Transplant organ yes, dinner no

Most Australians would be happy to receive a life-saving organ from a pig or a cow, so long as that animal was not destined for their dinner plate, a survey has found.

A study of sick people potentially in need of an organ transplant found that most would agree to transplants from animals bred for that purpose.

Animal-to-human transplantation is banned in Australia until next year.

Professor Wendy Rogers of Flinders University in Adelaide said the results reflected research from 2003 that showed most Australians accepted the practice.

"What we're seeing here is a bit of the 'yuk' factor," said the medical ethics specialist.

"They're happy to get the organs but it's almost like they feel the need to psychologically separate these animals from 'normal' animals."

- AAP