Genetic selection of hornless cattle could greatly reduce the need for de-horning. New vaccines protect animals from a wider range of diseases. They can also reduce the risk of contamination by bacteria, like E. coli, that cause illness in humans. Another group of biotech vaccines can alter animals body functions to safely and effectively improve productivity. Of all these biotech developments, new vaccines offer some of the most exciting potential for protecting and improving animal health.
Vaccines stimulate an animal s immune system.
They introduce disease-signaling proteins called antigens into the animal, so that its immune system produces antibodies. The antibodies remain in the animal, protecting it from disease. Traditional vaccines have some drawbacks. They use the entire disease-causing organism, in an altered form that does not transmit the illness. However, these vaccines contain unnecessary proteins which can cause bad reactions or side effects, and which may interfere with the animal s ability to generate antibodies.