Natural Is Best
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Growth hormones, which are given to animals raised for human consumption, may be beneficial from a cost standpoint, but the side effects are too risky with the alternative options that are available. Growth hormones help cows, produce more milk and yield more meat from cattle, pigs and turkeys, but these hormones can affect the growth of children and can be harm to adults. There can also be terrible side effects to the animals which aren't worth the added profit from sales of meat and dairy products, especially since there are other options.
Growth hormones have been used by farmers to increase milk production since the 1950's. There are a few different hormones used, but all serve, basically, the same purpose. They are designed to either increase milk production in dairy cows, or to make calves grow and fatten quicker for slaughter, so new calves can be raised and readied for slaughter sooner.
Bovine growth hormone, bGH, is one of these hormones. "Bovine growth hormone is a protein occurring naturally in the pituitary gland of dairy cattle. Technically referred to as somatotropic [having a stimulating effect on body growth] hormone, it is produced in small amounts and is one of the factors involved in the regulation of milk production" (Bellows)
Bovine growth hormone can only be administered to a cow by injection. After being injected for a few days the additional bGH starts to take effect...