HAIR ANALYSIS TO TRACK THE APPLICATION OF GROWTH PROMOTORS IN MEAT PRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to develop an analytical approach to d etect the application of Clenbuterol in cattle as an anabolic agent be yond the time of detectable concentrations in blood, urine, or body ti ssues. Therefore the means of hair analysis were applied. In an animal experiment veal calves of different coat color were fed the therapeut ic dosage of Clenbuterol for 10 days. During and after the treatment h air samples were obtained and analyzed for Clenbuterol residues. An ap propriate sample preparation method to extract Clenbuterol from hair f or subsequent enzyme immunological and high performance liquid chromat ographic quantification was developed. Clenbuterol residues were far a bove the limit of detection (0.03 ng of Clenbuterol/g hairpowder) and could be detected in hair from day 4 (1 ng/g) of the treatment to day 60 after the end of treatment (20 ng/g). The results suggested that ha ir analysis is a powerful means to detect and track the illegal use of Clenbuterol in meat production.