Water retention in the carcasses of pigs and lambs treated with diazoxide.

Diazoxide was given to 12 pigs and 12 lambs during 2 days prior to slaughter at a level of 20 mg/kg of body weight at each of three feedings. During this period it increased (P>.01) the weight gain of pigs by 2.08 kg and lambs by 1.55 kg over that of paired controls. The cold carcass dressing percentage was 0.76 percentage units higher (P>.05) in pigs and 2.03 (P>.01) in lambs treated with diazoxide and the water content of the carcass per kg of initial weight was increased (P>.01) by 6.3% in pigs and 9.7% in lambs.