Effects of bovine growth hormone in suckling lambs.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of bovine growth hormone (bGH) on body growth of suckling lambs. Suckling Merino lambs (fed on milk replacer from 4th day of life) were daily injected from 10th to 38th day of life with 80 micrograms bGH/kg b.w. Only insignificant increase of body weight was observed after 4 weeks of GH treatment. After 31st day of life body weight gain in the experimental lambs was significantly higher. It can be concluded that bGH increases body weight gain of lambs in 2nd month of life. It is probable that growth rate of sucklings is limited only by biological and biochemical capabilities of the organism and it can be hardly influenced by exogenous hormonal manipulation.
Koppel
J
J
Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice/Czechoslovakia.
Kuchár
S
S
Ryníková
A
A
Mozes
S
S
Noskovic
P
P
Boda
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000254:growth & development*
D013006:Growth Hormone