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Some Endocrine Influences on the Growth and Carcass Quality of Holstein Heifers¹

Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823

Abstract

Relationships between carcass composition, tenderness and growth rates and growth hormone levels, corticosteroid levels, and thyroid activity were investigated in 50 Holstein heifers slaughtered at a wither height of 120 centimeters. The means of seven jugular plasma GH levels at monthly intervals from 4 to 10 months of age were significantly higher in heifers fed 0.9 kg than in heifers fed 4.5 kg grain daily (P<.05), and were negatively related to growth rate (P<.01). Heifers with high levels of pituitary GH at slaughter had less fat. Plasma and adrenal levels of corticosteroids were negatively related with growth rates (P<.01) and with tenderness (P<.01). Thus, endocrine secretions may influence not only growth but also carcass composition and meat tenderness.

¹ Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 5482. This research was supported in cart by U.S.P.H.S Research Grant HD-03174 and by grants-in-aid from the Upjohn Company. Kalamzoo, Michigan and from The Nutrition Foundation, Inc., 99 Park Avenue, New York. N.Y.

² Present address: M. C. Franklin Laboratory, University of Sydney, Camden, N.S.W. 2570, Australia.

³ Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University.

⁴ Animal Reproduction Lab., Dairy Dept. Michigan State University.

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