Kistler 1

Paisley Kistler

Watkins

MWF 11:30

28 Feb 2017

Beef Vaccination Essay

Athletes are continuously ridiculed and publicly criticized if they are caught using

steroids. Multiple Olympic athletes have been stripped of their medals after testing positive for

steroid use, so why does the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allow growth hormones to be

injected into beef cattle? Consumers are led to believe all vaccinations in beef cattle is unhealthy

and can pose a risk; however, the health concern should be less on vaccinations and more on

hormones. Livestock vaccination is necessary for biosecurity within a herd, while growth

hormones are used to increase the size and growth rate of the beef animal for the producers

benefit.

Large corporations and some ranchers inject the growth hormones into the bovine to

create more revenue when they sell the herd. Machlin interprets the use of growth hormones as

[affecting] almost all aspects of metabolism (line 7). This hormone increases the animals

ability to produce weight and milk as well as multiply and grow cells. In simple terms, the cattle

are almost doubling their production rate. Many consumers do not understand why producers

feel the need to give beef animals this additive. Machlin also notes that these animals require

less feed per unit of body weight gain, and will have less carcass fat than untreated animals (line

2). Producers work hard to produce high quality and high protein-containing cattle for

consumers. The hormone allows the producer to see a better end-result in their livestock and put
 Kistler 2

less money into the production and growth of each individual calf. The FDA is strict in the

location of the implant so the consumer will not directly ingest the hormone. The FDA directly

adds that the drugs are formulated as pellets or implants that are placed under the skin on the

back of the animals ear (para 3). This implantation site ensures a long-term dispense that

evenly distributes the drug throughout the body rather than an injection site directly into the

muscle (para 3). If the medication was injected directly into the muscle, it would inevitably be

consumed after being butchered and processed.

Some studies have shown that this growth hormone can cause health issues. A specific

study in particular, presented in the New York Times, conducted by A European scientific

committee had evidence to show that a growth hormone used in U.S. Cattle production is a

complete carcinogen (para 1). While I believe that a growth hormone is dangerous, this article

was reporting what happens when residue from the implant is ingested (NY Times, para 11). A

specific health risk that is gathering attention is the possibility of cancer. The NY Times reported

It exerts both tumor initiating and tumor promoting effects (para 9). This should worry

consumers because we have yet to find a cure for cancer, and it can be very deadly. Although the

NY Times claimed a deadly aspect of the hormone, Cattle Network argues the safety of the drug

used. The article, written at Oklahoma State University asserts Hormones are products of living

cells naturally found in both plants and animals that often stimulate cellular activity (Cattle

Network, para 2). This statement claims that the hormones used cannot cause harm because it is

natural to the bodys system. With the location of the hormone being on the back side of the ear,

the implant is discarded with the ear during the butchering process, ensuring that no consumer

will ingest the hormone.

 Kistler 3

With the never-ending hysteria in todays society, the entire vaccination process gets

deemed as unhealthy by consumers. This stigma could not be farther from the truth. The process

of limited vaccination is necessary for biosecurity within the ranches across the United States. In

a world full of illnesses and diseases, biosecurity manages to prevent entry of new disease

agents into a herd (Nold, para 1). Diseases and illnesses are always evolving and becoming

resistant to vaccines which can make it difficult for cattles immune systems to stay strong. This

issue calls for the use of vaccines. The health of the herd is important for not only the cattle, but

also the rancher. The use of vaccines is set to achieve three main goals; these goals are:

[reducing] the probability of devastating disease outbreaks, [reducing] the severity of disease

agents present in a herd, and [improving] the value of products sold (Jordan, para 2 list). When

a rancher buys cattle, the end goal is to produce income, but without the use of vaccines, the

chance of an epidemic among his herd greatly increases. In a herd, if one calf is sick, nearly all

of them will get sick. They drink and eat from the same area, and they are shipped in close

quarters. Consumers should appreciate the efforts ranchers take to keep the cattle healthy and

happy. Instead, consumers should focus on the possible negative effect growth hormones offer.

Dr. Larson from DocTalk clarified that vaccinations play a key roll in biosecurity (DocTalk,

2:05). This vital part of the cattle production process keeps the cattle the consumers eat, healthy

and hearty.

Growth hormones are unnecessary, but they are very popular among producers because

they increase cattle size for more income, while vaccinations are necessary for happy, healthy

herds. Growth hormones can be a dangerous product injected into cattle to increase their size.

Vaccinations are assumed to be just as unhealthy, but this could not be farther from the truth. The

FDA has legalized and allowed these chemicals to be injected into the meat we ingest on a daily
 Kistler 4

basis. The health problems accompanying these meat products are becoming a large issue to our

societys health. It is time we crack down on the use of growth hormones while supporting

vaccination for biosecurity, which keeps our nations cattle supply healthy.
 Kistler 5

Works Cited

Barry James and International Herald Tribune. "Hormone in U.S. Beef Causes Cancer, EU

Scientists Conclude." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 May 1999. Web. 20

Feb. 2017.

DocTalk - Proper Use of Vaccines in a Beef Cattle Herd Health Program. Perf. Dr. Dan

Thomson and Bob Larson. YouTube. MultiMin, 8 Nov. 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Jordan, Timothy. "Vaccination Programs: Beef Cow Calf Operations." Beef Production

Medicine Program (n.d.): n. pag. Rockingham.ces.ncsu.edu. North Carolina State

University College of Veterinary Medicine. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.

Machlin, LJ. "Role of Growth Hormone in Improving Animal Production." Environmental

Quality and Safety. Supplement. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 23 Feb.

2017.

Nold, Rosy. "Preventing the Spread of Animal Diseases." NebGuide (2004): n. pag. The Judging

Connection. University of Nebraska, 2004. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

"Product Safety Information - Steroid Hormone Implants Used for Growth in Food-Producing

Animals." Center for Veterinary Medicine. Center for Veterinary Medicine, 20 Oct.

2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

"The Facts about Hormones and Beef." The Facts about Hormones and Beef | Cattle Network.

Oklahoma State University, 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.