Effects of feeding calves genetically modified corn bt11: a clinico-biochemical study

J Vet Med Sci. 2006 Oct;68(10):1113-5. doi: 10.1292/jvms.68.1113.

Abstract

Genetically modified corn Bt11 is insect-resistant and expresses Cry1Ab toxin, an insecticidal protein, in kernels. Although Bt11 corn is considered safe based on animal performance, there are no reports available on the clinico-biochemical effects of feeding it to cattle. In this study, we evaluated the effects of feeding Bt11 to calves, using blood and ruminal clinico-biochemical parameters. Our three-month-long feeding experiment demonstrated that calves (n=6), fed with a ration containing 43.3% of Bt11 corn kernels as dry matter, did not develop any discernible clinical, hematological, biochemical, or ruminal abnormalities as compared with control calves (n=6) fed non-Bt11 corn. The results suggest that the transgenic Bt11 has no negative clinico-biochemical effects on calves.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
  • Body Weight
  • Cattle / blood
  • Cattle / metabolism*
  • Erythrocyte Count / veterinary
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis
  • Food, Genetically Modified*
  • Hematocrit / veterinary
  • Hemoglobins / analysis
  • Leukocyte Count / veterinary
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism*
  • Rumen / metabolism
  • Zea mays / genetics
  • Zea mays / metabolism*
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / blood

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Hemoglobins
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase