What’s the What’s the Beef Over Beef?Beef Over Beef?

Weighing the IssuesWeighing the Issues

Growth hormones in beef Growth hormones in beef productionproduction

Media attention tends to convey biased Media attention tends to convey biased information about this issue.information about this issue.

People are misinformed.People are misinformed. Here are the facts, you decide.Here are the facts, you decide.

Hormones 101:Hormones 101:

Defined as naturally produced Defined as naturally produced chemicals that exist in all animals. chemicals that exist in all animals.

Growth, development and Growth, development and reproduction are controlled by themreproduction are controlled by them

Steroids in cattle?Steroids in cattle? Steroids are hormonesSteroids are hormones Hormones in cattle have a Hormones in cattle have a

similar effect to hormones in similar effect to hormones in humans.humans.

The result….The result….

And That’s No Bull!And That’s No Bull!

Why use hormones?Why use hormones?

Faster weight gain in young animals.Faster weight gain in young animals. Decreased waiting time for slaughter.Decreased waiting time for slaughter. Decrease in the amount of feed ingested.Decrease in the amount of feed ingested. Increased efficiency in energy storage, Increased efficiency in energy storage,

creating leaner meat.creating leaner meat.

Hormones approved in Hormones approved in CanadaCanada

NaturalNatural Estradiol-Estradiol-17ß 17ß ProgestroneProgestrone TestosteroneTestosterone

SyntheticSynthetic Trenbolone acetate Trenbolone acetate

(TBA)(TBA) ZeranolZeranol Melengestrol acetate Melengestrol acetate

(MGA)(MGA)

Hormone implantationHormone implantation

Estrogenic activity Food (nanograms/lb.of food)Soybean oil 908,000Cabbage 10,896Wheat germ 1,816Peas 1,816Eggs 15,890Ice cream 2,724

Milk 59Beef from a pregnant cow 636Beef from implanted cattle 10Beef from non-implanted cattle 7

F.T. McCollum III, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

Table 2. Estrogenic activity of several commonfoods (adapted from Preston, 1997).

The IssuesThe Issues

CancerCancer

-research is currently incomplete, therefore -research is currently incomplete, therefore there is no concrete evidence there is no concrete evidence

Early onset of PubertyEarly onset of Puberty

-there is speculation that the hormones are -there is speculation that the hormones are contributing factors to breast cancercontributing factors to breast cancer

International AttentionInternational Attention

European Commission has banned the trade of beef European Commission has banned the trade of beef with hormones.with hormones.

To comply with Australian standards for synthetic To comply with Australian standards for synthetic hormones, carcasses must contain nil detectable hormones, carcasses must contain nil detectable residues at slaughter. For naturally-occurring residues at slaughter. For naturally-occurring hormones, implant residues also must be zero hormones, implant residues also must be zero (AVCA,1986)(AVCA,1986)

In Canada, six hormones are approved for the sole use In Canada, six hormones are approved for the sole use of the promotion of growth in beef cattle. The of the promotion of growth in beef cattle. The Veterinary Drugs Directorate determines safety Veterinary Drugs Directorate determines safety thresholds and works with the Canada Food Inspection thresholds and works with the Canada Food Inspection Agency.Agency.

““Precautionary Principal means Precautionary Principal means that, in the face of scientific that, in the face of scientific uncertainty, one should proceed uncertainty, one should proceed with caution. In the case of beef-with caution. In the case of beef-hormones the precautionary hormones the precautionary principle should dictate that, in principle should dictate that, in light of worrisome scientific light of worrisome scientific information, these hormone drugs information, these hormone drugs should not be used until further should not be used until further research has ascertained their research has ascertained their safety to humans.” safety to humans.”

--World Trade OrganizationWorld Trade Organization

Organic AlternativesOrganic Alternatives The effect of not using hormones:The effect of not using hormones:

-slower growth, more feed required, smaller -slower growth, more feed required, smaller carcasscarcass

Grass fed beef.Grass fed beef.

Weighing The IssueWeighing The Issue

ProsPros Lean beefLean beef

- satisfies - satisfies consumers consumers

EconomicsEconomics

- faster weight gain- faster weight gain

- less feed required- less feed required

ConsCons Fattier beefFattier beef High Premium PricesHigh Premium Prices

-for the alternatives-for the alternatives Speculated Health Speculated Health

risksrisks

You Decide.You Decide.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Works CitedWorks CitedCornell College of Veterinary Medicine. (2000). Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. (2000). Consumer concerns about Consumer concerns about

hormones in food. hormones in food. Retrieved June 15, 2004 from Retrieved June 15, 2004 from http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/FactSheet/Diet/fs37.hormones.pdfhttp://envirocancer.cornell.edu/FactSheet/Diet/fs37.hormones.pdf

CureZone.com. (2004). CureZone.com. (2004). Steroids in beef cattle. Steroids in beef cattle. Retrieved June 18, 2004, from Retrieved June 18, 2004, from http://http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?IDcurezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=115&db=7&C0=17=115&db=7&C0=17

Devitt, T., Schulte, D., & Tenenbaum, D. (1999). Devitt, T., Schulte, D., & Tenenbaum, D. (1999). The Why Files. The Why Files. Wisconsin: Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin. Retrieved June 15, 2004, from University of Wisconsin. Retrieved June 15, 2004, from http://whyfiles.org/088beef/index.htmlhttp://whyfiles.org/088beef/index.html

Foreign Agriculture Service. (1999). Foreign Agriculture Service. (1999). A primer on beef hormones.A primer on beef hormones. Retrieved June Retrieved June 15, 2004, from 15, 2004, from http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/policy/hormone2.htmlhttp://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/policy/hormone2.html

Health Canada. (2003). Health Canada. (2003). For your information: Growth hormones. For your information: Growth hormones. Retrieved June Retrieved June 15, 2004, from 15, 2004, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/vetdrugs-medsvet/growth_hormones_e.htmlhttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/vetdrugs-medsvet/growth_hormones_e.html

Straight Goods. (2004). Straight Goods. (2004). Overview of hormones used in Canada.Overview of hormones used in Canada. Retrieved June Retrieved June 15, 2004, from 15, 2004, from http://www.straightgoods.com/item406A.shtmlhttp://www.straightgoods.com/item406A.shtml

Wyoming School of Ranching. (2004). Wyoming School of Ranching. (2004). Cougar valley ranch: Natural grass fed Cougar valley ranch: Natural grass fed beef. beef. Retrieved June 18, 2004 from Retrieved June 18, 2004 from http://http://www.wyomingschoolofranch.com/cvr/beef.htmwww.wyomingschoolofranch.com/cvr/beef.htm