Growth hormone was measured by radioimmunoassay in blood samples collected from ewes during the hormonal induction of lactation and during hand-milking post partum. Ovariectomized ewes were induced to lactate with injections of progesterone + oestradiol benzoate every 3 days for 30 days (priming phase) and then daily injections of dexamethasone for 5 days (trigger phase). The ewes were then milked daily. Immunoreactive GH levels fluctuated considerably but were generally in the range 1–15 ng/ml during all phases of lactation and were unaffected by bromocriptine treatment. Milk yield was unrelated to GH levels.
Growth hormone was also measured in blood plasma taken at frequent intervals around the time of milking in lactating ewes approximately 4 weeks post partum. Although a clear prolactin response to milking was observed, there was no indication of a GH response.
Although there is probably a minimum requirement for GH for lactation, a relationship between immunoreactive GH levels and milk yields was not established, perhaps because of limitations of the radioimmunoassay to detect all the biologically active GH.
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