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Hormonal Implants on Stocker Heifers

Extension Education

Jennifer Patterson
Ext Ed Ag/4H
Stilwell

Abstract

Growth promoting implants have been used in beef cattle to increase weight gain and feed efficiency since being approved by the FDA and commercially available in 1957. The use of hormonal implants in beef production is lowly adapted in Oklahoma with only 9% of cow-calf producers with herds less than 100 cows implanting their steer calves.  Only 28% of operations that run stocker cattle along with their cow-calf operation implant their steers.  In 2023, Adair County Extension Educator, Jennifer Patterson along with OSU Extension educators Scott Clawson, Donna Patterson, and Earl Ward partnered with local beef producer, Todd Snyder, to conduct an implant demonstration on stocker heifers.  The demonstration showed how growth promoting implants affected performance and finances.  The Ralgro® implant added an additional 5.63 pounds per head and the Component TE-G w/ Tylan® implant added an additional 14.02 pounds per head, resulting in an additional $10.67 and $29.33 per head over the cost of the implant, respectively. The Synder Ranch also served as a tour stop for the 2023 Adair County Annual Pasture Tour where beef producers were given a handout to learn more about implants, their use in beef cattle, and the results from this local demonstration. Over 80% of the participants evaluated said that they had an increase in knowledge gained about implants.  The information and results were used as a feature article for the Farm Talk Newspaper, which is distributed to at least 10,000 people in ten different states.  A presentation on the information was given to the Adair County Cattlemen's Association and articles were written for OSU Extension newsletters as well as the local newspaper. Beef producers who are slow to adapt a technology are more willing to consider it if they can see local results.  If the Snyder Ranch had implanted all the heifers in the study, it would have resulted in an additional $2,933.  The Synder Ranch is preparing to implant calves in 2024.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Jennifer Patterson, Earl Ward, Scott Clawson, Donna Patterson
  1. Patterson, J. Ext Ed Ag/4H, Oklahoma State University , Oklahoma, 74960
  2. Ward, E. OSU Extension Area Livestock Specialist, Oklahoma State University , Oklahoma, 74401
  3. Clawson, S. OSU Extension Area Ag Economist, Oklahoma State University , Oklahoma, 74401
  4. Patterson, D. OSU Extension Agriculture Educator, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, 74017