Ethics at the sale barn

crossbreed said:

Do implants factor in on get this kind of growth out of the calves?

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I have never ran implants so I can not help with that. I suspect not from what I have read.

We have as good or better a market for non implant calves... I prefer not to do that...

I want calves to wean at 450-550.... we have alot of 950-1100 lb cows. If they do all this on just grass for the summer (spring calving group) then I am very satisfied... that's an average 50% of cow weight. Heifers smaller, steers bigger...
The fall calving cows get silage and hay through the winter... we do not supplement with any extra feed, except the "grandma cows"... to help them milk a little more and hold their body condition. Once the calves get weaned, they tend to grow good because they are used to silage, and they have learned to come to call to go to the bunk...
The spring calving cows will get brought from pastures, to the barn with their calves, to be preg checked, late in the fall/early winter. They will be in the barn lots for a week or 2 and they will get fed silage in the barn for that short time. The calves naturally come right in with the cows, so get a good taste; we get the preg check done, then the preg ones are moved out for their dry period. The few that might be short bred, and the opens, will stay with these calves and come in for silage. So they teach the calves to keep coming in, the calves get over the weaning quick with all this "good feed" to come for... they have a couple of nanny cows for "comfort" from the weaning process...
It works for us... The sweet spot is under 600 lbs for selling calves here... Weaned and bunk broke will gain a few cents per pound most times also.

kenny thomas said:

I do implant. Spend $1.40 and get 20 to 30lb in return. Easy $100.

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We've not done that yet but plan to start this year. How old do you start and do you have a favorite product?

kenny thomas said:

I do implant. Spend $1.40 and get 20 to 30lb in return. Easy $100.

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We've not done that yet but plan to start this year. How old do you start and do you have a favorite product?

crossbreed said:

Do implants factor in on get this kind of growth out of the calves?

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Not for mine... I tried implants and just felt like if my calves can gain weight due to genetics and compete with implanted calves then that's a better way to do things. I don't buy organic veggies, but I don't want my meat to have artificial additives. And yeah, I know the hormones are marginal, but it's not something I want in my freezer.

crossbreed said:

We've not done that yet but plan to start this year. How old do you start and do you have a favorite product?

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If you band at birth it’s best to wait until the cow licks them off. Those slick ears are hard to hold.

When ever you castrate is the time to give first implant.
I prefer Synovex C or S, but you can’t buy small quantities so I usually just use RalGro.
Implants and wormer is the best rate of return of anything you can do to your calves.

SBMF 2015 said:

If you band at birth it’s best to wait until the cow licks them off. Those slick ears are hard to hold.

When ever you castrate is the time to give first implant.
I prefer Synovex C or S, but you can’t buy small quantities so I usually just use RalGro.
Implants and wormer is the best rate of return of anything you can do to your calves.

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100% the correct answer.

SBMF 2015 said:

Implants and wormer is the best rate of return of anything you can do to your calves.

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Only if you have worms. Worming everything without doing fecal egg counts is a giant waste of money and leads to resistance....

Travlr said:

Not for mine... I tried implants and just felt like if my calves can gain weight due to genetics and compete with implanted calves then that's a better way to do things. I don't buy organic veggies, but I don't want my meat to have artificial additives. And yeah, I know the hormones are marginal, but it's not something I want in my freezer.

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Compare what your already eating. Bet you have never said you wouldn't eat cabbage or an egg because of it.

kenny thomas said:

View attachment 65435
Compare what your already eating. Bet you have never said you wouldn't eat cabbage or an egg because of it.

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Like I said, if I can do it with genetics I'm perfectly fine with that.

Travlr said:

Like I said, if I can do it with genetics I'm perfectly fine with that.

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Its not a replacement for genetics I totally agree. But like giving them good grass or feed it just allows the genetics to do the best.

kenny thomas said:

Its not a replacement for genetics I totally agree. But like giving them good grass or feed it just allows the genetics to do the best.

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When do you give them and what kind do you use?

Increased gain from implants in animals gaining weight is one of the most well documented facts in animal science. Kenny, thanks for that chart! Travelr, you’re showing your age (same as mine!). Implants would put gain on your good quality, high gaining calves. At today’s prices, especially, it’s a 10-20 times more increase in profit over cost.

Brute 23 said:

When do you give them and what kind do you use?

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I give them when I castrate or work them. That can be as early as birth or on bought calves, 600lb. If I have them up after 90 days I give it again.
I use Ralgro mainly just because I always have used it.

anewcomer said:

Increased gain from implants in animals gaining weight is one of the most well documented facts in animal science. Kenny, thanks for that chart! Travelr, you’re showing your age (same as mine!). Implants would put gain on your good quality, high gaining calves. At today’s prices, especially, it’s a 10-20 times more increase in profit over cost.

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Yeah, It's a personal preference. I don't like silicone boobs either...

Travlr said:

Yeah, It's a personal preference. I don't like silicone boobs either...

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I understand the implants in calves deal but is just crazy.

I had a funny story but deleted it. LoL

kenny thomas said:

I give them when I castrate or work them. That can be as early as birth or on bought calves, 600lb. If I have them up after 90 days I give it again.
I use Ralgro mainly just because I always have used it.

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I have a neighbor that swears buy them also. When I looked quite a few years ago they were kind of break even just off reading the estimated gains. With these prices now I probably need to look at it again.

Travlr said:

Yeah, It's a personal preference. I don't like silicone boobs either...

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Just like I wouldn't turn down an extra $100 on a calf i doubt i would turn down fake boobs either if given the chance.

I was talking to a guy I buy bulls from the other day and we discussed weaning weights. He said that because of a mixup he didn’t end up implanting his steers at branding time this year for the first time in many years. His weights were down 30-40 lbs. 30 lbs over 200 steers is a lot of money.

Silver said:

I was talking to a guy I buy bulls from the other day and we discussed weaning weights. He said that because of a mixup he didn’t end up implanting his steers at branding time this year for the first time in many years. His weights were down 30-40 lbs. 30 lbs over 200 steers is a lot of money.

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Especially at $5 a lb. Let's just use 30 x 200 = 6000lb x $5 is $30,000. A lot to leave on the table.