The effects of a growth hormone releasing factor, human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor-44 (hpGRF-44), on growth hormone (GH) secretion in calves, heifers and cows were studied. A single intravenous (iv) injection of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0 microgram of synthetic hpGRF-44 per kg of body weight (bw) in calves significantly elevated the circulating GH level within 2-5 min, while no increase in plasma GH was observed in saline injected control calves. The plasma GH level increased proportionally to the log dose of hpGRF-44, and reached a peak at 5-10 min (p less than 0.01). Subcutaneous injection of hpGRF-44 also elevated the plasma GH level, but the peak value at 15 min was 37% of that of iv injection (p less than 0.05). Intravenous injection of 0.25 microgram of hpGRF-44 per kg of bw to female calves, heifers, and cows significantly elevated mean the GH levels from 8.5, 2.3, and 1.6 ng/ml at 0 time to peak values of 97, 26, and 11.6 ng/ml, respectively (p less than 0.01). The plasma GH response and basal level in calves were significantly higher than those of heifers or cows (p less than 0.025). The plasma GH response to hpGRF-44 as well as the basal level decreased with advancing age. The plasma GH response to hpGRF-44 and basal GH in male calves were significantly greater than those in female calves (p less than 0.001). These results indicate that synthetic hpGRF-44 is a potent secretogogue for bovine GH, and suggest its usefulness in the assessment of GH secretion and reserve in cattle.