Spring Time Implant Usage
By Tammy Winger DVM
Many producers are
concerned this year with
strategies to “cheapen-up”
their animal health
programs. My thoughts
are also on adding value by
increasing calf
performance with branding
implants.
Many studies have been
completed over the last 20
years that prove implants
improve feed efficiency,
rate of gain and therefore
pounds of calf. Calves can
benefit from implanting at
any time in their life, but
the greatest advantage is at
1.5 to 2 months of age. It
has been proven by
different companies,
universities and private
trials that these calves have
increased weaning weights
of 18-32 lbs.
Often ranchers don’t want
to implant because they
believe that their calves
won’t sell as well. That
may be true for certain
“natural markets” where
there is a significant
premium actually received.
What is the premium
needed in a regular market
for non-implanted calves
to be more profitable?
Analysis of market data
reveals that a 500lb
average weight nonimplanted calf would need
a $5.75/cwt premium to
make up for a 23lb weight
advantage of an implanted
calf.
What about meat safety?
Estrogen level in 1 pound
of meat from an implanted
steer is 54 nanograms less
than natural milk and
1,989 nanograms less than
peas. Just to keep it in
perspective, an adult man
produces 100,000 ng of
estradiol per day and one
birth control pill has the
same amount of estrogen
as 125,000 lbs of
implanted steer meat.
The studies performed on
taste, tenderness and
palatability differences are
also negligible. In a few of
the studies, the participants
rated the flavor of the
implanted meat higher.
In conclusion: Implants at
branding increase weaning
weights and pounds of beef
marketed. Meat from
implanted animals is very
safe to eat and tastes the
same as or even better than
non-implanted meat.