Only limited information is available as to the effect of each of the androgen and estrogen on growth measures in barrows. It has been reported that estradiol-17h implant (CompudoseR) had varying effects on growth and its efficiency measures in finishing barrows depending on the dose and duration of the implant as well as animal’s body weight at the time of implantation. This study was therefore undertaken primarily to delineate the effect of a low dose of
the Compudose implant on growth and carcass characteristics in finishing barrows. It was found that implantation of Compudose containing 24 mg of estradiol-17h is effective for decreasing backfat thickness without significantly affecting live weight gain, FCE and muscle characteristics including protein and fat contents in finishing barrows. Suppression of backfat deposition thus appears to be a major effect of the implant in the pig. The Compudose
implant also causes a decrease in feed intake and an increase in serum concentration of the insulin-like growth factor. Collectively, these effects of estrogen may be mediated in part by the insulin-like growth factor in finishing barrows.