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Implants in Beef Cattle Production: Types, Effects, and Safety

This article discusses the use of implants in beef cattle production, including different types of implants, their effects on calf and stocker performance and economics, and safety considerations. It also provides information on implanting procedures and the current use of implants in the industry.

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Implants in Beef Cattle Production: Types, Effects, and Safety

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  1. Implants and Their Use in Beef Cattle Production Oklahoma State University

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

  3. Implants contain natural or synthetic anabolic compoundsthat enhance the efficiencyand growth of cattle.

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

  5. Why castrate bull calves in the first place?

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

  7. Frequency of Bulls vs Steers? Smith et al., 1999 27% of male calves were bulls McDaniel et al., 2003 27% of producers do NOT castrate male calves

  8. Expected Response from Implants: Nursing Calves • Review of 50 studies comparing non-implanted suckling steers to implanted suckling steers: + 0.1 lb/d • Review of 8 studies comparing non-implanted suckling heifers to implanted suckling heifers: + 0.12 lb/d Selk, 1997

  9. Economics Situation Weaning Weight Price Total Do nothing (sell bull calves) 500 $.96 $480 Castrate 485 $1.01 $491 Castrate and Implant 500 $1.00 $500

  10. Current Use of Implants in the Beef Industry

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

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

  13. Procedures

  14. Middle one-third Needle insertion site Cartilage ring Implant site Placement

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

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

  17. Safety of Implants?

  18. 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 1,000,000 Estrogenic activity is expressed as nanograms of estrogen / 500 grams of food

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