Patent ID: 6610496
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for predicting a relative future growth performance of individual animals in a random, unselected set of ruminant meat-producing animals of the same species, the method comprising the steps of:providing a random, unselected set of ruminant meat-producing animals of the same species, and, for each animal, administering growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) to the animal so that a circulating level of GHRH in the animal is increased, observing levels of growth hormone (GH) subsequent to GHRH increases, comparing the GH levels of each animal to that of the other animals of the set of animals and predicting the relative future growth performance of each animal, wherein a higher relative level of GH in comparison to that of other animals of the set of animals indicates that an animal will have a greater relative lean mass accretion and a lesser relative fat deposition in comparison to other animals of the set of animals.