Implants Equate to Efficiency in Stocker Cattle

Implants Equate to Efficiency in Stocker Cattle

Yearling cattle on grass
One economically justifiable way to make stocker cattle more efficient on grass is by administering implants. Photo credit Troy Walz.

This spring as the grass continues to green up yearling cattle will find their way to the pastures of the great plains for summer grazing. Cattle are stocked on grass pasture this time of year due to its additional nutritive quality that equates to gains, relative to dormant pastures, prior to entering the feedlot. One economically justifiable way to make stocker cattle more efficient on grass is by administering implants. Utilization of implants in stocker cattle can increase average daily gain by 5-20%, improve feed efficiency by 5-15%, and improve lean tissue deposition by 5-12%.

Implants are natural or synthetic hormones released into the blood that increase growth hormone secretion in cattle. Naturally occurring hormones include estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, whereas synthetic hormones are analogs of the natural hormones with greater activity. Depending upon brand and product, implants vary in dosage level and payout period (lifespan of active ingredient). The potency of an implant must correlate with the energy level of the diet. High potency implants should be used for cattle on high energy, finishing diets. Stocker cattle on grass are not consuming the energy dense diets that are required for the most effective use of high-potency implants, thus do not require high dosage implants.

Implant strategies should be selected based on potency – for terminal cattle on grass, only use implants that are approved for grazing cattle. Multiple brands and varieties that contain active ingredients either singularly or in various combinations are available on the market. The proper implant should be tailored to the production goals of the cattle. Spring green-up through the summer provides sufficient energy to support protein deposition for the increasing gains that would be expected from a moderately-potent implant. Meaning that a lower potency implant may not offer the best return on your dollar when forage quality is at its highest early in the summer. Adversely, later in the summer, or in years with moderate to severe drought conditions, nutrient intake may decline due to quality of forage, and a moderately-potent implant could lack the capability to function to its fullest abilities.

The payout period for common implants compatible for stocker cattle is usually around 100 days, although some products can payout up to 400 days. Summer grazing usually lasts around 120 days. If cattle are implanted when they are processed going onto summer pasture, there will be about a 20-day period where the implant is no longer paying out. Forage quality and quantity are decreasing at this time, so one option for producers would be to not re-implant when quality and quantity of forage begin to dwindle because cattle are not going to meet the nutrient requirements for the implants to be as efficient as expected. The cost of implanting along with the time and effort it takes to gather the cattle might not be worthwhile when the payout period has elapsed, and the marketing goals do not lend themselves to re-implanting on grass. To conclude, never go off label when utilizing an implant. This allows for marketing of a wholesome commodity and remaining within the legal regulations for each specific product. 

For more information on Nebraska Beef Extension or implanting cattle on grass pasture, reach me at my office (402) 624-8007 or follow my twitter page @BigRedBeefTalk.

  

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