Abstract: The present invention relates to a milk protein mixture useful for promoting growth of animal cells, for treating a surface wound, or for treating a gastrointestinal injury, disease, or ulcer, methods for preparing the milk protein mixture and methods employing the milk protein mixture. The milk protein mixture is prepared from a milk product such as cheese whey employing a cation exchange resin suitable for absorbing the milk protein mixture, filtering, and concentrating the product of cation exchange. The milk protein mixture for promoting growth of animal cells also includes a liquid culture medium. The milk protein mixture for treating a surface wound or for treating a gastrointestinal injury, disease, or ulcer also includes a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable diluent, carrier, or excipient.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of disorders in gut function in animals including humans, which method includes administering to a patient to be treated an effective amount of a mammalian insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or a peptide analogue thereof.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the growth of a bird is described. The method comprises (a) administering a compound selected from the group consisting of IGF-1, IGF-2 and active analogs thereof to a bird in ovo; then (b) incubating the bird to hatch; and then (c) growing the bird for at least three weeks after hatch. The compound is administered in ovo in an amount sufficient to enhance the growth of the bird at least three weeks after hatch. Preferred birds for practicing the present invention are chickens, and preferred compounds for practicing the present invention are IGF-1 and analogs thereof. The use of IGF-1, IGF-2 and active analogs thereof for the preparation of a medicament for administration to birds in ovo to ehance the growth of the bird at least three weeks after hatch is also disclosed, along with the pharmaceutical formulations so prepared.