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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120492

Title: IMPROVING THE FEED VALUE OF CORN BY PRODUCING SWINE PROTEINS IN THE GRAIN

Author
item Scott, Marvin

Submitted to: Illinois Corn Breeders School Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2001
Publication Date: 3/6/2001
Citation: SCOTT, M.P. IMPROVING THE FEED VALUE OF CORN BY PRODUCING SWINE PROTEINS IN THE GRAIN. ILLINOIS CORN BREEDERS SCHOOL PROCEEDINGS. 2001.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Animal feed is often based on corn with additives to enhance the nutrition and health benefits of the feed. Many potentially beneficial additives are not used because of their high cost or health risks. It is possible to produce these compounds directly in the grain of transgenic corn. In order to determine if the benefits of producing these compounds in grain justify a transgenic approach, we have produced experimental transgenic corn plant containing two types of high-value feed ingredients: alpha-lactalbumin, a protein normally found in sow's milk, and antimicrobial peptides, normally produced by the gut and immune system of swine. These plants will be valuable tools for determining if this is a viable approach to improving the nutritional value of grain.