Implants and Their Use in Beef Cattle Production

Implants and Their Use in Beef Cattle Production

Implants and Their Use in Beef Cattle Production n Types of implants n Effects of implants on calf and stocker performance and economics n Current use of implants n Safety of implants n Procedures

n. Implants contain natural or synthetic anabolic compounds that enhance the efficiency and growth of cattle.

Compounds Used n Estrogenic q Estradiol benzoate q Estradiol 17 -beta q Zeranol n Androgenic q Testosterone propionate q Trenbalone acetate (TBA) q Synthetic progesterone

Why castrate bull calves in the first place?

Considerations n Discount for bull calves = $3 to $6 per cwt or $15 to $30 per head n Weaning weights of bull calves and implanted steer calves are equal n Calving interval of young cows nursing bull calves is shorter (7 days) n Selling bull calves at weaning requires less labor and management n Postweaning performance and health of early castrated calves is superior to calves castrated at weaning

Frequency of Bulls vs Steers? n Smith et al. , 1999 q 27% of male calves were bulls n Mc. Daniel et al. , 2003 q 27% of producers do NOT castrate male calves

Expected Response from Implants: Nursing Calves n Review of 50 studies comparing nonimplanted suckling steers to implanted suckling steers: + 0. 1 lb/d n Review of 8 studies comparing nonimplanted suckling heifers to implanted suckling heifers: + 0. 12 lb/d Selk, 1997

Economics Situation Weaning Weight Price Total Do nothing (sell bull calves) 500 Castrate 485 $. 96 $1. 01 $480 $491 Castrate and Implant $1. 00 $500

Current Use of Implants in the Beef Industry

Use of growth promoting implants in Coal and Atoka Counties: 19%

If 73% of calves are sold as steers and only 15 to 55% of calves are implanted…

Procedures

Placement Needl e inserti on site Middle onethird Impla Cartila nt site ge ring

Procedures, Cont’d n Read the label n Three S’s q Start with the working area q Animal q Implanting equipment n Disinfect between ear touches

Procedures, Cont’d n No withdrawal n No implants cleared for cull cows n Do not implant calves less than 45 days old or bull calves intended for reproduction n Only implant heifer calves you do NOT intend to keep for replacements

Estrogenic Activity of Several Common Foods Food Estrogenic Activity Beef from non-implanted cattle 8 Beef from implanted cattle 11 Beef from pregnant cow 700 Milk 65 Ice cream 3000 Eggs 15, 500 Soybean oil 1, 000 Estrogenic activity is expressed as nanograms of estrogen / 500 grams of food