1Department of Animal Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Animal. 2008 Jul;2(7):1073-9. doi: 10.1017/S1751731108002024.
The study investigated the effects of prolonged oral administration of dexamethasone at a low daily dosage of 0.75 mg/head per day (Dexa) on beef cattle productive traits, behaviour and meat quality. In all, 14 finishing Marchigiana bulls were used in a trial that begun 56 days prior to slaughter, of which six bulls received treatment from day 5 to day 53, whereas the remaining animals were used for Control. The animals treated showed an increased average daily gain (1515 v. 1177 g/head per day; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 48.54) and improved warm carcass dressing percentage (60.8% v. 59.7%; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 0.32). Behavioural observation did not permit a clear distinction between treated and Control animals since feeding and social behaviour were similar in both groups. The bulls treated spent less time lying (16.5% v. 34.6%; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 4.38) and grooming (6.7% v. 11.9%; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 1.23), and this may indicate poorer welfare. No evidence of treatment was observed in other carcass traits, and redness was the only meat quality parameter slightly affected by corticosteroid administration.
本研究调查了每日低剂量（0.75mg/头）持续口服地塞米松对肉牛生产性能、行为和肉质的影响。共有 14 头三月龄安格斯公牛参与了一项试验，试验从屠宰前 56 天开始，其中 6 头公牛从第 5 天到第 53 天接受治疗，而其余动物作为对照组。接受治疗的动物表现出更高的平均日增重（1515 比 1177g/头/天；P < 0.05；标准误=48.54）和更高的热胴体屠宰率（60.8%比 59.7%；P < 0.05；标准误=0.32）。行为观察并不能清楚地区分治疗组和对照组的动物，因为两组动物的进食和社交行为相似。接受治疗的公牛躺卧（16.5%比 34.6%；P < 0.05；标准误=4.38）和理毛（6.7%比 11.9%；P < 0.05；标准误=1.23）的时间更少，这可能表明其福利较差。在其他胴体特征中未观察到治疗的证据，并且只有肉色是糖皮质激素给药略微影响的肉质参数。
