The effect of spaying and feeding Stilbestrol on the performance of heifer calves on wintering (high roughage) rations.

Abstract

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.