Effect of zeranol on beef steer growth rate in four geographical locations of New Zealand

Authors: McNerney DM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 1-2, pp 19-20, Jan 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal production/wastage, Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Diet/rations/food, Growth/development, Treatment/therapy, Nutrition/metabolism
Article class: Correspondence
Abstract: Zeranol was first licensed for use as a growth promotant in cattle and sheep in the USA in 1969, and subsequently has been licensed and sold in over 50 countries of the world. A vast amount of published material on zeranol`s efficacy, particularly in relation to growing and finishing steer cattle, has been documented in the scientific literature during the past 15 years. The literature indicates that an increased daily liveweight gain of approximately 15%, and an increased feed conversion efficiency of 8-10%, can be expected from the use of zeranol in steer cattle. Zeranol has also been demonstrated to stimulate growth in heifers, bulls and lambs, although in these classes of animals liveweight responses tend to be less in magnitude and consistency than in steer cattle. Zeranol was first approved for use in New Zealand in Dec. 1972 as a cattle growth promotant. However, few reports have been published on its efficacy as a growth promoting agent in steer cattle under typical N.Z. pastoral conditions. Therefore, a series of four held trials were carried out in 1983 in various geographical locations throughout New Zealand, to evaluate the liveweight responses of growing steer cattle to one implant (36mg) zeranol, under differing environmental and management conditions. No attempt was made to measure improvements in feed conversion efficiency…
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