By Randall Mallette, LSU AgCenter County Agent

In my previous article on this topic, we discussed the topic of hormones in chicken production. To recap, the use of growth stimulants or hormones has been illegal since the 1950’s in poultry, however those products often boast “No Added Hormones” or similar claims to increase their product’s appeal.  Similarly, some products are labeled as “antibiotic free”, but it should be noted that meat products are tested for antibiotic residues and are discarded if residue is present. All meat is “antibiotic free,” whether it is a product that was raised with or without antibiotics.

 The beef industry does allow hormone use, and this article will dive into that topic. Once again, this article is strictly informational and is not meant to condemn or condone any management practices used in the raising of livestock or poultry. All information used here is research-based. 

Hormones are chemical messengers found naturally in the body that are released from one organ or tissue to illicit a change in another tissue. All animals rely on hormones for day-to-day bodily functions including metabolism, growth, reproduction, sleep cycles, and many others. These hormones can be found naturally in all tissues of the body, including the muscle tissue that we purchase for food. The same is true of plant products, as plants also produce hormones and rely on them for day-to-day processes. Plant products that we use for food will also contain measurable hormone levels, often at much higher concentrations than beef that received hormones for growth. Because of this, labels cannot claim to be “Hormone Free” since hormones are always present at some level.

Using hormones in beef production has repeatedly been shown to increase the growth rate of the animal without risk to the animal or the end product. Since it increases feed efficiency of the animal (more product produced with less feed), this practice can also decrease the farmer’s cost of producing beef. These hormones are administered in the form of a small pellet inserted underneath the skin on the back of the animal’s ear resulting in a slow release of low concentrations of the hormone. These implants have very little impact on the hormone levels found in the meat, especially when compared to the naturally occurring levels found in humans and in plant products.

There is a lot of misinformation regarding the effects of consuming beef from implanted animals. One of the claims is that these beef products lead to early puberty in girls, however the tables below illustrate just how insignificant the estrogen levels in implanted beef are when compared to non-implanted beef products and plant products. All measurements in Table 1 are in nanograms (ng) found in 500 grams (approximately 1 pound) of each food product. It takes 1 billion nanograms to equal 1 gram. 

The estrogen level in implanted beef is insignificant when compared to many plant products. Other plant products not listed in Table 1 include potatoes (225 ng/3 oz serving), peas (340 ng/3 oz serving), cabbage (2,000 ng/3 oz serving), and soy milk (11,250 ng/3 oz serving). (Publication 2767 by Dr. Tom Tabler, Jessica Wells, and Dr. Wei Zhai at Mississippi State University, Poultry Science.)

Additionally, the estrogen levels in implanted and non-implanted beef products are insignificant when compared to the normal levels produced in humans. 

The bottom line with any of these meat concerns is that it comes down to the consumer’s preference. Some consumers may prefer grass-fed to grain-fed. Some prefer a natural approach to raising beef, so they want no added hormones or no antibiotic use. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer to this topic, however consumers should be aware of what they are purchasing, what the label means, and what research has shown time and time again. Consumers should also be aware that management decisions (no added hormones, no antibiotics, and others) can affect the price of the product.

For more information contact Randall Mallette, County Agent, at the Natchitoches LSU AgCenter Extension Office 318-357-2224, or in Coushatta at 318-932-4342. You can also visit us on the web at www.lsuagcenter.com, in Natchitoches at 624 Second St, or in Coushatta at 1919 Alonzo St.