Evaluation of Two Implant Strategies, Revalor- XH or a Combination Revalor- IH/Revalor- 200 on Heifer Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics

A commercial feedlot trial examined effects of two implant strategies (Revalor- IH on d 1 and re- implanted with Revalor- 200 on d 101 or Revalor- XH on d 1) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of heifers fed 183 days. Th ere were no differences between implant strategies for final body weight, dry matter intake, and average daily gain. Heifers implanted with the combination IH/200 treatment had improved carcassadjusted feed conversion, greater LM area, and lower calculated yield grade compared to heifers implanted with XH. Th e response in growth performance between the two implant strategies suggests that the partiallycoated Revalor- XH implant can be used in place of a more aggressive implant strategy when heifers are fed to similar days

Effects of Optaflexx Fed in Combination with MGA on Feedlot Heifer Performance

A commercial feedlot experiment was conducted using 1,807 heifers to evaluate the effects of Optaflexx fed in combination with MGA on finishing heifer performance. In heifers receiving MGA throughout the entire 126-143 day feeding period, feeding Optaflexx for the last 31-38 days increased ADG and hot carcass weight compared to heifers fed MGA but not Optaflexx. Heifers fed MGA and Optaflexx had increased DMI, improved feed efficiency and increased final live weight. Carcass quality measurements were not influenced by treatment

Effect of Three Initial Implant Programs with a Common Terminal Revalor®- 200 on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Traits of Weaned Steers

A commercial feedlot study utilizing 1,350 calf- fed steers (initial BW = 623 lb; ±23 lb) compared three initial implant strategies: Revalor®- IS (day 1), Revalor®- IS (day 1) and Revalor®- 200 (day 67), or Revalor®- XS (day 1). Each initial implant strategy was followed by a terminal Revalor®- 200 implant (day 133) to determine effects on performance and carcass traits. No differences in final body weight, intake, gain, or feed conversion were observed on either a live, or carcass adjusted basis. Th ere were also no differences in hot carcass weight, USDA quality grade, or USDA yield grade. Results from this study suggest initial implant strategy has minimal impact on feedlot and carcass performance when following with a terminal Revalor®- 200 implant

Implant Programs for Feedlot Heifers using Synovex® Plus™, Revalor®-H, or Finaplix®-H with MGA

A commercial feedlot experiment was conducted using 1,558 heifers to evaluate the effects of implant programs on finishing heifers. Implanting with Synovex Plus increased ADG and hot carcass weight compared to heifers implanted with Revalor-H or Finaplix- H and fed MGA. Heifers implanted with either Synovex Plus or Revalor-H had increased DMI compared to heifers implanted with Finaplix-H. Marbling score was influenced by each of the implant treatments, being highest for Finaplix-H followed by Revalor-H and Synovex Plus

Evaluation of Two Implant Strategies, Revalor- XH or a Combination Revalor- IH/Revalor- 200 on Heifer Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics

A commercial feedlot trial examined effects of two implant strategies (Revalor- IH on d 1 and re- implanted with Revalor- 200 on d 101 or Revalor- XH on d 1) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of heifers fed 183 days. Th ere were no differences between implant strategies for final body weight, dry matter intake, and average daily gain. Heifers implanted with the combination IH/200 treatment had improved carcassadjusted feed conversion, greater LM area, and lower calculated yield grade compared to heifers implanted with XH. Th e response in growth performance between the two implant strategies suggests that the partiallycoated Revalor- XH implant can be used in place of a more aggressive implant strategy when heifers are fed to similar days

The Effect of V-Max® on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Cattle Fed Corn and Corn By-product Finishing Diets

Seven hundred sixty-two crossbred steers were used in a feedlot trial to determine the effect of V-Max® on performance, carcass characteristics, and the incidence and severity of liver abscesses. Finishing diets included either V-max® or the combination of Rumensin® and Tylan®. Performance was not different between the two treatments; however, including V-max® in the diet resulted in an increased incidence and severity of liver abscesses. Numbers of steers with small abscesses were similar between treatments; however, moderate and severe liver abscesses were increased in steers fed V-Max® compared to steers fed the combination of Rumensin® and Tylan®

Implant Programs for Feedlot Heifers Using Synovex® Plus™

Two commercial feedyard experiments evaluated implant strategies for feedlot heifers. In both experiments, implanting heifers with Synovex Plus increased ADG compared to heifers implanted with Finaplix-H and fed MGA. In Experiment 1, implanting heifers with Synovex Plus improved feed conversion and increased live basis net returns, and the use of MGA with Synovex Plus increased carcass merit basis net returns and had similar marbling scores compared with Finaplix-H and MGA

Impact of Feeding Alkaline-Treated Corn Stover at Elevated Amounts in Commercial Feedlot Cattle

A commercial trial was conducted to compare feeding 20% alkaline treated corn stalks (TRT) in place of 14% dry-rolled corn and 6% native stalks (CON). Both diets contained dry-rolled corn (40 or 54%), 35% wet distillers grains plus solubles, and 5.17% supplement. Alkaline treatment was performed by adding 5% calcium oxide to 95% ground corn stalks (DM basis) and water to equal 50% DM. Cattle fed TRT had lower ADG and poorer F:G with equal DMI. The changes in gain were due to lower live and carcass weights. Carcass quality was impacted subtly, and reflects the lower gain with equal days fed between the two treatments

Summary of Implant Programs for Feedlot Heifers using Synovex® Plus™ or Finaplix®-H with MGA

Data from three feeding trials conducted in commercial feedlots designed to evaluate implant programs for finished heifers have been summarized. Implanting with Synovex Plus and feeding MGA improved ADG by 4.4% compared to implanting with Finaplix-H and feeding MGA resulting in 10 lb heavier carcasses. Heifers that were implanted with Synovex Plus had increased DMI compared to those implanted with Finaplix-H. Percentage of heifers grading Choice or above was lower for those heifers implanted with Synovex Plus compared to Finaplix-H, though marbling score only tended to be lowered for those heifers implanted with Synovex Plus compared to implanting with Finaplix-H

Evaluation of Initial Implants for Finishing Heifers

A commercial feedyard experiment evaluated initial implant strategies for feedlot heifers. Heifers were administered either Revalor-IH or Synovex-H at initial processing, with both treatment groups receiving Revalor-200 as a common terminal implant. Implanting heifers initially with Revalor-IH improved feed efficiency and ADG compared to heifers implanted initially with Synovex-H. In addition, Revalor- IH implanted heifers had higher marbling scores while 58% more carcasses achieved the upper two-thirds Choice category. There were no differences in USDA yield grades. Selling Revalor- IH implanted heifers on a carcass merit basis returned $14.22/head more than Synovex-H implanted heifers. New reduced-dose initial implants can improve both feed efficiency and marbling scores, suggesting carcass quality can be positively influenced with no negative impact on growth performance