Interactions between cattle breed type and anabolic implant strategy impact circulating serum metabolites, feedlot performance, feeding behavior, carcass characteristics, and economic return in beef steers

Anabolic Implants Varying in Hormone Type and Concentration Influence Performance, Feeding Behavior, Carcass Characteristics, Plasma Trace Mineral Concentrations, and Liver Trace Mineral Concentrations of Angus Sired Steers

“…Red Angus heifers categorized as having high ADG have longer FB durations than those heifers with a low ADG [17]. We have previously found that Angus sired steers have numerically greater feedlot performance and tended to have longer feed bouts and longer bunk visits than Santa Gertrudis sired steers [15]. In the current study, steers in the E2 group had shorter FB and BV, and spent less time with their heads down per BV and FB than CON steers.…”

“…In the U.S. over 90% of cattle receive at least one anabolic implant at some point during production [8], as anabolic implants increase overall performance and efficiency of beef cattle [4]. Implants have the added benefit of also increasing both the environmental sustainability of the industry [2] and economic return to producers [15]. However, despite the clear benefits of implanting, the exact physiological and molecular mechanism that anabolic implants operate through to increase overall growth and efficiency remains elusive [9,12].…”

“…Specifically, cattle need adequate nutrition before implants can positively influence G:F and gain [21]. Additionally, the number of implants and type of implants given [20], the breed of cattle [15], and sex of cattle [22] can all influence how cattle respond to anabolic implants. The Duckett and Pratt review published an average of several studies [4], taken together with the multitude of factors influencing response to anabolic implants, this could explain the increase in performance that was observed in this trial.…”

“…This experiment was conducted at the Utah State University feedlot and was run concurrently with a previously published study [15]. As such, the animals in this study were treated similarly to the previously published study [15].…”

“…This experiment was conducted at the Utah State University feedlot and was run concurrently with a previously published study [15]. As such, the animals in this study were treated similarly to the previously published study [15]. Fifty Angus sired steers (327 kg ± 25 kg) out of commercial Angus cows that had not received any prior growth promotant treatments were stratified by weight at the start of the trial.…”