Implants Considerations for Beef Production

Implants – Return on Investment

Amy RadunzUniversity of Wisconsin- MadisonState Beef Extension Specialist

Slides adapted from Bill Halfman, UW Extension Monroe CountyDr. Francis Fluharty, The Ohio State University

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• Beef Carcass• Muscle (40 to 65%)• Fat (15 to 45%)• Bone (10 to 15%)

Muscle Cell Growth• Hyperplasia

• Increasing cell number• Muscle cell number fixed during

gestation

• Hypertrophy • increase in muscle cell size• Increased protein synthesis – satellite

cells• Decrease in protein degradation• Combination of both

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Implants can increase 1 full unit of frame size

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Why do we castrate?• More desirable meat

quality• Marbling• Tenderness• Flavor

• Handling/Facilities• Safety

HOWEVER, we give up growth rate and feed efficiency

Why do we Implant?• Implants enhance performance

• Increase ADG (10-15%)• Increase feed intake (8-10%)• Improve efficiency

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Classifying Implants

POTENCY• High potency: Androgen

(Testosterone) based• Testosterone propionate• Trenbolone acetate (TBA)

• Low potency: Estrogen based• Estradiol 17β• Progesterone

• Medium potency: Combination • Androgen/Estrogen implants

DURATION

• 60 – 400 days

READ THE LABEL:Ingredients,

amounts, duration, and class of cattle

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Why do buyers discount feeder bull calves?

Steers BullsNo. Head 967 1795Starting wt, lbs 468 46460 d wt, lb 599 58160 d ADG, lb/d 2.23 1.95Morbidity, % 18.7 25.1Mortality, % 0.72 2.28

Dale Blasi, 27 loads of calves received at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit

AVMA Policy

• Recommend to castrate at earliest age practicable

• Why?• Least stressful time to castrate• Weaning plus vaccination plus other stressor

increase morbidity• Castration at feedlot the most stressful and

results in greatest morbidity and other negative consequences

Economics

• Weight gain from intact calves lost in first 28 –d postweaning (Martson et al., 2003)• Bull gains gain 5-15% more than non-implanted

castrated pre-weaning• First 28-d post-weaning

• 1.52 lbs/d for early-castrated calves• 1.16 lbs/d for calves castrated at weaning• 0.36 lbs/d x 28 = 10 lbs

Age of Castration –Weaning Wt

Early Late0

100

200

300

400

500

Body

Wei

ght,

lbs

36 days of age 131 days of age

Imler, et al., 2010- U of Florida

If Implants used = +18-20 lbs+$27 – 30 per hd

Guidelines for Nursing Calves

• Not approved for calves less than 30-45 d of age• One implant between 2 months and weaning

recommended• Only implant castrated males

• Not recommended for replacement heifers• Do not implant bull calves

• Do not implant if intended for all natural or organic markets

Nursing CalvesTrade Name Approved for Active Ingredient Payout

Period- days

Ralgro® Steers/heifers 36 mg zeranol 70-100Synovex-C®Comonenet E-C®

Steers/heifers 100 mg progesterone10 mg estradiol benzoate

100-140

Compudose® Steers 25.7 mg estradiol 170-200Encore® Steers 43.9 mg estradiol 300-400Note: all of these implants would be classified as low potency implants

Last updated 4-10-2012

Stocker/Backgrounder Guidelines• Can expect 10-15% improvement in ADG (0.18-0.27 lb/d)• Payout between 80-100 days• If feeding longer than 120 days consider long duration

implant or two implants• Factors affecting payout

• Genetic gain potential• Forage availability• Supplementation• Sex• Weight

Approved for grazing, weaned calves not for replacementProduct Approved For: Active Ingredients Payout

Period- daysRalgro® Steers/heifers 36 mg zeranol 70-100

Compudose® Steers/heifers 27.7 mg estradiol 170-200

Encore® Steers/heifers 43.9 mg estradiol 350-400

Revalor-G®Component-TE-G®

Steers/heifers 200 mg estradiol benzoate 100-140

Synovex-S®Component E-S®

Steers 200 mg progesterone20 mg estradiol benzoate

100-140

Synovex-H®Component E-H®

Heifers 200 mg testosterone propionate20 mg estradiol benzoate

100-140

Note: Listed in order of potency and would be consider low to medium-low potency implants

Last updated 4-10-2012

Simmental bulls and steers slaughtered at 1370 lbs

Bulls Steers SEM P-Value

Age, d 420 475

ADG, lbs/d 4.06 3.24 0.16 0.001

Carcass fat gain, g/d 437.5 467.7 22.7 NS

Final carcass fat, % 22.7 32.1 9.0 0.001

Carcass protein gain, g/d 198.7 127.6 6.6 0.001

Final carcass protein, % 16.6 14.7 2.0 0.001

Anderson et al., 1988

Castration impacts on carcass traitsIncreased quality gradeIncreased back fat (higher numeric yield grade)

Implants Impact Carcass Traits• Implants impacts on carcass traits

• Decreased quality grade• Decreased backfat (lower numeric yield grade)• Increased muscle and carcass weight (higher dressing

percentage)• Tougher

• Need to match cattle type, implant, and marketing to get the most return on investment

Start with End in Mind• Questions to ask yourself:

• How many times do I want to implant?• How many days on feed do I expect for this group of

cattle?• How will this strategy influence my marketing?

