Reducing culling in herd animals growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)

A method of increasing milk production in a dairy cow comprising:

• delivering into muscle tissues of the dairy cow an isolated nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (“GHRH”) or functional biological equivalent thereof;
• wherein
• delivering into the tissue of the farm animals the isolated nucleic acid expression construct is via electroporation, a viral vector, in conjunction with a carrier, by parenteral route, or a combination thereof;
• and
• the isolated nucleic acid expression construct is delivered in a single dose.

A method of decreasing an involuntary cull in farm animals comprising:

• delivering into a muscle tissue of the farm animals an isolated nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (“GHRH”) or functional biological equivalent thereof;
• wherein;
• the involuntary cull comprises infection, disease, morbidity, or mortality of the farm animals;
• delivering is via an in vivo electroporation method;
• the isolated nucleic acid expression construct is delivered in a single dose;
• and
• the encoded GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof is of formula (SEQ ID No:
• 6):
• —X−1—X2-DAIFTNSYRKVL-X3-QLSARKLLQDI-X4—X5-RQQGERNQEQGA-OH
• wherein the formula has the following characteristics:
• X1 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid tyrosine (“Y”), or histidine (“H”);
• X2 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid alanine (“A”), valine (“V”), or isoleucine (“I”);
• X3 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid alanine (“A”) or glycine (“G”);
• X4 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid methionine (“M”), or leucine (“L”);
• X5 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid serine (“S”) or asparagine (“N”);
• or a combination thereof.

A method of improving a body condition score (“BCS”) in farm animals comprising:

• delivering into a muscle tissue of the farm animals an isolated nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (“GHRH”) or functional biological equivalent thereof;
• wherein:
• the BSC is an aid used to evaluate an overall nutritional state of the farm animals;
• delivering is via an in vivo electroporation method;
• the isolated nucleic acid expression construct is delivered in a single dose;
• and
• the encoded GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof is of formula (SEQ ID No:
• 6):
• —X−1—X2-DAIFTNSYRKVL-X3-QLSARKLLQDI-X4—X5-RQQGERNQEQGA-OH
• wherein the formula has the following characteristics:
• X1 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid tyrosine (“Y”), or histidine (“H”);
• X2 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid alanine (“A”), valine (“V”), or isoleucine (“I”);
• X3 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid alanine (“A”) or glycine (“G”);
• X4 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid methionine (“M”), or leucine (“L”);
• X5 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid serine (“S”) or asparagine (“N”);
• or a combination thereof.

A method of increasing milk production in a dairy cow comprising:

• delivering into tissues of the dairy cow an isolated nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (“GHRH”) or functional biological equivalent thereof;
• wherein:
• delivering is via an in vivo electroporation method;
• the isolated nucleic acid expression construct is delivered in a single dose;
• and
• the encoded GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof is of formula (SEQ ID No:
• 6):
• —X−1—X2-DAIFTNSYRKVL-X3-QLSARKLLQDI-X4—X5-RQQGERNQEQGA-OH
• wherein the formula has the following characteristics:
• X1 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid tyrosine (“Y”), or histidine (“H”);
• X2 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid alanine (“A”), valine (“V”), or isoleucine (“I”);
• X3 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid alanine (“A”) or glycine (“G”);
• X4 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid methionine (“M”), or leucine (“L”);
• X5 is a D-or L-isomer of the amino acid serine (“S”) or asparagine (“N”);
• or a combination thereof.