Feed Lot Magazine Online, Implanting Defects Steal Profits

Incorrect application of an implant leads to decreased performance, reduces profitsWhen it comes to economic return, implanting is, without question, the most advantageous of all the production techniques you can use on your cattle. But implant defects could be quietly robbing you of your implanting investment, and costing you $20 per affected head.

One major cause of defects is incorrect application due to operator inexperience, a problem especially for cow/calf producers. "They typically implant only once a year," explains Kevin DeHaan, Ph.D., VetLife technical service team leader. "Less experience means the implant might not be placed in the proper location in the ear and won't perform as it should."

"Implanting is not complicated," says Terry Mader, Ph.D., professor at the University of Nebraska, "but it takes a little time to become familiar with it and be trained properly." Implanting a calf poses some special challenges. "The highest level of implant failure is probably seen in calves. There's a whole bunch of things that can go wrong," warns Don Gill, Ph.D., professor of Oklahoma State. "Because calves have thin ears, I've seen many people punch the needle clear through the ears."

Tom Troxel, Ph.D., extension beef cattle specialist at the University of Arkansas, urges producers to review proper implanting techniques. "They need to educate themselves on proper insertion procedure for the implant they're using." Because they usually only implant cattle once and don't handle them much afterward, cow/calf producers may not even realize they have a problem with implant defects. "That's why it's important to take the time on the front end to do the job properly," Troxel says.

For a novice implanter, it might take several attempts to get the implant properly placed, and the needle can get dirtier each time. That's how 'inexperience' compounds the other major cause of implant defects: poor sanitation. "Most cow/calf producers do their implanting out on the ranch, with no access to a disinfectant tray and sponges," DeHaan explains. "You're opening up a wound by implanting. It's surgery." Unsanitary conditions allow bacteria into the site, and infections and abscesses may result.

Once an abscess forms, the implant cannot release the active ingredient the way it should. Then you lose in two ways: the money you spent on the implant is wasted, and additional income from weaning an implanted calf with 20-plus extra pounds is forfeited.

Field data have shown that an average 8 percent defect rate occurs with implants, about 95 percent of which is caused by abscesses. "It's impossible to keep completely sanitized out in the field," Troxel says, but you can improve your odds by cleaning the needle after each use with a sponge soaked in diluted disinfectant. Dirty ears need to be scraped and disinfected too. "Even under 'ideal conditions' we have a good chance of causing an infection," Gill warns, "maybe just from pushing a hair in. Having an antibiotic included in the implant could be very desirable."

When proper technique, sanitary conditions and a quality implant are used, improved weight gain is the result. "Implanting is like most jobs," Mader concludes. "The better it's done, the greater your success rate."