www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

Since 1997, 18 studies with feeds from genetically modified plants (GMP) in
the nutrition of dairy cows, growing bulls, growing and finishing pigs,
laying hens, chicken for finishing as well as growing and laying quails were
conducted at the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) in Braunschweig
(Germany). January 2007 by G. Flachowsky, K. Aulrich, H. Böhme and I. Halle.

The majority of the experiments (16) were undertaken with GMP of the
so-called first generation (plants with input traits and without substantial
changes in composition) such as Bt-maize, Pat-maize, Pat-sugar beet,
Gt-soybean, Gt-potatoes and Bt-potatoes. Two studies were carried out with
GMP of the second generation (plants with output traits or with substantial
changes in their chemical composition) such as an altered fatty acids
profile in rapeseed or inulin potatoes. In all experiments, feeds from GMP
were compared with their isogenic counterparts.

The iso- and transgenic feeds were analysed for their composition
(proximates, fibre fraction, amino acids, fatty acid pattern, minerals) and
undesirable substances (e.g., mycotoxins). Animal studies were carried out
for nutritional and safety assessment such as digestibility, feed intake,
health and performance of target animal species and quality of food of
animal origin. Reproduction was studied in a 10-generation experiment with
quails and a 4-generation experiment with laying hens. Duration of
experiments and number of animals were limited in some cases due to small
amounts of GM-feed available for experimentation.

Attention was drawn to the fate of DNA during feed processing (silage
making, oil extraction), in the digestive tract of animals (slaughtering of
animals 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after feeding) and in the animal body (samples
from several organs and tissues).

In agreement with more than 100 animal studies available to date, results
show no significant differences in the nutritional value of feeds from GMP
of the first generation in comparison with non-GMP varieties. To date, no
fragments of recombinant DNA have been found in any organ or tissue sample
from animals fed GMP. The lower content of mycotoxins in Bt-maize and side
effects in GMP of the second generation are of safety concern.

The results indicate that routine feeding studies with target animal species
add little to nutritional assessment of feed from GMP of the first
generation, but they are of public interest and important for safety
assessment. These studies will play a more important role in nutritional and
safety assessment of feeds from GMP with output traits. Proposals for such
studies were made on the basis of previous experiments.

[www.sciencedirect.com]

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