Dairy Beef Implant Strategies: the Benefit of Tba-containing Implants for Holstein Steers

Approximately 20% of the beef tonnage produced in the United States is derived from Holsteins, through harvested dairy beef or cull dairy cows (Randy Blach, Cattle-Fax, personal communication). This represents a significant contribution to the U.S. beef supply. More and more large commercial feed yards have seen the opportunity available with feeding Holstein steers. Inherent variation between dairy and beef breeds of cattle warrant altering management of Holstein steers to account for these differences. Differences in social behavior, energy requirements, feed intake, days on high grain rations, and body protein and fat accretion provide opportunities for the feed yard. One management strategy that needs to be evaluated and altered between Holstein steers and beef steers is the implant program. The benefits of implants, and more specifically the trenbolone acetate (TBA)/estrogen combination implants, may be more pronounced in Holstein steers than beef breeds.