The newly imported breeds from continental Europe dramatically changed the beef industry due to their lower internal fat content. The first implants were estrogenic, and in 1987, androgens were also approved by the FDA for use in cattle. They also found that replacing a very small amount of natural hormone that had been taken away had the same effect as exercise. The metabolism is stimulated and feed energy is converted more to red meat than fat. This provides a nutritionally superior product and a faster gaining animal.
Muscle is more dense and weighs about twice as much as fat.
Therefore, the cattle producer had a better animal that produced leaner beef and also gained weight faster. Consumers were demanding this leaner product that was better for their health. As a new term, the phrase growth promotant was coined and this somehow had a bad effect. We ve had numerous consumers call us concerned about hormone levels in beef. There is nothing wrong with estrogen from these items unless your estrogen balance is already out of kilter with other hormones.