By Hutchinson
and Sharon Harmon
UNIVERSITY PARK - Growth
stimulant implants are synthetic
or naturally occurring hormones
that are placed under the skin in a
calfs ear. How these implants
promote growth is not completely
understood. They appear to work
by stimulating the production of
Fallen fruit branches can lead to poisoning
not a problem. However, these
leaves release hydrogen cyanide
as they wilt, which can cause ’
problems if eaten.
Damaged wild cherry trees
along fields and in the woods next
to pastures can be especially
dangerous to livestock who eat the
leaves with other forage plants.
Some farmers have lost animals
who have eaten a substantial
amount of wilted cherry leaves
CREAMERY - Trees and
branches downed by wind storms
or deliberate pruning can cause
problems to children and livestock
if clean-up is not done carefully.
According to County Agent Paul
Reber, the leaves of the genus
Primus - including apricots,
cherries, peaches and plums -
contain cyanide. Under normal
growing conditions, the leaves are
American Chianina Association
NORTHEAST REGIOtS&L
JUNIOR FIELD DAY^fiVf#
held in conjunction with the Ivowl j r|
York Interstate Fair
Sunday, September 8
Northeast Region Junior Heifer Show 3:30 p.m.
Cblack division, white division)
Northeast Region Junior Steer Show 4:30 p.m.
Judge: Dr. William Henning, Penn State University
Heifer Show (2 divisions)
Grand Champion $250
Reserve champion $lOO
plus class money
Caution urged in use of calf growth stimulants
other hormones, particularly
growth hormone. Growth hor
mone, a naturally produced
substance from the pituitary gland
located at the base of the brain, is
an important regulator of the rate
and efficiency of beef cattle
growth.
When approved implants for
nursing calves are used properly, a
deadline August 14, 1985
Entry
- PREMIUMS -
Chianma open show at the York Fair
September 7, 1985
All open show entries must be made directly
to the York Fair.
Larry Moore - Field Day Chairman
(814) 692-8363
i & k
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H C 3 H
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CT3—
$lO per head entry fee
Mail entries to Mrs Marjorie Brothers
Lake View Farm
RD 1
East Berlin, PA 17316
(717) 259-0564
Chianma cross steers have won the Pennsylvania
Farm Show the past 10 years.
In addition, Chianina steers have been named
champions of the Eastern National Show the past four
years.
15-pound to 25-pound or more in
crease in weaning weights can be
expected. Growing and finishing
cattle will grow eight to 20 percent
faster and five to 12 percent more
efficiently. These responses can
reduce the cost of beef production
by 10 to 20 percent per head. Im
plant costs are minimal in relation
to the economic gains.
The sweet odor from wilting
leaves also may attract small
children who live to nibble on
almost anything. Chewing a few
leaves may cause some stomach
discomfort, but probably won’t
cause serious problems. Never
theless, caution your children
against chewing or eating any
plants not grown specifically for
food.
If you have wilting apricot,
cherry, peach, or plum branches
on your property, drag them out of
reach of children and livestock.
Better yet, get rid of them
altogether.
Grand Champion $3OO
Reserve Champion $l5O
plus class money
CHIANINA
The winners!
Several different types of im
plants have been approved for use
in beef cattle. Compudose® is
approved for steer calves from
birth. It is a silicon rubber implant
containing 24 mg. of estradiol 178.
Because of the structure of the
silicon rubber implant, the
estradiol is released slowly over a
200-day period. The effective life of
Compudose is therefore 200 days or
more. All other implants currently
approved are in a compressed
pellet form and are generally
assumed to be effective for 80 to
120 days.
Ralgro'" is approved for use m
both steers and slaughter heifers
from birth. Its active ingredient is
zeranol, a substance derived from
a mold commonly found in corn.
Ralgro has a 65-day withdrawal
period. The dosage is 36 mg. in
three 12 mg. compressed pellets.
Steer-oid - contains 200 mg. of
progesterone and 20 mg. of
estradiol benzoate in the form of
eight compressed pellets. It is
approved only for steers over 400
pounds. Since Steer-oid is com
posed of naturally occurring
Steer Show
hormones, it does not have a
withdrawal period.
Synovex® is marketed in three
formulations. Synovex-S is for
steers and Synovex-H is for
slaughter heifers. Both of these
products are cleared only for cattle
over 400 pounds. Both Synovex S
and H products contain 20 mg. of
estradiol benzoate. The Synovex-H
formulation also contains 200 mg.
of testosterone proprionate, while
the Synovex-S formulation con
tains 200 mg. of progesterone.
Synovex-C is approved for suckling
calves of both sexes, and contains
100 mg. of progesterone and 10 mg.
of estradiol benzoate.
Proper technique is important
when implanting any of these
products. When any compressed
pellet implant except Compudose
is crushed, its effective life is
reduced. Recent research has
shown that the effective life of
these implants can be 140 days or
longer. This may be true if proper
implanting is used and no pellets
are crushed.
Crushing may also increase the
incidence of “buller” steers.
Buller steers exhibit unusual
sexual activity in the feedlot and
are a tremendous loss in reduced
performance and increased labor.
Dollar losses for buller steers were
estimated at over $23 per head in
1976.
Implant location is important m
reducing implant loss. Synovex,
Steer-oid and Compudose
manufacturers all recommend
unplanting in the middle one-third
of the ear. Implanting close to the
base or outer edge of the ear can
increase the incidence of implant
loss or reduce performance.
Ralgro, on the other hand, should
be implanted at the base of the ear.
Recent research has shown a
substantial increase in per
formance by implanting Ralgro at
the base of the ear instead of im
planting one inch from the base of
the ear.
*
<
K ,
A dirty needle or a manure
covered ear may lead to an in
fectious injection. If the com
pressed pellet implants become
encapsulated in connective tissue,
infection may occur or the implant
may become ineffective. Studies
indicate that a silicon rubber
implant, such as Compudose, may
be more easily rejected when
infection occurs.
There are some common
mistakes in implanting. If the
implant needle is not withdrawn
slightly before the pellets are
deposited, the pellets may be
crushed. A dull needle or a needle
inserted at the wrong angle can
puncture the cartilage. The im
plant should be deposited between
the skin and cartilage. The major
veins of the ear should be avoided.
Currently, Ralgro is the only
implant that has a withdrawal
time. Reimplanting should be done
early to insure the maximum
response without violating the
withdrawal period. Early reim
planting is beneficial
economically, since implanting or
handling heavy feedlot cattle (less
than 65 days prior to slaughter, for
example) may actually reduce
performance. In any event, do not
implant cattle with Ralgro within
65 days of slaughter.
Diethylstilbestrol (DEIS) was
banned by the FDA in 1979. Use of
DES as either an implant or feed
additive is illegal and subject to
legal penalities.
Implants are a definite economic
advantage to the beef industry.
Proper, responsible use will ensure
their availability in the future.
(Lawrence Hutchinson is a Penn
State professor of veterinary
extension, and Sharon Harmon is a
Penn State veterinary science
research assistant. Part of the
information above was collected
from the lowa State University
publication, “Growth Stimulants
for Beef Cattle.”)