BST side-effects denied

G P Talwar: Clears growth horm

Eminent immunologist G p Talwar , firing the latest salvo
in the bovine somatotropin (BST) controversy, asserts
there are no harmful side-effects to the artificial growth
hormone whose use can dramatically increase the milk
yield of the country's bovine population.

Talwar maintains BST can increase milk yield by 20
per cent and refuted BST could be dangerous to human
and animal health, as suggested mainly by scientists at
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The assistant animal husbandry commissioner at ICAR,
Lal Krishna, had said in explanation of the council's
refusal to approve import of BST in commercial quantities, "We cannot allow a new chemical to be imported
and used on a large scale, without first verifying its suitability to India."

R S Ludri, divisional head G p Talwar: Clean
of the National Dairy growth hormone.
Research Institute in Karnal,
Haryana, who agrees with
Talwar, says his studies show
"the product is safe and does
not affect the fat, protein, lactose and mineral composition
of milk. "

Ludri attributes misinformation" about BST to
Western vested interests,
who anticipate stiff competition from India if BST is
applied on a large scale.