Abstract
Summary1. Smilagenin fed to lambs at levels of 2, 4, 8 and 24 g per ton of complete feed improved growth rate and feed efficiency. The most consistent results were obtained with 8 g per ton, or approximately 12 mg per lamb per day. Dressing per cent and carcass grade tended to be improved by addition of smilagenin. Ground Agave lecheguilla containing smilagenin in the saponin form appeared to be quantitatively similar to the free sapogenin; however higher levels of the isolated saponin depressed performance. Sarsasapogenin or hecogenin at 8 g per ton in separate tests exerted a growth effect comparable to that from smilagenin. Diosgenin and tigogenin were not beneficial under conditions tested. 2. In 2 trials, steers fed 20 mg of smilagenin daily showed weight gains similar to those of animals receiving 10 mg stilbestrol daily. In one trial, 100 mg of smilagenin was not as effective as 20 mg.
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