Advancements in veterinary products have made great advancements in being better able to treat heartworm, arthritis, parasites, allergies and heart disease as well as advancements in vaccines against rabies and feline HIV and these advancements are used on a daily basis in veterinary clinics throughout the world.

Biotechnology has also significantly improved the way vets address animal issues with the use of diagnostics kits and the improvements of breeding programs to eliminate hereditary diseases. Biotechnology based animal health products have also taken off with a total market over $18 billion; $2.8 billion of these products are biotechnology based.

Biotechnology by way of genomics, transgenics and cloning techniques are able to provide new techniques for the advancement in the quality and efficiency of milk, eggs and meat which reduces the environmental impact of agriculture and are being used to help protect endangered species.

Animals used in research and biotechnology

While no one wants to see animals hurt or needlessly made to suffer the fact is that animals have and always will play an important part and a key role in research. Research involving animals has played a critical part in understanding the fundamental process of human biology and has played an integral part in the development of modern medicine today.

Almost every major medical advancement during the last century has depended greatly on animals, with the help of animals, biotechnology companies have been able to develop more than 160 drugs and vaccines, which has helped over 350 million people worldwide and has prevented uncountable suffering.

Some animal rights groups believe that animals used in research are treated cruelly and inhumanely, this however is far from the truth and the use of animals in research is invaluable and they are indispensable. While some parts of research can use computer models, live animals cannot be substituted for the most part.

Farmers and scientists put animal care as their top priority and the care and handling of animals in research is approved by institutional animal care and use committees to ensure that animals are treated as humanely as possible and facilities are inspected on a regular basis to ensure the well being and proper care of animals at all times.