June 20, 2007

Taiwanese scientists developing replacement for feed antibiotics
 

Taiwanese scientists are developing milk enriched with lactoferrin (LF) as a replacement for antibiotic growth promoters, due to LF's anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Winston Cheng of National Taiwan University and other scientists at National Chung Hsing University genetically engineered laboratory mice to produce milk enriched in pig LF.

After observing the growth of 10 generations of young mice fed on the milk, the study revealed that mice fed LF-enriched milk grew 10 to 15 percent faster than those fed ordinary milk.

The scientists said sows might be genetically engineered to produce the LF protein in their mammary glands, leading to diarrhoea- and anaemia-resistant piglets with improved growth performance and commercial value.