Hormones: A Safe & Effective Production
Tool for the Canadian Beef Industry
What Do Hormones Do?
Hormones are used as growth promotants in livestock production.
Producers who treat their animals with hormones feed them
high-energy, nutrient-rich grains in balanced diets at the same time.
Hormones also help animals improve their nutrient absorption.
Improved nutrient absorption equates to less need for feed in order
for animals to reach their finish (market) weight. In addition,
hormones help to improve meat quality by changing the deposition
of fat, producing the lean meat that consumers desire. So essentially,
animals grow larger faster without becoming excessively fat.
Why Use Growth Hormones?
In order to compete in the domestic and export markets, Canadian
beef producers must be able to keep the costs of running their
operation as low as possible. Effective production cost
management keeps the retail costs low for the consumer.
How do growth hormones allow for effective cost management?
Growth hormones are administered to cattle through an implant in the
ear, a part of the animal that is not used for human consumption. The
hormones approved for use in beef production are estradiol (estrogen),
progesterone, testosterone, and their synthetic alternatives zeranol,
melengestrol, acetate, and trenbolone acetate. These hormones can
act in two ways:
1) Growth hormones act as replacements for substances naturally
produced by the animal that are deficient or no longer present.
For example, male cattle that have been castrated (steers) do
not produce enough testosterone, an essential component for
animals’ growth and development. Cattle are castrated to help
control dangerous behavior and to prevent random breeding.
Supplementing the animals with testosterone allows them to
grow at a more natural rate, through the use of a substance that
would otherwise be deficient.
2) Growth hormones act as supplements for substances that are
naturally produced by animals. For example, cattle need
hormones like estrogen to grow and develop. Supplementing
these hormones, or adding to what is already present, allows
animals to grow and develop more quickly.
What are the Benefits?
For the producer – By allowing animals to grow larger and quicker on
less feed, producers realize cost benefits. They have lower feed costs
and, therefore, have lower inventory costs. During the feedlot stage
where animals are fed high energy grains, cattle will gain on average
1.7 kg per day. Cattle experience an 8 to 25% increase in daily weight
gain with up to a 15% gain in feed efficiency. This means cattle reach
market weight 17 days sooner than animals that have not been treated.
The result is a savings of $30-$80 per animal for the producer.
For the consumer – Without the use of growth hormones, producers
would experience higher costs. Like in most businesses, higher
production costs mean a higher price for the consumer. In the European
Union, where growth hormones are not permitted for either domestic
production or through foreign imports, consumers have to pay a higher
price for their beef. For example 500g of lean ground beef in Germany
will cost about $4.60, while costing about $3.19 in Canada for the
same amount. That is a difference of 44%. Average grocery costs in
Germany are only 25% higher than in Canada.
