5 ms·

Definitely the raw ingredients are different. For example when I buy milk, I can find versions that are from cows not treated with rBST, and those that are. Is

by kccqzy 5y ago

Definitely the raw ingredients are different. For example when I buy milk, I can find versions that are from cows not treated with rBST, and those that are. Is there much of a difference for consumers? The government doesn't think so, but certainly some producers do. Same thing with meat. You can buy meat from animals fed with ractopamine, and those that aren't. Some governments (such as the European Union) believe it's harmful and they ban it; others (U.S. in particular) don't. What do you choose? And there are many, many more similar choices.

zdragnar 5y ago
Ractiopamine was new to me recently, but my dad grew up on a farm and always refused to buy milk from cows treated with rBST- the effects on the animals was cruel. rBST free milk around this part of the country seems to be the standard; the only place I remember even seeing milk thatb didn't advertise it was Walmart. My dad's family didn't raise cows for meat, which might explain the (in)difference to ractiopamine, but fortunately it seems like major producers in the US are trying to get away from it so they can continue to access foreign markets (Tyson pork at least). I imagine it'll take time, but fingers crossed it'll get phased out entirely.
projektfu 5y ago
Cows treated with rBST are probably not producing milk that is distinguishable from untreated milk but I oppose it for two reasons. 1. The cattle have visibly lower welfare. They carry heavier bags, they have more frequent infections. 2. The farmers are already in a situation of low bulk milk price and high cost. Margins in dairy farming are frequently negative. This increases cost to try to produce more output per cow, which is a beggar-thy-neighbor approach. If everyone does it, milk prices go down even further. I don't know enough about ractopamine to have an opinion.
actionfromafar 5y ago
Banned in the EU since 1999.

by kccqzy 5y ago

zdragnar 5y ago

Ractiopamine was new to me recently, but my dad grew up on a farm and always refused to buy milk from cows treated with rBST- the effects on the animals was cruel. rBST free milk around this part of the country seems to be the standard; the only place I remember even seeing milk thatb didn't advertise it was Walmart. My dad's family didn't raise cows for meat, which might explain the (in)difference to ractiopamine, but fortunately it seems like major producers in the US are trying to get away from it so they can continue to access foreign markets (Tyson pork at least). I imagine it'll take time, but fingers crossed it'll get phased out entirely.

projektfu 5y ago

Cows treated with rBST are probably not producing milk that is distinguishable from untreated milk but I oppose it for two reasons. 1. The cattle have visibly lower welfare. They carry heavier bags, they have more frequent infections. 2. The farmers are already in a situation of low bulk milk price and high cost. Margins in dairy farming are frequently negative. This increases cost to try to produce more output per cow, which is a beggar-thy-neighbor approach. If everyone does it, milk prices go down even further. I don't know enough about ractopamine to have an opinion.

actionfromafar 5y ago

Banned in the EU since 1999.