This technology has already allowed a cardiac treatment called Protein C, to be produced in pigs milk. Sheep milk containing AAT, a protein used to treat emphysema, is currently being researched. Another application of this technology is to produce animals which have organs containing human genes to prevent organ rejection in animal to human transplants. Pigs have been an important source of heart valve transplants for a number of years. New research may lead to the use of pigs for heart, liver and kidney transplants, helping save the many lives currently lost due to a lack of human organ donors.
Animals are a part of every day life.
They have provided for the needs of people and animals in the past and continue to improve our quality of life today. Animal agriculture provides much more than nourishment. It provides a higher standard of living for us all. Virtually nothing is wasted. Over 12 billion pounds of animal by-products are created in North America each year.