Dual implantation of feedlot steers with commercial estradiol and trenbolone acetate implants
Bartle, S.J.; Preston, R.L.; Smith, D.J.
Journal of Production Agriculture 3(4): 403-407
1990
DOI: 10.2134/jpa1990.0403
Accession: 002076464
Recent introduction of the trenbolone acetate (TBA, Finaplix, Hoeschst-Rouussel Agri-vet Co., Somerville, NJ) implant into the U.S. market has stimulated interest in additive performance by implanting TBA along with commercial estradiol (E2) implant. Crossbred steers (Bos taurus; n = 168; initial wt = 759 lb) were implanted with one of six treatments in a 2 .times. 3 factorial agreement with four pens of seven steers per treatment. The factors were: 0 (without) or TBA implant either 0, STEER-oid (ST) or Synovex-S (SS), which are E2 based implants. Trenbolone acetate was reimplanted at 63d. Steers were fed a steam-flake grain sorghum based finishing diet for 115 or 153 d (final wt = 1100 lb). No interactions existed (P > 0.1) between TBA and E2 treatmenmts over the experiment. Trenbolone acetate improved average daily gain (ADG; 2.68 vs. 2.44 lb, P < 0.01) and gain efficiency (lb gain/100 lb dry matter intakes; 15.8 vs 14.0, P < 0.001) over non-TBA implanted cattle. The ST and SS increased ADG (2.64 and 2.77 vs. 2.27 lb, P < 0.001), dry matter intake (15.1 and 15.8 vs. 13.8 lb/d, P < 0.05) and gain efficiency (15.1 and 15.8 vs. 13.8) over non-E2 implanted steers. Average daily gain for the SS steers tended to be greater (P = 0.09) than for ST steers. Trenbolone acetate addition improved ADG 13% (P < 0.05), 11% (P = 0.11) and 6% (P < 0.05) compared to non-E2, ST, and SS implanted steers, respectively. The response to all implant treatments declined after 115 d on trial. Carcass characteristics did not differ (P > 0.1) among treatments. Implantation with either ST or SS improved performance over nonimplanted steers and dual implantation with TBA and ST or SS improved steer performance over either implant alone.