Implant Strategies on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Steers

Authors

Rob Cooper, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Todd Milton, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Frank Prouty, Overland Park, Kansas

Date of this Version

January 1999

Comments

Published in 1999 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Published by Agricultural Research Division & University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension , Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abstract

A 145-day finishing trial was conducted to evaluate implant strategies on performance and carcass characteristics of yearling steers. Implanting steers with Synovex® C initially and then reimplanting with Synovex® Plus 75 days prior to slaughter improved feed efficiency compared to a single implant of Synovex® Plus or a reimplant program using Synovex® S. Carcass quality, as measured by the percentage USDA Choice carcasses and marbling scores, was unaffected by implant strategy. However, implanting steers with Synovex® Plus^TM as a single implant or in a reimplant program increased profitability because feed efficiency and carcass weight were increased without decreasing carcass merit.