Growth performance in heavy lambs experimentally treated with 17 β-estradiol

European and Italian legislation have banned useof growth promoters in livestock since 1988, but epidemiologicaldata show that anabolic drugs are still being usedillegally. Recent surveys carried out on the cattle farms inNorthern Italy have confirmed the presence of growthpromotinghormones. Authors report data on growth performancesin 80 Valle del Belice×Comisana weaned lambsexperimentally treated with 17 beta-estradiol with 0.5 mlsolution of oil Depot Estradiol ® (containing 5 mg of 17β-estradiol valerate) by intramuscular injection into the thigh.The experiment was founded by the National Ministry ofHealth, to validate histological test for surveillance andcontrol of growth-promoting hormones in sheep. This studyconfirmed the strong correlation between clinical and anatomopathologicalfeatures and growth performances of treatedanimals. Otherwise, no significant differences were found on in vivo performance of the lambs. Estradiol treatmentshowed heavier shoulders and necks on treated lambs,while the loins were significantly lighter. Moreover, lambestradiol-treated groups showed lower separable and inseparablefat percentage than lamb-control groups.