Do Growth Hormones Affect Cows?

The answer to the question of whether or not bovine growth hormone therapy affects cows really depends on what information you are reading and whose opinion you want to believe.  Websites such as Beefmyths.org purport to debunk the myth that bovine growth hormones affect cows, while other websites like Shirley's Wellness Cafe claim that the hormones can and do impact cattle.

Like many things when it comes to your health, the amount of information available on what growth hormones does to cows is staggering. Looking at the issue really involves learning as much as you possibly can about both sides and then making a decision on your own based on what you have read or researched.

"No Impact" Argument

According to Beefmyths.org, bovine growth hormones have been used in cows for as long as the past fifty years with no ill effects. The basis for the argument that growth hormones do not effect cows is that the hormones have this long history of use, they have been studied, and they have been found safe.

• The growth hormones used today come in the form of a small pill that is implanted behind the cow’s ear. 
• This pill slowly releases synthetic versions of the same hormones that a cow naturally produces to stimulate growth and increase muscle mass. 
• This hormone is similar to a steroid, bulking the cow up biologically with the same diet that a normal cow would eat, or with corn and high carbohydrate foods that will make the cow gain weight.
• These hormones are registered with the Food and Drug Administration, and have been carefully studied and tested in order to ensure their safety. 
• In addition, the World Organization for Animal Health and other food production governing bodies have come out on record as declaring that the levels of hormones that remain in a cow’s body after the hormones have been used to facilitate growth are far lower than any level that could possibly affect humans. 

This information is generally considered to have been proven and has been tested. Details about the work done to ensure that growth hormones are safe can be found in any number of different publications regarding the beef industry or the food safety industry.  Many of these are respected government publications with a long history of health and safety reporting.

"Unsafe" Argument

Some people, however, believe that bovine growth hormone, or rBGH,  is dangerous and unsafe.  Shirley's Wellness Care, for example, suggests some facts supporting the argument that growth hormones are a problem. According to this website, for example:

• Bovine growth hormones are banned in Europe and Canada
• Over 95% of US dairy farmers refuse to use them, despite reassurances from the FDA that they are completely safe and legitimate. 

Activists also argue that these hormones force production of milk and muscle at levels that damage the cow’s health and reproductive abilities, which is irresponsible and potentially dangerous. 

Two Sides About Bovine Growth Hormones

On one side, you have arguments that bovine growth hormones are cruel or that they can taint the meat produced when the cow is butchered and that this tainted meat can affect humans who ingest the meat. On the other side, there is government-supported research suggesting that growth hormones have risks. The decision about who to believe is up to you.