Stress during Growth. I. Effects on Physiology, Carcass Composition, and Carcass Quality of Lambs

The effects of daily electric shock, epinephrine injections, and saline injections for a duration of 92 days on the physiology, carcass composition, and carcass quality of lambs were observed. Epinephrine treatments depressed weight gain and fat deposition but did not significantly alter muscle or bone growth. This treatment resulted in hypertrophy of the adrenal glands, reduction in muscle glycogen, elevation in ultimate muscle pH, and elevation of liver glycogen as compared with control animals and the other treatments. No treatment effects were observed for the protein content, ether extract content, moisture content, or brightness of color of the muscles. Thyroid gland weights, blood sugar levels and serum cholesterol levels were also similar among treatments.