Weight gain in steer and heifer calves treated with zeranol or oestradiol 17 beta.

Male and female Hereford and Hereford cross beef calves between 2.5 and 4.5 months of age were implanted with 36 mg zeranol, 24 mg oestradiol 17 beta or left untreated, and then weighed every 4 to 5 weeks. Calves treated with zeranol or oestradiol 17 beta gained 9.6 kg (8.2%) and 12.9 kg (11.0%) more weight respectively than untreated calves. Steer calves gained more weight than heifer calves. There was no response to either growth promotant in heifers or in zeranol-treated steers beyond 35 days after implantation, and the only significant further gains in the next 31 days were made by steers treated with oestradiol 17 beta. After this time growth of treated and control calves was similar. The lack of a continued response to the growth promotants was not associated with significantly lower growth rates in any weighing interval.