The Use of Albuterol, a Beta-Adrenergic Compound to Alter Fat and Muscle Deposition in Lambs

Several compounds called beta adrenergic agonists have been discovered which partition nutrients away from fat deposition and increment muscle accretion in poultry, swine, sheep and beef One beta-adrenergic compound ( albuterol) has never been researched on any meat producing animals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effect of albuterol on growth and performance, quality and yield grade, and carcass composition in treated market wether lambs. Ten randomly selected half-sibling crossbred wether lambs with similar weights were divided into a control and treatment group. The lambs were individually penned and fed a high energy pelleted diet with or without 4.8 ppm albuterol. Lambs were weighed weekly for 117 day feeding period at which time they were slaughtered for collection of quality and yield grade factors and further processed into bone and soft tissue for chemical analysis. This soft tissue was ground and random samples were then analyzed to determine percent fat, protein and moisture. Albuterol treatment improved, although not significantly (P<.12), total weight gain (2.5%), average daily gain (2.7%), feed consumption (7.3%) and feed conversion ( 11. 7%). Mean values for hot carcass weight, 12th rib fat thickness, adjusted 12th rib fat thickness, longissimus area and dressing percentage were 21.9 ± .29 kg, .42 ± .08 cm2, .53 ±.07 cm2, 17.0 ± .88 cm2, 42.6 ± .59% for treated animals and 22.5 ± .37 kg, .40 ±.11 cm2, .47 ± .09 cm2, 18.0 ± 1.14 cm2, 43.8 ± .77% for control animals, respectively. No significant differences were found for quality grade, yield grade, leg score or kidney and pelvic fat between the treated and control groups. Chemical analysis of soft tissue indicated values of significant differences for % moisture (P<.10) and % fat (P<.12). No significant effects were detected for % crude protein. These data indicate albuterol treatment (4.8 ppm) had little effect on growth performance and carcass composition in lambs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agriculture

Grantor

Southwest Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Gorena, Alfonso Roel

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Perkins, Tommy L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Shell, Lon R.
• Grady, Thomas L.

• albuterol
• lambs
• muscle deposition

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/19246

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/19246