GMO and their effects in animals

2. Conclusion

3. The first genetically engineered plant was
produced in 1982, using an antibiotic resistant
tobacco plant. The first field trials of genetically
engineered plants occurred in
France and the USA in 1986, when tobacco
plants were engineered to be resistant to
herbicides.

4. The area of agricultural land cultivated with
genetically modified (GM) crops has expanded
exponentially since their introduction in 1996.
Only 20 years later, in 2016, a total area of
185.1 million hectares worldwide was cultivated
with GM crops ((ISAAA, 2017).

5. Genetically modified crops are plants, the DNA of
which has been modified using genetic engineering
techniques to increase the production.
GM crops have resistance against pests, herbicides
and agents causing harm to plants.
Most genetically modified plants are generated by the
biolistic method (particle gun) or by Agro bacterium
tumefaciens mediated transformation.

6. Insect resistance genes
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)
maize
Herbicide tolerance genes
Roundup Ready (RR)
soybean
Bt crops have been genetically
modified to express one or more
Cry proteins from the bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis to protect
the plant against insects of the
order Lepidoptera. Roundup Ready
(RR) crops contain a gene that
confers tolerance to Roundup and
other formulations based on
glyphosate as active herbicidal
ingredient.

7. Bt Maize
Bt Cotton
Bt Sugarcane
Canola
RR Soybean
Bt Rice

8. We performed a structured literature search using
different search engines. For the evaluation of the
effects of GM crops fed to livestock on health
parameters we only selected experimental studies
in which a control group was included. Many of
the published experimental studies evaluated
performance parameters (e.g. average daily
weight gain, body weight, feed conversion), or
reproductive traits.

9. We reviewed 27 scientific publications from the
period 2014-2019 that reported on experiments in
which health effects of feeding GM crops to
livestock were evaluated. We discussed the effects
on health parameters when measured values were
significantly different (P < 0.05) between GM-fed
animals and control animals.

10. Countries
Poland Italy
USA South Korea
China Germany
Turkey Pakistan

11. GM Crop Animal Duration of
Exp
Observations References
Bt Maize Pigs 196 day
feeding trial
No adverse effects on
growth, performance and
hematology
Chen et al.,
2016
Bt Maize Pigs Three
generations
Increase in liver weight
and decrease in kidney
weight. Increase liver
enzymes
Yalçin et
al., 2018
Bt Rice Pigs 360 and 420
days
No adverse effects on gut
microbiota and organ
function
Liu et al.,
2018

12. GM Crop Animal Duration of
Exp
Observations References
Maize (MON 810)
and RR soybean
meal (MON 40-3-
2)
Cattle bull 90 days No effects on weight gain
and fatty-acid profile of
intramuscular fat.
Dierżuk et al.,
2014
Maize (MON 810)
and RR soybean
meal (MON 40-3-
2)
Cattle 305th days of
lactation
No significant effects on
productivity, milk
composition, blood
metabolites profiles
(Hormones)
Dierżuk et al.,
2015
GM soybean
(MON40-3-2)
Kids 90 days (60
days before
kidding and
30 days
after birth)
Colostrum from GM fed
groups showed significantly
lower percentage of protein
and fat, either serum or
colostrum IgG. Birth weight
significantly higher in non-
GM fed group.
Tudisco et al.,
2015

13. GM Crop Animal Duration of
Exp
Observations Referenc
es
GM Maize
& Soybean
Broiler 32 days Feed intake and FCR were greater in
broilers provided with non-GMO diet
than that of the GMO group.
Kim,
2019
GM Canola Broiler Starter,
grower and
finisher phase
No effects on growth performance
measures
or organ and carcass yields.
McNaug
hton et
al., 2014
GM Rice Broiler 42 days No adverse effects on the broiler
intestinal microbiota
Lili et
al., 2017
GM Rice Broiler 42 days No effects on body weight and the
immune organ indices. No significant
pathological lesion in the spleen and
bursa of Fabricius.
LIU et
al., 2016

14. Significant differences (P<0.05) in health parameters
were most often observed when animals were fed Bt
maize, although most effects measured were unlikely to
be of biological significance and were within normal
biological ranges. Health effects of Bt Maize were only
observed in one experimental study with Pigs. Based on
this literature review, we conclude that there is no clear
evidence that feed composed of first generation GM
crops has adverse effects on animal health.

15. References
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nutrient digestibility, carcass weight and meat quality of broiler chicken. Asian-Australasian
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• Lili, G., Deng, X., Minhong, Z., Changlong, S., Jinghai, F., Fuping, S., Fan, L., Jie, Z., 2017.
High-throughput Sequencing-based Analysis of the Intestinal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens
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