Management Tips

Key Points About Selling Cattle Live

Ralgro^® Magnum™ implants as an initial 100-day implant proves to be a fast way to start your finish.

Ralgro Magnum implants on day 1 followed by Revalor^®-S on day 100 in calf-fed steers on feed for 194 or 222 days provided similar ADG and carcass responses as Ralgro implants day 1/Revalor-S day 70.

Reference: Veterinary Technical Update – Comparison of Six Implant Strategies in Feedlot Steers and Their Effect on Live Animal Performance and Carcass Characteristics, SPAH-RAL-14.

Ralgro implants improves feed efficiency 2.8% in trials where Ralgro implants preceded Revalor-S or Synovex^® Plus.

Often it is not known how a set of cattle are to be sold until after implanting decisions have been made. Using Ralgro implants as an initial implant maintains marketing flexibility. Not only can it improve quality grade, but a 2.8% improvement in feed efficiency is worth at least $3.50/head for cattle on feed 150 days, making it more profitable whether selling live or on a grid.

Reference: Data on file, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

Ralgro implants outperformed Synovex-S as an initial implant in steers implanted on day 50, when comparing ADG (4.31 vs. 4.15 lbs), DM Feed-to-Gain (4.52 vs. 4.57), and DMI (19.40 vs. 18.96 lbs/day).

References: R. Hale, "Comparison of Feedlot Performance and Carcass Traits of Steers Administered Anabolic Implants and Anthelmintic Drenches", Current and Future Practices in Cattle Production, July 1995.

Stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-1 (growth regulating hormones) has been demonstrated up to 80 days post-implanting.

References: Borger et al, J Anim Sci, 1974; Reinhardt et al, Beef Cattle Research in Texas, 1992, SPAH-RAL-16.

In five out of seven trials, steers implanted with Ralgro Magnum implants averaged faster gains than steers implanted with Synovex-S in 50-, 75-, and 90-day initial start-up programs.

Reference: Current and Future Practices in Cattle Production, July 1995.

Proper implanting technique and location are vital to achieving maximum implant response. The Ralogun^{® pellet injector} and its specifically designed small needle increase the ease and likelihood of proper implant placement.

These factors contribute to the effectiveness of the implant and result in fewer complications, including costly abscesses. For example, in one trial, implant site reactions occurred in only 1.56% of cattle implanted with Ralgro implants but 6.35% of cattle implanted with Synovex-S.

Reference: "Comparison of Feedlot Performance and Carcass Traits of Steers Administered Anabolic Implants and Anthelmintic Drenches", Current and Future Practices in Cattle Production, July 1995.

Use of Ralgro implants as an initial implant results in fewer bullers (riders) than Revalor-S, Synovex Plus, and Synovex-S.

Reductions can be dramatic–from 9.9% to 4.9%, for example. Each buller can be an expense of as much as $25 due to injury, death, extra facilities, and labor.

References: SPAH-RAL-5 and SPAH-RAL-18.

Carcass performance and quality grade are factored into live weight price.

Do not overlook those factors when evaluating your implant program.

Ralgro implants are one product that can be used for both steers and heifers.

Reduce your product inventory and the inconvenience of administering sex-specific implants.

Ralgro and Ralogun are registered trademarks and Magnum is a trademark of Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation

Revalor is a registered trademark of Hoechst Roussel Vet.

Synovex is a registered trademark of Fort Dodge Animal Health.