors present in the human's immune system would fail to recognize cow BST, and therefore would not produce effects in natural hormone balance.

Although research continues, there are certain challenges that arise in evaluating levels of additional hormone  in meat and milk products. Currently, there are no processes available to properly determine the amount of hormone used for treatment remaining in meat and milk products because it is impossible to differentiate between naturally occurring hormones produced by the animal and those previously used to treat the animal. Nonetheless, concern although slightly alleviated for some, still continues within the general public in accordance with hormone treatment in cows.

"Why you don't want rBGH (rBST) in Milk- No More Hormones!"

Even initial to researching the rBGH, I personally felt that hormones in my milk did not have to be a bad thing. FDA regulation in the United States of America is very strong, and ensures public safety. Also from past biology classes, I was aware when this controversy exhumed that it was a naturally-occurring substance in the body that was critical to normal growth, function, and health of the body. Nonetheless, my concern arose directly from the administration of these drugs to cows to increase milk production. Although the product was better for consumers and sufficing their demand, what affects were there on the cow? Although the hormone itself is naturally produced within the body, will the increased milk production effect their hormonal sequences (negative/positive feedback) and disrupt their normal levels? 

(To Be Continued...)

Sources: 

http://listverse.com/2011/12/13/top-10-controversies-surrounding-cattle/

http://scienceblogs.com/aetiology/2012/06/19/growth-hormones-in-milk-mythfact/

http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/factsheet/diet/fs37.hormones.cfm