Implant restrictions impact cow-calf sector too
Read the label to make sure that the implant is allowed for your phase of production.
By Grant Dewell, DVM
In July 2023 the FDA implemented restrictions on re-implanting cattle to only if specified on the implant product label. While most of the impact limiting re-implanting strategies is at the feedlot level, the new restrictions also affect cow-calf producers.
Suckling beef calvesCurrently, there are not any implants that are approved for re-implanting suckling beef calves. Therefore, calves can only be implanted one time during the suckling phase which could influence which implants you choose to use.
Historically, a common implant strategy was to implant calves at grass turnout with a low potency calf implant and then implant again with a more moderate potency implant at the time of preconditioning prior to weaning. This strategy is no longer viable as implants for suckling calves are not approved for re-implanting.
For cow-calf producers selling calves at weaning the grass turnout implant is still your best option. However, if you are going to background the calves after weaning you may want to consider implanting with a longer duration (100-200 day) estrogen implant prior to weaning.
It is also important to check the label to make sure the implant that you may have routinely used at preconditioning time is approved for suckling calves. With the label changes for re-implanting restrictions, the FDA also more clearly defined the different phases for beef calves which include suckling beef calves, growing beef steers and heifers on pasture, growing beef steers and heifer in drylot (fed primarily roughage diet), and growing beef steers and heifers fed in confinement for slaughter.
The growing categories all state that the calves are weaned and include dairy breeds intended for slaughter. Some of the medium potency implants that were commonly used in a preconditioning program are only labeled for cattle fed in confinement for slaughter.
Weaned beef calvesAfter weaning the implant choices become more complex. The FDA has made clear that they include backgrounding phase of production as part of the feeding cattle in confinement for slaughter phase, even if it occurs at a different site than the feedlot. There has not been any guidance regarding how change of ownership influences future implant decisions.
Many feedlots are delaying implanting so that implants coincide with slaughter based on limited duration of implants and re-implant approvals. Feedlots may start to pay attention to implant programs associated with backgrounding calves if they believe that their implant programs may be affected.
Therefore, cow-calf producers planning on background weaned calves for any extended duration of time should consider implanting with longer duration estrogen implant prior to weaning based on when they expect to sell their calves after weaning.
Weaned calves on pasture or drylot are considered a different phase of production then cattle fed in confinement and there are implants available for forage-based diets that do not have any impact on a feedlot’s implant program. However, they are not allowed to re-implanted during this phase of production.
Remember to read the label, even if you have been implanting for years, to make sure that the implant is allowed for your phase of production and if re-implanting is legal.
For more information visit the FDA website.
Dewell is a beef Extension veterinarian at Iowa State University. Cover photo courtesy of ISU.
