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Effect of Corn Silage from an Herbicide-Tolerant Genetically Modified Variety on Milk Production and Absence of Transgenic DNA in Milk

¹ Centre for Dairy Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, The University of Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
² Reading Scientific Services Ltd, Lord Zuckerman Research Centre, Whiteknights Campus, Pepper Lane, Reading RG6 6LA, UK
³ Statistical Services Centre, School of Applied Statistics, The University of Reading, Reading RG6 6FN

Corresponding author: R. H. Phipps; e-mail: r.h.Phipps{at}reading.ac.uk.

Data from 60 multiparous Holstein cows were used in a 12-wk continuous design feeding trial. Cows were allocated to 1 of 4 experimental treatments (T1 to T4). In T1 and T2, the total mixed ration (TMR) contained either corn silage from the genetically modified (GM) variety Chardon Liberty Link, which is tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium, or its near isogenic nonGM counterpart, whereas the TMR used in T3 and T4 contained corn silage from the commercially available nonGM varieties Fabius and Antares, respectively. The objectives of the study were to determine if the inserted gene produced a marked effect on chemical composition, nutritive value, feed intake, and milk production, and to determine if transgenic DNA and the protein expressed by the inserted gene could be detected in bovine milk. The nutritive value, fermentation characteristics, mineral content, and amino acid composition of all 4 silages were similar. There were no significant treatment effects on milk yield, milk composition, and yield of milk constituents, and the dry matter (DM) intake of the GM variety was not significantly different from the 2 commercial varieties. However, although the DM intake noted for the nonGM near-isogenic variety was similar to the commercial varieties, it was significantly lower when compared with the GM variety. Polymerase chain reaction analyses of milk samples collected at wk 1, 6, and 12 of the study showed that none of the 90 milk samples tested positive, above a detection limit of 2.5 ng of total genomic DNA/mL of milk, for either tDNA (event T25) or the single-copy endogenous Zea mays gene, alcohol dehydrogenase. Using ELISA assays, the protein expressed by the T25 gene was not detected in milk.

Key Words: genetically modified corn silage • nutritive value • milk production • DNA detection

Abbreviation key: GM = genetically modified, LL = Liberty Link, LOD = limit of detection, ME = metabolizable energy, PAT = phosphinothricin acetyltransferase, protein encoded by pat gene, tDNA = transgenic DNA.

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