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Effects of Exogenous Growth Hormone and Diethylstilbestrol on Growth and Carcass Composition of Growing Lambs

Merck Institute for Theapeutic Research^,3, Rahway, NJ 07065

Abstract

An 8-wk growth trial was conducted to assess the effects of ovine growth hormone (oGH; 7 mg/d, sc) on growth performance and carcass composition of normal, growing wether lambs. Diethylstilbestrol (DES; .1 mg/d, sc) and control lambs were included for comparisons. Plasma oGH levels at 8 wk were 1.9, 5;5 (P <.05) and 138.1 ng/ml (P<.001) for controls, DES and oGH lambs, respectively. Diethylstilbestrol did not increase plasma oGH until the fourth week. The oGH improved feed conversion 7.4% (FC; P<.05), but did not alter average daily gain (ADG) or feed intake (ADF). Diethylstilbestrol increased ADG 15.3% (P<.05) and improved FC 16.1% (P<.01), with no effect on ADF. The primary effect of oGH on carcass composition was to decrease the quantity of fat 8.9% (P<.05). In addition, oGH may have increased protein 6.5% (P<.10) and moisture 4.0% (not significant). Diethylstilbestrol increased the quantity of carcass protein 10% (P<.01) and moisture 8.7% (P <.05), with no effect on fat. In these studies, the primary effect of exogenous oGH on normal, growing lambs was to reduce carcass fat, which may account for the observed improvement in FC. Diethylstilbestrol, at l/70th of the oGH dose, was superior to oGH for improving FC (P<.05) and ADG (P<.10). Improvements in body weight of the lambs given DES were observed 2 wk before an increase in plasma oGH. In addition, DES, unlike exogenous oGH, did not alter the quantity of carcass fat. These observations do not support the concept that the mode of action of DES is through increased GH secretion.

¹ Dept. of Anim. Nutr. and Physiol.

² Dept. of Biochem.

³ The authors express their appreciation to Dr. Martin Hichens for preparing ¹²⁵I GH and to Mr. Robert Lang for supervising animal care and facilities.

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