ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the impact of Bovine somatotropin (BST) on small versus large dairy farms. In the public debate on BST, three major issues typically surface: does BST alter milk quality, does it adversely affect herd health, and will it lead to the demise of the small dairy farm. The relationship of BST to farm size hinges on whether small farms will adopt BST to the same extent as large farms and be able to use it as effectively. The effect of BST is to increase milk production from the cow, requiring additional feed and other inputs to produce that additional milk. There are those who argue that since BST increases production per cow, farmers will reduce the number of cows in their herd and produce the same amount of milk. BST is one of many different technologies that many believe increases the size and reduces the number of farms producing milk.
