Comparison of implants in grazing heifers and carryover effects on finishing gains and carcass traits

Abstract

Crossbred yearling heifers were allotted randomly to three grazing implant treatments: 1) control (CONT), 2) Component® E-H (CEH), and 3) Ralgro® (RAL). After grazing native grass for 74 days, the heifers were transported to a western Kansas feedlot. All heifers were implanted with Synovex-H® upon arrival at the feedlot and were reimplanted70 days later with Finaplix-H®. The CEH heifers gained faster while on grass (P<.10) and in the feedlot than the RAL heifers. The CEH heifers had heavier carcasses than RAL heifers. Control heifers had the largest ribeyes. Other carcass traits, including USDA quality grade, were not influenced by pasture treatment. In this study, administration of CEH to heifers grazing native grass optimized overall performance whencombined with the feedlot implants (Synovex-H and Finaplix-H).