HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Andrews, F. N. Articles by Beeson, W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Andrews, F. N. Articles by Beeson, W. M.

The Effect of Oral and Subcutaneous Estrogen and Androgen Administration on Growth and Carcass Quality of Lambs¹

Purdue University

Abstract

The subcutaneous implantation of 10 mg. of estradiol plus 250 mg. of progesterone, or 12 mg. of diethylstilbestrol produced highly significant and significant increases in total gain, respectively. The oral administration of 4 mg. of dienestrol per lamb daily significantly increased total gain.

The implantation of either diethylstilbestrol or estradiol plus progesterone, or the oral administration of 4 mg. dienestrol daily produced a marked increase in feed efficiency (P<0.01) and the feeding of 2 mg. of dienestrol daily improved feed efficiency (P<0.05) although it did not significantly improve gain. The combination of 2 mg. of dienestrol and 25 mg. of methyl testosterone orally also improved feed efficiency (P>0.01).

Mammary stimulation was produced by all treatments in which which diethylstilbestrol, dienestrol, or estradiol were included.

Total slaughter loss—the difference between liveweight at Purdue and cold carcass weight—was greatest in the lambs which received, (1) the estradiol-progesterone pellets, (2) 4 mg. of dienestrol per day orally (P<0.01), and (3) the implantation of 12 mg. diethylstilbestrol, (P<0.05).

The subcutaneous implantation of diethylstilbestrol, or estradiol plus progesterone, or the oral administration of dienestrol alone or in combination with methyl testosterone did not produce carcasses of as high a grade as the control lambs.

The estrogenic activity of the meat of estrogen-treated lambs was not significantly different from the controls, with the exception of a slight increase in estrogenic activity of a lamb implanted with estradiol plus progesterone. The oral administration of dienestrol at levels of 2 or 4 mg. per lamb daily, alone or in combination with methyl testosterone, produced a highly significant increase in the estrogenic activity of the liver.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Journal Paper No. 911, Purdue University, Agricultural Experiment Station, Lafayette, Indiana.