Medical And Social Benefits Of Livestock Production

Most of us are not aware that the farmer provides us with more than just a healthy, inexpensive diet. Animals raised for food are also invaluable in human medical treatments and in our every-day lives by providing us with materials which enrich our lives and make them safer. Listed below are just a few medical and social benefits provided to us by livestock production:

Medical Contributions of Cattle

Adrenal Glands
Epinephrine is used to relieve some symptoms of hay fever, asthma and some allergies. It is also used as a heart stimulant in some crisis situations, and by dentists to prolong the effect of local anesthetics.

Blood
Thrombin from cattle blood helps blood clotting, and is valuable in treating wounds to inaccessible parts of the body. It is also used in skin grafting.

Liver
Liver extract is sometimes combined with folic acid and injected to treat various types of anemia.

Pancreas
Perhaps the best known contribution, insulin derived from cattle pancreas is used to treat diabetes. Glucagon helps counteract insulin-shock.

Others medical products include rennet, epinephrine, thrombin, heparin, TSH, ACTH, cholesterol, estrogen, and thyroid extract.

Product Contributions Using Cattle By-Products:

Tires
Buttons
Surgical Sutures
Antifreeze
China
Soaps
Upholstery
Photographic film
Cosmetics
Leather
Brushes
Sports Equipment
Musical Instrument Components, such as strings

See PDF (673 KB)

Medical Contributions of Swine

Heart
Valves from young to full-grown hogs are used in valve replacement surgery in humans, from infancy to old age. They are in some cases superior to mechanical valves because they don't stick and do not need the same level of anti-coagulant infusion. In the last 12 years, more than 250,000 lives have been saved through implantation of swine heart valves.

Skin
Due to its similarity to human skin, pigskin is used to treat massive burns and large accidental skin removal. Gelatin is used for capsules and pills.

Thyroid
Extracts are used to regulate the rate of metabolism in humans. Another extract is used to treat low calcium and phosphate levels and regulate heartbeat.

Pancreas
Extracts are the source of insulin; even with synthetic insulin, there are an estimated 5% of all diabetics allergic to all but insulin from hogs.

Medical products from hog production include cortisone, Norepinephrine, plasmin, blood fibrin, heart valves, estrogen, relaxin, insulin, burn dressings, pepsin and oxytocin.

Product Contributions Using Swine By-products:

Fabric printing/dying
Water Filters
Glue
Floor Wax
Buttons
Rubber
China
Crayon/chalk
Fertilizer
Antifreeze
Glass
Matches

* The above medical/social information was provided by Women Involved in Farm Economics and the California Farm Bureau Federation.

See PDF (673 KB)