• Information needed for decision• Frame size of feeder cattle• Muscling of cattle• Breed of cattle• Energy density of diet

Most Return• When Implanted in Growth Curve

• More return at the end of the growth period• Delay fat deposition and increase muscle• Improved feed efficiency when the poorest

• Once Implanted• Most return and response from animal early• Effects will diminish over time = payout period

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Zeranol Estradiol TBA + E

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

ADG Choice

Perc

enta

ge c

hang

e

Implant Program

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 200

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Estradiol Estrodial/TBA

CH:SE Spread, $/cwt

$ pr

ofit/

hd

Minimize Impacts on QG

• Lower potency• Delay implanting• Energy density of diet• Timely marketing

Trade Name Approved For: Active Ingredient Payout period- days

Ralgro Magnum® Steers 72 mg zeranol 60-80

Synovex-Choice® Steers 100 mg progesterone 14 mg estradiol benzoate

60-80

Revalor-IH®Component TE- IH®

Heifers 80 mg of trenbolone acetate 8 mg estradiol

60-100

Revalor- IS®Component TE- IS®

Steers 80 mg of trenbolone acetate 16 mg estradiol

60-100

Revalor-S®Component T-S®

Steers 120 mg of trenbolone acetate24 mg of estradiol

80-120

Revalor-H®Component TE-H®

Heifers 140 mg of trenbolone acetate 14 mg estradiol

80-120

Component T-H®Finaplix H®

Heifers 200 mg of trenbolone acetate 80-120

Revalor 200®Component- TE-200®

Steers/Heifers 200 mg of trenbolone acetate 20 mg estradiol

100-140

Synovex-Plus® Steers/heifers 200 mg of trenbolone acetate 28 mg of estradiol benzoate

100-140

Revalor XS® Steers 20 pellets w/ 20 mg of trenbolone acetate & 4 mg estradiol

130-180

Note: These are in addition to implants approved for grazing, weaned calvesAnd listed for in relative order of potency

Last updated 4-10-2012

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150 days or less (Yearlings)

Days on Feed

0 14080 100 12020 60

Low E

TBA combo (med to strong): 80-120 d

TBA combo or TBA : 100-120 d

40

TBA combo (med to strong) : 60-80 d

Adapted from Bill Halfman

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200 days (Calf-feds)

Days on Feed

0 200100 140 16040 60

Estrogenic or Med. Combo: 60-80 d

TBA combo (med to strong): 100-120 d

Long duration low to medium potency: 200-300 d

TBA combo (med to strong) : 60-80 d

Adapted from Bill Halfman

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300 days (Long-fed, Holsteins)

Days on Feed

Low- Estrogenic

Low-Med Estrogenic – long duration

Low Estrogenic

Long duration Implant (200-300 d)

0 300150 200 25050 100

Med- Estrogenic Med- Combo or TBA

Med- Combo or TBA

Long duration Implant (200-300 d)

Adapted from Bill Halfman

Not a fix for poor management

• Implants will not fix• Inadequate nutrition• Lack of bedding• Excessive manure• Poor bunk management

Final Tips

• If using multiple implants increase potency with the following implants• Diminishing returns – animals become

‘adapted’ to implant• Last implant should include some level of TBA

• Greatest improvement in feed efficiency• Longer duration implants may want to consider if

you can restrain 900-1000 lb steers

Implant Placement

Cost of Improper TechniqueEstimated cost/head

Abscess $25

Bunched/Crushed $15

Missed $25

Walled off/In Cartilage $25

Partial loss $20

References• Implant strategies for high quality beef production. Robbi Pritchard, SDSU.

www.cabpartners.com/news/research/pritchard_implanting.doc.pdf • Implant Use in Backgrounding Calves. NDSU. www.ag.ndsu.edu

/pubs/ansci/beef/as1178w.htm • Beef Cattle Implants, Utah University Extension.

www.sustainabletable.org/issues/docs/Utah_University_Implants.pdf • Elanco Implant Portfolio: https://www.elanco.us/products-services/beef/ • Intervet, Inc.- Revalor products: http://www.revalor.com/ • Pfizer Animal Health – Synovex products:

https://animalhealth.pfizer.com/sites/PahWeb/US/EN/Pages/Beef.aspx • Merck Animal Health Implants - Ralgro products:http

://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/products/130_163380/productdetails_130_163790.aspx