Beef and Cattle Implants
Growth promoting implants have been used extensively in beef production for over 30 years. There are more than 27 brands of approved growth implants are available. With the proper development and implementation of an implant strategy, daily gains could improve up to 20%.
Cattle must have adequate nutrition before implants can positively influence feed efficiency and gain. The greatest response to implants tends to be observed in older cattle, such as yearlings, near peak periods of lean tissue deposition. Typically these would be yearling cattle consuming high levels of high energy feed.
The response to implanting suckling calves varies, based on genetics, quantity and quality of milk and feedstuffs, animal health, level of internal parasitism, and year. On the average, implanting suckling calves will increase weaning weight by 10 to 20 pounds. Caution must be used in implanting animals intended for future breeding.
There are no approved implants for use in bulls intended for future breeding; Synovex-C and Ralgro have been approved for one-time use in heifers intended for future breeding, after 45 days of age/less than 400 lbs. body weight. Re-implanting suckling calves intended for feed-out after 70-120 days (depending on the implant used) may improve average daily gain over a single implant.
The use of implants on suckling calves may affect (reduce) the response to subsequent implants and even carcass parameters, if the nutrition and implant program are not planned correctly.The growth promoting implants approved for use in the United States are extremely safe. They are safe not only for the cattle, but for producers who use the products and for the consumers who consume the beef produced from implanted cattle. There is no withdrawal time for any of the approved implants available in the United States.
Implants are placed under the skin on the posterior aspect of the ear by means of special implant application devices. Regardless of product and program chosen, the proper implant procedure and the cleanliness of the implant process are critical.
Implants Brands
SYNOVEX®-Cand COMPONENT® E-C
These products contain estradiol benzoate (72% estradiol) and progesterone. The products are recommended for use in suckling beef calves weighing up to approximately 400 lbs. They may be used in both steer and heifer calves, including one time on beef heifers intended for breeding later.
RALGRO®and RALGRO® MAGNUM
Zeranol, the active drug in RALGRO®, is a chemical derivative of a resorcylic acid lactone fermentation product, having estrogenic properties. Ralgro is used to increase the rate of weight gain and improve feed conservation in growing cattle, feedlot heifers, feedlot steers, weaned calves and suckling calves. Ralgro has been approved for use in beef heifers intended for breeding later. Magnum is a feedlot implant with the same active ingredient at double the dosage and it uses an implant gun that is similar to the gun for Ralgro
COMPUDOSE® and ENCORE®
Compudose is a silicone rubber implant containing estradiol and is coated with not less than 0.5 mg of oxytetracycline powder as a local antibacterial. Compudose is intended for increased rate of weight gain in suckling and pastured growing steers; for improved feed efficiency and increased rate of weight gain in confined steers and heifers only. Encore is a higher potency & longer lasting implant with the same active ingredient, the same carrier, and it uses the same implant gun as the Compudose.
SYNOVEX®-Sand COMPONENT® E-S
These products contain estradiol benzoate (72% estradiol) and progesterone. They are recommended for use in steers weighing 400 lbs. or more. When properly administered, these implants can help increase rate of weight gain and improve feed efficiency.
SYNOVEX®-Hand COMPONENT® E-H
These products contain estradiol benzoate (72% estradiol) and testosterone propionate. They are recommended for use in heifers weighing 400 lbs. or more. When properly administered, these implants can help increase rate of weight gain and improve feed efficiency.
DURALEASE™
Each dose of DURALEASE™ product contains 20 mg of estradiol benzoate (72% estradiol), microencapsulated by a patented THERAPHASE™ process. This is the first suspension implant, and the only implant to combine the benefits of a sustained-release estradiol benzoate implant with the consistency of advanced microencapsulation technology. This product is recommended for use in steers and heifers fed in confinement. When properly administered, this product will help increase weight gain and improve feed efficiency.
COMPONENT® T-S
Component T-S contains 140 mg of trenbolone acetate. Trenbolone acetate (TBA) appears to have a different mode of action than estrogen in promoting muscle deposition and this response is additive when used with an estrogenic implant.
COMPONENT® T-H and FINAPLIX® H
FINAPLIX® H and Component T-H contain 200 mg of trenbolone acetate. Trenbolone acetate (TBA) appears to have a different mode of action than estrogen in promoting muscle deposition and this response is additive when used with an estrogenic implant.
COMPONENT® TE-S and REVALOR®-S
Revalor-S and Component TE-S are implants that contain a combination both estradiol and trenbolone acetate. It increases rate of weight gain and improves feed efficiency in a slow-release delivery system. .
COMPONENT® TE-H and REVALOR®-H
Revalor-H and Component TE-H contain both estradiol & trenbolone acetate in a ratio that is beneficial to feedlot heifers. This product was approved 1994 and the response is very similar to the Revalor-S on steers.
SYNOVEX® - PLUS
SYNOVEX® - PLUS contains higher levels of TBA than Revalor - S. This makes it a more potent implant, but as a result of its potency it can also be a more difficult implant to manage.
