Applications of Biotechnology in Today's Dairy Industry

Abstract

Advances in biotechnology and molecular biology in the last decade or so have brought exciting new technologies that can/will be used to solve complex problems confronting animal agriculture. These advances could have a fundamental impact and perhaps revolutionize production agriculture systems as we now know them. For example, improved disease surveillance; enhanced disease resistance; increased animal growth, efficiency and productivity; and manipulation of food quality and quantity are just a few possibilities that could impact the agricultural sector in the not-too-distant future. The purpose of this communication is to describe how biotechnology and molecular biology are used in research on mastitis, food safety and foodborne pathogens, and whenever possible describe how these advances have/will impact food-producing animals with particular emphasis on the dairy industry.