Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T17:28:24.232Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of castration and subdermal silastic implants containing oestradiol-17 β-dipropionate on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of male cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

B. D. Schanbacher ,
R. L. Prior  and
S. B. Smith
B. D. Schanbacher
Affiliation:
Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933, USA
R. L. Prior
Affiliation:
Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933, USA
S. B. Smith
Affiliation:
Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933, USA
Get access

Abstract

Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics were examined in bulls and steers with and without a subdermal Silastic capsule containing oestradiol-17β-dipropionate. Castration and/or oestrogen treatment was imposed at approximately 8 months of age. The implants were removed 56 days before slaughter, i.e. 140 days after the trial commenced. Bulls gained more rapidly (12·9%), converted food to live-weight gain more efficiently (18·0%) and yielded leaner carcasses than did steers (P < 0·05). The oestrogenic implant elevated serum oestradiol concentrations substantially (> ninefold) over that of bulls and steers and induced a castration-response in the former. Serum luteinizing hormone, testosterone and testicular growth were suppressed (P < 0·05) during the first 140 days of the trial in bulls, but returned to normal following implant removal. This response was paralleled by a reduction in average daily gain (P < 0·05) and food: gain ratio (P < 0·10). Contrary to expectations, average daily gain and food: gain ratio were not significantly improved in implanted steers. Oestrogen treatment reduced hot carcass weight, loin eye area and quality grade in both bulls and steers; the last as a result of decreased marbling and internal fat deposition. Results of this study suggest that excessive oestrogen as provided in this study via the implant fails to improve feedlot performance and carcass merit in steers and may, in fact, diminish the inherent anabolic attributes of the intact male. Additional studies are required to understand the complex interactions of androgens and oestrogens in the regulation of body growth and composition of male cattle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , August 1983 , pp. 73 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Amann, R. P. and Ganjam, V. K. 1976. Steroid production by the bovine testis and steroid transfer across the pampiniform plexus. Biol. Reprod. 15: 695–703.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baker, F. H. and Arthaud, V. H. 1972. Use of hormones or hormone active agents in production of slaughter bulls. J. Anim. Sci. 35: 752–754.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Field, R. A. 1971. Effect of castration on meat quality and quantity. J. Anim. Sci. 32: 849–858.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Galbraith, H. and Topps, J. H. 1981. Effect of hormones on the growth and body composition of animals. Nutr. Abstr. Rev. Ser. B. 51: 521–540.Google Scholar
Gray, J. M., Nunez, A. A., Siegel, L. I. and Wade, G. N. 1979. Effects of testosterone on body weight and adipose tissues: role of aromatization. Physiol. Behav. 23: 465–471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gray, J. M. and Wade, G. N. 1980. Cytoplasmic estrogen, but not progestin, binding sites in male rat adipose tissues. Am. J. Physiol. 39: E237–E241.Google Scholar
Hale, W. H. and Ray, D. E. 1973. Efficacy of oral estradiol-17β for growing and fattening steers. J. Anim. Sci. 37: 1246–1250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harvey, W. R. 1975. Least-squares analysis of data with unequal subclass numbers. U.S. Dep. Agric, ARS H-4.Google Scholar
Heitzman, R. J., Gibbons, Dianna N., Little, W. and Harrison, Lynne P. 1981. A note on the comparative performance of beef steers implanted with the anabolic steroids trenbolone acetate and oestradiol-17β, alone or in combination. Anim. Prod. 32: 219–222.Google Scholar
Kahl, S., Bitman, J. and Rumsey, T. S. 1978. Effect of Synovex-S on growth rate and plasma thyroid hormone concentrations in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 46: 232–237.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klosterman, E. W., Cahill, V. R., Kunkle, L. E. and Moxon, A. L. 1955. The subcutaneous implantation of stilbestrol in fattening bulls and steers. J. Anim. Sci. 14: 1050–1058.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kochakian, C. D. and Endahl, B. 1959. Changes in body weight of normal and castrated rats by different doses of testosterone propionate. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 100: 520–526.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kochakian, C. D. and Webster, J. A. 1958. Effect of testosterone on the appetite, body weight and composition of the normal rat. Endocrinology 63: 737–742.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Longcope, C., Pratt, J. H., Schneider, S. H. and Fineberg, S. E. 1978. Aromatization of androgens by muscle and adipose tissue in vivo. J. din. Endocr. Metab. 46: 146–152.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nimrod, A. and Ryan, K. J. 1975. Aromatization of androgens by human abdominal and breast fat tissue. J. din. Endocr. Metab. 40: 367–372.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Preston, R. L. 1975. Biological responses to estrogen additives in meat producing cattle and lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 41: 1414–1430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Preston, R. L., Byers, F. and Stevens, K. R. 1978. Estrogenic activity and growth stimulation in steers fed varying protein levels. J. Anim. Sci. 46: 541–546.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schanbacher, B. D. 1976. Rapid chromatography for quantitation of radio-immunoassayable 5α-androstane-17β-ol-3-one and testosterone in ram bull and boar serum. Endocrine Res. Commun. 3: 71–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schanbacher, B. D. 1981. Importance of the episodic nature of luteinizing hormone secretion for normal development of the bovine testis during puberty: Interference with oestradiol-17β. J. Endocr. 88: 393–400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schanbacher, B. D., Crouse, J. D. and Ferrell, C. L. 1980. Testosterone influences on growth, performance, carcass characteristics and composition of young market lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 51: 685–691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schanbacher, B. D., D'Occhio, M. J. and Kinder, J. E. 1982. Initiation of spermatogenesis and testicular growth in oestradiol-17β-implanted bull calves with pulsatile infusion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. J. Endocr. 93: 183–192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schanbacher, B. D. and Echternkamp, S. E. 1978.Testicular steroid secretion in response to GnRHmediated LH and FSH release in bulls. J. Anim. Sci. 47: 514–520.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schanbacher, B. D. and Ford, J. J. 1976. Seasonal profiles of plasma luteinizing hormone, testosterone and estradiol in the ram. Endocrinology 99: 752–757.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seideman, S. C., Cross, H. R., Oltjen, R. R. and Schanbacher, B. D. 1982. Utilization of the intact male for red meat production: a review. J. Anim. Sci. 55: 826–840.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trenkle, A. 1976. The anabolic effect of estrogens on nitrogen metabolism of growing and finishing cattle and sheep. In Anabolic Agents in Animal Production (ed. Lu, F. C. and Rendel, J.), pp. 89–98. Georg Thieme, Stuttgart.Google Scholar
United States Department Of Agriculture. 1973. Official United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef. USDA Consumer and Marketing Service, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Wade, G. N. and Gray, J. M. 1978. Cytoplasmic 17β-[3H] estradiol binding in rat adipose. Endocrinology 103: 1695–1701.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wipf, V. K., Carpenter, J. W., CHAPMAN, H. L. Jr, Palmer, A. Z. and Cunha, T. J. 1964. Effects of slaughter age and diethylstilbestrol implants on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of bulls and steers. J. Anim. Sci. 23: 865 (Abstr.).Google Scholar