METABOLIC STUDIES IN CHILDREN FED MILK FROM COWS RECEIVING SYNTHETIC THYROPROTEIN

Abstract

REINEKE and Turner (16) showed that the feeding of iodinated milk proteins to lactating cows and goats for short periods increased milk production with corresponding increases in the yield of butterfat. This confirmed the earlier observations of Graham (10), Jack and Bechdel (12), Folley and White (9), Herman et al. (11) and Ralston and hisassociates (13) who stimulated milk production in cows by the administration of desiccated thyroid or thyroxine. From an economic standpoint, these findings may prove to be of practical significance. According to some workers, however, the augmentation of milk and butterfat output by these methods may not be without some disadvantages. Van Landingham, Henderson and Weakley (29)and Seath, Branton and Groth (26) noted increases in pulse rate, body temperature and respiratory rate and a decrease in body weight of cows fed synthetic thyroprotein. On the other hand, Reineke (15) failed to observe these effects in 27 cows of three different breeds fed 1.5 to 2.5 grams of thyroprotein per 100 pounds of body weight over a period of three months. Milk production was increased significantly, nevertheless, in 23 of the 27 cows.