Elanco, a branch of Eli Lilly and Company, has acquired from Monsanto the rights to sell Posilac, a product containing recombinant bovine somatotropin.  Among other uses, somatotropin is useful for promoting growth in cattle.   The recombinant DNA technology involved in the production of this form of bovine somatotropin makes Posilac an artificial hormone.   With the production of this growth hormone in an artificial manner, cattle growth can be artificially accelerated.

One of the main benefits accorded to Posilac is in the quantity of milk produced by cattle.  Researchers have shown that when Posilac is administered to cattle, the cows are able to produce milk up to a more advanced age.   Posilac manages this by increasing the life of the cells present in the mammary glands of the cow.  Thus, the cow is able to keep producing milk to a longer age. (more…)