Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objective of the experiment is to test the hypothesis that gilts (young female hogs) that consume meat from beef steers implanted with estrogenic hormones will have higher levels of estrogenic activity in serum and edible tissue than gilts fed beef from non-implanted steers or a non-meat alternative, tofu. These data will provide evidence to support or refute the hypothesis that implanting beef steers with estrogenic hormones has adverse effects on consumers. Approach (from AD-416): Beef steers will be implanted according to FDA-approved label directions and slaughtered in a USDA-inspected facility. Control beef steers will not be implanted. Meat from control and test animals will be fed to gilts on a daily basis from weaning until first estrus. Gilts at first estrus will be slaughtered and serum and tissues analyzed for physiologic reproductive endpoints. In addition, estrogenic activity in serum and skeletal muscle will be measured using the cell-based E-Screen assay. All analyses have been completed. Serum progesterone and estrogenic activity are both cyclical and with the small sample size of the study (5 to 6 animals per treatment) no obvious differences were seen among groups. In summary, consumption of beef obtained from cattle that had received an estrogenic implant did not alter the onset of puberty or body composition of gilts used in this study. Likewise, daily consumption of beef from non-implanted (i.e. natural) cattle or a common meat alternative food (tofu) did not result in early onset of estrus, despite the known high level of estrogenicity of the tofu supplement. Manuscript is currently in preparation, with an expected submission date prior to 8/ 1/13 to the Journal of Animal Science. Title: Consumption of ground beef obtained from cattle that had received growth-enhancing technology does not trigger onset of early estrus in pre-pubertal gilts. Authors: James. D. Magolski, Nancy W. Shappell, Kimberly A. Vonnahme, Giovana M. Anderson, David J. Newman, and Eric P. Berg. Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND & U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. A second publication is expected.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objective of the experiment is to test the hypothesis that gilts (young female hogs) that consume meat from beef steers implanted with estrogenic hormones will have higher levels of estrogenic activity in serum and edible tissue than gilts fed beef from non-implanted steers or a non-meat alternative, tofu. These data will provide evidence to support or refute the hypothesis that implanting beef steers with estrogenic hormones has adverse effects on consumers. Approach (from AD-416): Beef steers will be implanted according to FDA-approved label directions and slaughtered in a USDA-inspected facility. Control beef steers will not be implanted. Meat from control and test animals will be fed to gilts on a daily basis from weaning until first estrus. Gilts at first estrus will be slaughtered and serum and tissues analyzed for physiologic reproductive endpoints. In addition, estrogenic activity in serum and skeletal muscle will be measured using the cell-based E-Screen assay. Implants of estrogenic steroids are used by the beef industry to increase the rate of weight gain and to improve tenderness of meat. Consumer groups have expressed concern that implanting beef cattle is associated with the early onset of puberty in girls who eat beef. A study was conducted by North Dakota State University using young female hogs as a model for humans. Growth and reproductive variables were not affected by the inclusion of beef from implanted cattle in the diet of test animals. The ARS laboratory in Fargo, ND measured the estrogenicity of each diet using a very sensitive bioassay (E-Screen). Diets supplemented with beef from implanted or non-implanted cattle were nearly identical in relative estrogenicity. Burgers made from tofu contained approximately 100-times the estrogenic activity of burgers made from meat of implanted cattle. Serum samples from hogs provided dietary beef have been assayed and the data analyses are in progress.
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