ABSTRACT
Profitablity of beef production systems is largely dependent on the growth rate of animals and the efficiency of feed utilization. Many factors affect the growth rate and efficiency of feed utilization in cattle. The efficacy of implanting cattle with anabolic compounds to increase growth rate and feed efficiency is well established. Implanting is probably the most cost-effective management practice available to the cattle producer. The most important of these includes feed efficiency, rate of gain, carcass parameters, and incidence of side effects. The implant management program should be considered an integral part of the total cattle management program. A realistic expectation of benefit from administration of two implants during the suckling period is about 40 lb. Considerable confusion exists in the field regarding the proper implant site for the available products. The efficiency of implanting cattle with anabolic compounds to increase growth rate and feed efficiency is well established.
