Snapshot

Growth promoters are mainly used in farm animals with the purpose to promote growth, to improve the distribution of fat and protein, and to increase the feed-to-muscle conversion rate. However, some residues may remain in the tissues of the treated animals several days after its administration at toxicologically unacceptable concentrations. Most growth promoters are orally active and can be administered either in the feed or in the drinking water, while other active hormones can be administered in the form of small implants into the subcutaneous tissue of the ears. This allows for slow release that may last for several weeks or even months and the ears are discarded at the slaughter.

Growth promoters contribute to a better efficiency in the feed conversion rate. They allow for increased protein deposition, partly due to muscle protease inhibition. The resulting meat is leaner and tougher due to the production of connective tissue and collagen cross-linking. Some fraudulent practices consist of the use of mixtures of several substances like ?-agonists and corticosteroids at very low amounts in order to obtain a synergistic effect for similar growth promotion but reducing the probability of detection by official control laboratories.