Abstract
Getting cattle to put on a lot of muscle quickly is a crucial part of a beef cattle operation’s profitability. Growth promoting implants are one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing lean tissue in cattle and work by releasing hormones into the cow’s body that encourage muscle growth. This 4-page fact sheet explains implants’ mechanisms of action, how implants are administered and used, and concerns associated with implants. Written by Matt Hersom and Todd Thrift, and published by the UF Department of Animal Sciences, August 2015.
AN318/AN318: Implants for Cow-Calf and Stocker Beef Cattle (ufl.edu)
References
Buttery, P. J., and P. A. Sinnett-Smith. 1984. "The Mode of Action of Anabolic Agents." Current Topics in Vet. Med. and Anim. Sci. 26: 221-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9482-5_22
Kuhl, G. L. 1997. "Stocker Cattle Response to Implants," in Symposium: Impacts of Implants on Performance and Carcass Value of Beef Cattle, 51-62. Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. Accessed August 26, 2015. http://beefextension.com/proceedings/implant_97/97-8.pdf
Lawrence, J. D., and M. A. Ibarburu. 2008. "Economic Analysis of Pharmaceutical Technologies in Modern Beef Production." Iowa State University Department of Economics. Accessed November 30, 2012. http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/lawrence/pharmaeconomics2006.pdf
Selk, G. 1997. "Implants for Suckling Steer and Heifers Calves and Potential Replacement Heifers" in Symposium: Impacts of Implants on Performance and Carcass Value of Beef Cattle, 40-50. Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.