Beta-agonists as repartitioning agents: a review

Research Group on Hormones and Farm Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Agriculture Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire.

Several beta-adrenergic agonist compounds are undergoing commercial development as carcase repartitioning agents. Significant increases in feed conversion efficiency, carcase lean content and decreases in carcase fatness have been reported consistently in all the major meat animal species. The use of these compounds is consistent with consumer demand for leaner meat but could prove controversial in the current political climate in the EC.