Defleecing Effect of Betamethasone and other Long-acting Corticosteroids, their Influence on Wool Growth and some Physiological Processes in Sheep.

Abstract

The defleecing effects of the long-acting derivatives of prednisolone, triamcinolone and dexamethasone were compared with those of betamethasone alcohol when these steroids were administered at the rate of 3· 3 mg/kg liveweight in three equal intramuscular injections of 1· 1 mg to Merino wethers. Prednisolone showed no defleecing activity whereas the other steroids produced positive but variable responses. Prolonged depression of wool growth was evident following treatment with dexamethasone esters.