Comments on: Monsanto divests of Posilac (rBST)-some science

By: User links about "monsanto" on iLinkShare

User links about "monsanto" on iLinkShare — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:03:03 +0000

[…] a potential poison lurking in the (Monsanto) cabinet>> saved by braesikalla 9 days ago1 votesMonsanto divests of Posilac (rBST)-some science>> saved by kratosgow2 35 days ago2 votesSeed giant flexes its muscles>> saved by michaelallroy 45 […]

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:15:58 +0000

Suzanna–you are begging the topic of my next post, which is waiting some confirmation from people who know more than I do.

rBST is given to cows part way through their natural lactation cycle to delay the tailing off in production typically seen after a few weeks. So, if the cow doesn’t have milk to begin with, it won’t help. It does, however keep the cow milking at her highest level for longer.

Monsanto and many supporters claim that this product is important in keeping the cost of our milk low. I’m all for people being able to make choices (which usually come at a higher price), but I wonder if ethically “we” (the vocal) have the right to demand a product be removed from production if it keeps costs down, with implications for those who can’t afford to choose.

By: suzannabanana23

suzannabanana23 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:18:59 +0000

Sara — I am really confused by all this. Of course, no one wants to feed their kids milk that might have extra unnecessary stuff in it. But I understand rBST is just the same hormone that makes cows lactate naturally. So, for example, if my milk wasn’t coming in for my own baby and there was some shot I could get to make it come in, I might get something similar. Is this in the ballpark of true?

And, in further clueless mom fashion, I just want to say this. I SPEND FIFTEEN DOLLARS A DAY ON MILK!!!!! Serious business, we drink THREE GALLONS A DAY of milk!!! And my boys are not even teenagers yet. Do the math — that’s $450/month ON MILK!!!! (MORE, hello, than I spend on GAS for my car.)

So — if rBST is just a natural hormone, if it increases milk production and supply, doesn’t it stand to reason that it’s a good thing?

And remember — I am foodie, organic gardening mom. But with grocery bills on the upswing, triple the amount of money as usual going into my gas tank, do I really need to spend more that $15/day on milk??