Key Points About Selling Cattle on the Grid

Ralgro^® implants is the initial implant of choice in feedlot implant programs.

Steers implanted with Ralgro implants and reimplanted with Revalor^®-S at day 75 had 77.23% Choice carcasses, while those implanted with Synovex^®-S and reimplanted with Revalor-S at day 75 had 48.96% Choice carcasses.

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

Marbling scores and percent Choice carcasses were higher for steers that received Ralgro implants as an initial implant and Revalor-S as a terminal implant, compared to steers that received a single estradiol-trenbolone acetate implant on day 1.

References: R. Pritchard, "A Comparison of Estradiol-Trenbolone Acetate Implant Programs for Yearling Steers of Two Genotypes", Beef Production Leadership Summit, August 1997; Start With Z to Finish With an A, SPAH-RAL-5.

Ralgro implants continue to demonstrate why it is the initial implant of choice.

In a Texas research center study, Ralgro implants allowed marbling to develop similar to marbling in non-implanted steers on feed for 194 or 222 days, and Ralgro implants have no detrimental effect on quality grade distributions. When considering production and carcass variables, Ralgro implants on day 1 followed by Revalor-S on day 70 was the most appropriate implant treatment in this study. This treatment increased ADG 20% over controls and reduced feed-to-gain 8.4% from controls without adversely affecting carcass quality grades. The Ralgro-Revalor strategy produced carcasses of 81% Choice or better, while controls were 77% Choice or better.

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 are an excellent initial implant for finishing heifers.

Optimum performance and highest quality grade were achieved by using Ralgro implants initially for 63 days followed by Revalor-H.

Reference: Start With Z to Finish With an A, SPAH-RAL-5.

When Ralgro implants are used as an initial implant, it is not necessary to administer TBA at least 100 days before slaughter. When using Ralgro Magnum™ implants and Finaplix^®-S, reducing the reimplant time to as few as 64 days did not impact quality grade compared to 104 days.

This program provides considerable flexibility for reprocessing as well as shipping of cattle to the packer without exceeding the effective life of the implants.

Reference: Veterinary Technical Update – Zeranol (Ralgro Magnum) with Trenbolone Acetate (Finaplix-S) in a Reimplanting Program for Yearling Steers: Optimum Timing and Relative Effectiveness, SPAH-RAL-16.

Improved quality grade is not just a matter of more cattle grading Choice. Fewer cattle grading Select also can be economically important.

Ralgro Magnum implants on day 1 followed by Finaplix-S on day 70 or 90 reduced the number of steers grading Standard. A 1% decrease in the proportion of cattle grading Standard will, on average, generate as much additional income as a 1.4% increase to as high as a 7.1% increase in the proportion of cattle grading Choice.

Reference: Veterinary Technical Update – Zeranol (Ralgro Magnum) with Trenbolone Acetate (Finaplix-S) in a Reimplanting Program for Yearling Steers: Optimum Timing and Relative Effectiveness, SPAH-RAL-16.

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 is a registered trademark and Magnum is a trademark of Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation

Revalor and Finaplix are registered trademarks of Hoechst Roussel Vet.

Synovex is a registered trademark of Fort Dodge Animal Health.