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The Effect of a Preassembly Zeranol Implant and Post-transit Diet on the Health Performance and Metabolic Profile of Feeder Calves^1,2,3,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, El Reno, OK 73036 and University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bushland, TX 79012

Abstract

A total of 262 Angus steer calves averaging 207 kg from nine (trial 1) and five farms (trial 2) were identified on the farm of origin and one-half of the calves on each farm was implanted with 36 mg of zeranol before entering the feeder calf assembly and marketing system. Calves were assembled, fasted for 24 h and fed hay for 72 h, then shipped 1,368 km. Upon arrival, the following receiving diets were fed for 4 wk to one-third of the calves from each farm and implant group: 1) control diet, 2) high-potassium diet, 3) escape-protein diet using corn gluten meal, which can escape ruminal degradation as a protein source. Implanted calves gained more weight (P<.10) than nonimplanted calves while on the farm, but changes in weight during assembly, transit and the 28-d receiving period were not different (P>.10). Plasma glucose and total protein concentradons were higher (P<.05), while urea nittogen concentration was lower (P<.05) for implanted calves following transit. Increasing the potassium concentration of the receiving diet increased (P<.05) post-transit weight gains, but had no affect on dry matter consumption. Corn gluten meal replaced soybean meal in the escape-protein diet and resulted in similar weight gains. Plasma urea nitrogen concentradons were higher (P<.05) at 2 wk post-transit in the escape-protein diet group as compared with the control group. Receiving diet had no effect on the incidence or severity of bovine respiratory disease, but affected (P<.05) performance during the subsequent 69-d stocker phase of ad libitum access to medium quality hay and 2.27 kg of supplement per day.

¹ Zeranol: Trade name Ralgro is a product of the Int. Minerals Corp., Terre Haute, IN.

² Mention of a trade name or product does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement for use by the USDA.

³ The authors thank Dr. Bob Morrison and Dave Christopher for their assistance in the statistical analysis of the data.

⁴ Res. Anim. Scientist, USDA, ARS, P.O. Box 1199, El Reno, OK 73036.

⁵ Professor Anim. Sci. Dept., Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville.

⁶ Res. Anim. Scientist, USDA, ARS, P.O. Drawer 10, Bushland, TX 79012.

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				W. A. Phillips and G. W. Horn Intake and digestion of wheat forage by stocker calves and lambs J Anim Sci, September 1, 2008; 86(9): 2424 - 2429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]