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Bovine growth hormone in lambs: effects on carcass composition and tissue distribution in crossbred females

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

B. W. Butler-Hogg  and
I. D. Johnsson
B. W. Butler-Hogg
Affiliation:
Ruakura Animal Research Station, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
I. D. Johnsson
Affiliation:
AFRC Animal and Grassland Research Institute, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
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Abstract

Thirty-two Dorset Down × Finn Dorset female lambs were reared from 8 to 20 weeks on an ad libitum concentrate diet. They comprised four groups of eight lambs, one on each of the following treatments: (1) control, no injections; (2) daily subcutaneous injection of 0-1 mg bovine pituitary growth hormone (bGH) per kg live weight; (3) daily subcutaneous injection of 1 mg bromocriptine mesilate (Br); (4) daily injections of both bGH and Br at the same rates as treatments (2) and (3).

There were no important differences in carcass composition or tissue distribution between the +bGH and +bGH+Br lambs or between the control and +Br lambs. The +bGH lambs (+bGH and +bGH+Br lambs pooled) contained significantly greater proportions of lean and bone compared with the −bGH lambs (control and +Br lambs pooled). Although carcass composition was altered by bGH treatment, the distribution of individual tissues (lean, bone and fat) was not influenced significantly.

Carcass quality was improved markedly by bGH treatment: subcutaneous fat depth was reduced and the area of the m. longissimus lumborum increased. +bGH carcasses would be ranked one fat class less on the Meat and Livestock Commission fatness scale than −bGH carcasses at the same carcass weight.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , February 1987 , pp. 117 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1987

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