Hypoglycemic Compounds as Growth Stimulators for Pigs

Abstract

Research in the Soviet Union suggests that injections of insulin benefit fattening swine and cattle (Aleksandrova, 1968). In the USSR monthly injections of 0.3 U. insulin/kg. body weight to pigs 4 months of age increased the final sveight at age 6.5 months 8.9 kg. more than controls. Treated pigs used 4.0 kg. feed/kg. gain; controls, 4.4 kg. Injections of 0.5 to 1.0 U. insulin/kg. body weight every 10 days the last month of fattening produced daily gains of 620 gms. compared with 422 gms. for controls (Obydennov, 1963). Feed efficiency was increased 24.6a/o. Kovalevskaja et al. (1962) reported that 0.1 to 0.5 U. insulin/ kg. body weight 1 to 3 times per month increased body weight 13-20go. Quality of muscle and fat was better in pigs injected with insulin. Earlier experiments with baby pigs (Pekas et al., 1959) do not agree with the above reports in that hypoglycemic compounds adversely affected appetite and growth. However, ample evidence indicates increases in body weight are primarily adipose tissue deposition (Beaton et al., 1965; Brady et al., 1951; Fiatt and Ball, 1964). Cattle implanted with either insulin or chlorpropamide, on pasture or in the feedlot, grew faster than controls (Aleksandrova, 1968). Reported here are results of experiments in which we used insulin, chlorpropamide and acetohexamide on lightweight and heavyweight pigs.