Abstract
The estrogenic hormones diethylstilbestrol and progesterone plus estradiol–17-β-benzoate significantly increased (p < 0.05) the daily rate of gain and feed efficiency of Holstein–Friesian steers when they were implanted at 181, 363, and 544 kg body weight and slaughtered at 340, 522, and 703 kg respectively. The effects of the two hormone implants were not significantly different. Growth enhancement was greatest in steers implanted at 363 and slaughtered at 522 kg body weight. During this stage the treated steers gained 1.42 kg per day as compared with 1.08 kg for their controls. Steers implanted at 181 and 544 kg gained 1.31 and 1.27 kg per day. Their respective control groups gained 1.15 and 0.97 kg per day at these two growth stages.Hormone treatment also significantly increased (p < 0.05) the daily feed consumption of the medium and heavy weight steers when approximately 80% of the ration consisted of concentrates.A flavor panel evaluation of rib roast samples from 67 of the 72 test steers indicated a flavor preference for the untreated control animals.
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