A COMPARISON OF THE METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION OF STILBESTROL ON GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BEEF STEERS

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Abstract
It is well recognized that stilbestrol, whether administered daily in the feed or implanted in pellet form subcutaneously, will result in increased gains in beef animals maintained on a high energy intake (Dinnusson et al., 1950 and Burroughs et al., 1954). Most investigators agree that, the implantation of 60 mg. of stilbestrol will result in a reduction of carcass grade, an increase in mammary development, and an elevation of the tailhead (Andrews et al., 1954; Clegg and Cole, 1954). On the other hand, it has been reported that the oral administration of stilbestrol at the rate of 10 mg. per head per day does not result in these undesirable effects (Burroughs et al., 1955; Payne, 1954). Perry et al. 1955, on the basis of photographic records, were able to show that the oral administration did result in an increase in teat length, some elevation of the tailhead, and a relaxation of the lumbar vertebrae, but suggested these changes were not as marked as those obtained when stilbestrol was implanted. They also reported that the carcasses from stilbestrol-fed steers were slightly inferior to the control group. It may be that the degree of these effects is dependent upon dosage. Thus Burroughs et al. 1955 found that the increase in gain was to some extent dependent upon the level at which stilbestrol was fed, but Kastelic et al. 1956 were unable to find any consistent relationship between carcass composition and dose. Had there been less variation in carcass characteristics among individuals within