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Effects of Coumestrol in Combination with Implanted and Orally Administered Diethyl-Stilbestrol on Gains and Tissue Residues in Cattle^{1, 2,}

Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of coumestrol, an estrogen found in alfalfa, on gain and efficiency of feed utilization in cattle and its effect on the response of cattle to diethylstilbestrol. The coumestrol was provided in three different ways as follows: in dehydrated alfalfa pellets with either 50 or 340 to 560 ppm coumestrol; 840 mg. coumestrol extract per steer daily; as pure, crystalline coumestrol fed at daily rates of 50, 100, 150 or 200 ppm to each of a set of identical twin heifers. In no case did coumestrol improve gain or feed efficiency.

Implantation of steers with 36 mg. diethyl-stilbestrol significantly (P<.01) increased daily gain irrespective of the amount of the hormone administered orally. Combining 5 mg. or 10 mg. diethylstilbestrol daily with a single 36 mg. implantation subcutaneously did not increase daily gain significantly above that which resulted from implantation alone. There was no significant interaction between coumestrol and diethylstilbestrol when the two hormones were administered simultaneously. No estrogenic residues were found in the fresh liver, or dried liver or kidney of steers implanted with 36 mg. or fed 10 mg. diethylstilbestrol dailey, separately or in combination.

In an additional experiment beef steers fed 1.4 kg. of dehydrated alfalfa pellets gained significantly (P <.01 faster than controls. Assays of this alfalfa suggested that this stimulation could not be attributed to its coumetrol content because of its low uterotropic activity. The addition of 20,000 I.U. vitamin A to a diet containing 1.4 kg. dehydrated alfalfa pellets did not improve the gain.

¹ Department of Animal Sciences, Journal Paper No.3170, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station.

² This research supported in part by a grant from the American Dehydrators Association, Kansas City, Missouri.

³ Supplied by G. O. Kohler, A.R.S., U.S.D.A., Western Utilization Research and Development Division, Albany, California.