The peptide most commonly used to enhance growth and production is growth hormone (GH). Its chemical structure is species-specific and it has a short half-life (20–30 min). It is not orally active and is rapidly digested and cleared by the gut, liver, and kidney; thus, it must be administered via a parenteral route. Sustained-release (14–28 days) formulations have been developed for use in cattle to obviate the need for daily injections. When administered to cattle, GH increases growth rate (5–10%), feed conversion efficiency, and the carcass lean to fat ratio. Gender has little effect on response in cattle. Response to GH is lower in older cattle with greater fat deposition. There is an interaction between magnitude of response and nutritional level; protein content and specific amino acid composition may be important to achieve maximal responses. The effects of GH are largely additive to those obtained from steroid implants. GH improves growth and feed efficiency in sheep but not in poultry. Recombinant GH in pigs has dramatic effects, resulting in an increase in daily gain (20%), decrease in feed intake (5%), and a decrease in the feed:gain ratio (20%). A 10% increase in lean content and a 35% decrease in adipose tissue may be realized in swine. Administration of 25 mg/day of bovine GH to lactating cattle increases milk yields of dairy cows by up to 20%. GH has been approved for commercial use in some countries to increase milk production.

Last full review/revision March 2012 by Christopher D. Reinhardt, MS, PhD