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 Wiggins, J. P. Articles by Davis, S. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wiggins, J. P. Articles by Davis, S. L.

Effects of Diethylstilbestrol, Zeranol and Sex on Live, Blood Metabolite, Carcass and Endocrine Characteristics of Lambs^{1 ,2,}

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802

Abstract

Forty-eight crossbred lambs, with equal numbers of rams, ewes and wethers, were used to determine the effects of sex and implant treatment on certain blood metabolites and hormones, feed intake and digestibility, live weight gains, carcass traits, endocrine glands and reproductive organs. Ration digestibility was unaffected by implant treatment. Wethers had greater (P<.05) daily gains than ewes while rams consumed more (P<.05) feed per day than wethers per unit of metabolic weight but had intermediate gains. Differences in metabolic activity of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and zeranol were indicated by differential response in blood metabolites, carcass fat deposition, endocrine gland weights and reproductive organ weights. Zeranol resulted in increased ram blood GH levels (80.1%) and a greater decrease in BUN levels in rams (6.6%) and wethers (23.9%) than did DES. However, DES exhibited a greater depressing effect on blood LH levels (33.2%). Zeranol implants also decreased (P<.01) blood insulin and increased Cortisol levels compared to DES-implanted animals. DES implants increased fat thickness (P<.05) and uterine weights (P<.01) compared to non-implanted or zeranol-implanted lambs. The combination of DES and zeranol implants produced no beneficial additive changes, indicating that although these two compounds appear to act differently, their effects are not complimentary.

¹ Authorized for publication as Paper No. 4948 of the Journal Series of The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, University Park on October 3, 1975.

² Supported in part by Commercial Solvents Corporation, Terre Haute, Ind. Appreciation is expressed to R. C. Croyle, W. R. Stricklin, J. H. Ziegler and R. J. Eberhart for assistance in collecting and analyzing data.

³ Present address: Department of Veterinary Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.

⁴ Present address: Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.

⁵ Present address: University of Idaho, Moscow.