Carcass Quality of Turkeys as Affected by Estradiol-17-Monopalmitate and Vitamin E

IT HAS been established that the use of natural and synthetic estrogenic compounds stimulate fat deposition and improve carcass quality in poultry. Numerous investigators have reported improved feed efficiency and reduced marketing age when using these compounds. Turkey carcass quality (Moreng et al., 1963) as well as tenderness, juiciness and flavor are improved by the treatment. One of the most effective and widely used of these compounds, diethylstilbestrol (DES), was banned for use in the finishing of poultry by the Food and Drug Administration because of residue problems. Estradiol-17-monopalmitate (EMP) was shown to be equally as effective as DES without the residue problem (Moreng and Hopwood, 1966). It has been suggested that fat stability is improved by hormone implantation (Hood et al., 1950) however, further stability may still be desirable. Tocopherols obtained from the diet are the only true inhibitors of auto-oxidation that occur normally in rendered fat of rats . . .