Animal Science, Department of
Date of this Version
2025
Citation
2025 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pages 28-32
University of Nebraska Extension, 2025
Abstract
Summary with Implications
A two-year study utilized 480 weaned steers each year targeted to gain either 1 or 2 lb/d during the winter followed by ad libitum forage intake during the summer to determine the effects of winter rate of gain and implant strategy during the winter backgrounding and summer phases on steer performance, forage intake, and compensatory gain. During the winter, steers received a Revalor-G or no implant. In the summer, steers either received a Revalor-IS or no implant. The use of Revalor-G and increased rate of gain during the winter backgrounding phase had additive effects to increase animal performance during the winter phase. Steers which achieved a lower rate of gain in the winter consumed more DMI as a % of their BW during the summer phase, suggesting increased intake is an important compensation mechanism. On average, steers fed to target 1 lb/d ADG during the winter and only received one implant throughout both the winter and summer phases compensated 22% during the summer while steers receiving 2 implants compensated 9% compared to steers fed to target 2 lb/d during the winter. Use of implants during the backgrounding phase is a viable strategy to improve animal performance and limit subsequent losses in performance due to compensation.
Included in
Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons
Comments
Copyright 2025, Board of Regents, University of Nebraska. Used by permission