SYNOVEX® - CHOICE
SYNOVEX® - CHOICE is approved for use in steers and contains both estradiol benzoate and trenbolone acetate at half the levels of Synovex Plus
COMPONENT® TE-G and REVALOR® - G
Component TE-G and Revalor - G contain lower levels of estradiol and trenbolone acetate than the Revalor - S implants and are intended for use in weaned pasture cattle. They are not to be used in animals intended for subsequent breeding. Component TE-G and Revalor®-G contain 40mg of trenbolone acetate and 8mg estradiol.
COMPONENT® TE-200 and REVALOR®-200
These products contain trenbolone acetate and estradiol in a slow-release delivery system which increases rate of weight gain and improves feed efficiency in steers and heifers fed in confinement for slaughter. Revalor®-200 is an implant containing 200mg of trenbolone acetate and 20mg estradiol.
COMPONENT® TE-IS and REVALOR – IS
These implants contain trenbolone acetate and estradiol. Component TE-IS and Revalor -IS increase rate of weight gain and improves feed efficiency in steers fed in confinement for slaughter.
COMPONENT® TE-IH and REVALOR - IH
Component TE-IH and Revalor IH increase rate of weight gain in heifers fed in confinement for slaughter. These implants contain trenbolone acetate and estradiol. Each implant consists of 4 small yellow pellets.
Implants Comparison Chart
|
Implant |
Company |
Zeranol |
Estradiol Benzoate |
Estrogenic Effect |
Progesterone |
Testosterone Propionate |
Trenbolone Acetate |
Approximate Effective Days**** |
Approved Animals |
|
Duralease |
Merial |
|
20 mg |
14 mg |
|
|
|
175 |
Feedlot Steers & Heifers |
|
RALGRO |
Schering |
36 mg |
|
11-13 mg* |
|
|
|
70 |
Calves, Stockers, Feedlot |
|
RALGRO MAGNUM |
Schering |
72 mg |
|
22-26 mg* |
|
|
|
90 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Compudose |
VetLife |
|
|
25.7 mg |
|
|
|
175 |
Steers, Feedlot Heifers |
|
Encore |
VetLife |
|
|
43.9 mg |
|
|
|
350 |
All Steers |
|
Component E-C *** |
VetLife |
|
10 mg |
7 mg** |
100 mg |
|
|
Suckling Period |
Calves <400# |
|
Component E-S *** |
VetLife |
|
20 mg |
14 mg** |
200 mg |
|
|
120 |
Steers >400# |
|
Component E_H *** |
VetLife |
|
20 mg |
14 mg** |
|
200 mg |
|
120 |
Heifers >400# |
|
Component T-S *** |
VetLife |
|
|
|
|
|
140 mg |
105 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Componenet T-H *** |
VetLife |
|
|
|
|
|
200 mg |
105 |
Feedlot Heifers |
|
Component TE-S *** |
VetLife |
|
|
24 mg |
|
|
120 gm |
120 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Component TE-H *** |
VetLife |
|
|
14 mg |
|
|
140 mg |
120 |
Feedlot Heifers |
|
Component TE-IS *** |
VetLife |
|
|
16 mg |
|
|
80 mg |
110 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Component TE-IH *** |
VetLife |
|
|
8 mg |
|
|
80 mg |
110 |
Feedlot Heifers |
|
Component TE-200 |
VetLife |
|
|
20 mg |
|
|
200 mg |
130 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Component TE-G |
VetLife |
|
|
8 mg |
|
|
40 mg |
100 |
Stockers |
|
Synovex C |
Fort Dodge |
|
10 mg |
7 mg** |
100 mg |
|
|
Suckling Period |
Steers, Heifers |
|
Synovex S |
Fort Dodge |
|
20 mg |
14 mg** |
200 mg |
|
|
120 |
Steers >400# |
|
Synovex H |
Fort Dodge |
|
20 mg |
14 mg** |
|
200 mg |
|
120 |
Heifers >400# |
|
Synovex Choice |
Fort Dodge |
|
14 mg |
10 mg** |
|
|
100 mg |
120 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Synovex Plus |
Fort Dodge |
|
28 mg |
20 mg** |
|
|
200 mg |
130 |
Feedlot Steers & Heifers |
|
Finaplex-H |
Intervet |
|
|
|
|
|
200 mg |
105 |
Feedlot Heifers |
|
Revalor-S |
Intervet |
|
|
24 mg |
|
|
120 mg |
120 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Revalor-H |
Intervet |
|
|
14 mg |
|
|
140 mg |
120 |
Feedlot Heifers |
|
Revalor200 |
Intervet |
|
|
20 mg |
|
|
200 mg |
130 |
Feedlot Steers & Heifers |
|
Revalor-IS |
Intervet |
|
|
16 mg |
|
|
80 mg |
110 |
Feedlot Steers |
|
Revalor-IH |
Intervet |
|
|
8 mg |
|
|
80 mg |
110 |
Feedlot Heifers |
|
Revalor G |
Intervet |
|
|
8 mg |
|
|
40 mg |
100 |
Stockers |
|
* Zeronal is about 31-36% active Estrogen |
|
** Estradiol Benzoate contains 72.34% Estradiol 17b |
|
*** Available with 29 mg tylosin tartrate added as a local antibacterial (Component with Tylan) |
|
Source: Dr. Court Campbell of Fort Dodge AH, Dr. Pete Anderson of VetLife, and Dr. Kevin DeHaan of Merial |
