Effect of Zearalanol on the Performance and Carcass Composition of Growing-Finishing Ruminants

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Abstract
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) has been widely used as an anabolic agent for growing-finishing cattle (Clegg and Cole, 1954; Struempler and Burroughs, 1959). The structural similarities of zearalanol to DES has prompted experimentation to evaluate its potential as a growth stimulant for growing-finishing cattle. Zearalanol is a lactone of resorcylic acid prepared from zearala-none metabolite found in the corn mold Giberella zeae (Perry et al., 1968). Research suggests that zearalanol has potential as a growth stimulant for feedlot cattle (Perry et al., 1968; Sharp and Dyer, 1968; Embry and Graber, 1968; Thomas and Armitage, 1968; Sharp, 1969; Perry et al., 1970) and for growing lambs (Jordan and Hanke, 1969). The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of zearalanol implants on rate of gain, efficiency of feed utilization, carcass composition, selected indices of carcass quality, and energy and nitrogen retention of cattle and sheep under various nutrition regimens. Three experiments utilizing 198 cattle were conducted to determine the efficacy of zearalanol implants as a growth stimulant for growing-finishing cattle. Copyright © 1971. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1971 by American Society of Animal Science.

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