Spaying is the act of removing the ovaries, which are the primary
source of the estrogenic hormones. Stilbestrol is a. synthetic compound
resembling these estrogenic hormones in its physiological action. Experimental
evidence indicates that spaying lowers the rate of gain.
whereas stilbestrol has been successfully used in increasing rate of gain
in fattening yearling steers. This test is a study of the effect of: 1.
spaying, 2. spaying plus stilbestrol. 3. nonspaying, and 4. nonspaying
plus stilbestrol, on the performance of heifer calves on a high roughage
ration.