A novel approach to growth promotion using auto-immunisation against somatostatin II. Effects on appetite, carcass composition and food utilisation in lambs

Abstract

Three-week-old lambs were immunised against somatostatin linked to human serum globulin. The rate of weight gain in the treated lambs was greater than that of the controls. Thus, when slaughtered at the same age (20 weeks) the treated lambs had larger carcasses. Anatomical carcass dissection revealed that despite the faster rate of weight gain there was no alteration in the proportions of muscle, fat and bone in the carcasses, or in the muscle : bone and muscle : fat ratios. Growth was faster, but proportional. Analysis of food intake data revealed that although the treated lambs had eaten more than the controls, they ate less per kg body weight gain. There was thus an indication that food had been utilised more efficiently by the treated lambs.