2000 Implants have been used to enhance beef production for many years. Typically, they are small pellets impregnated with specific growth promotants designed for slow, sustained release of the active ingredients.
Some implants also contain an antimicrobial intended for a local antibacterial effect.
Therefore, an implant contains active growth promotants, inert compounds, and possibly an antimicrobial. Label use of implants enables producers to cost effectively improve animal growth rates, feed efficiencies, and lean muscle mass. However, implants have been associated with negative affects, such as rectal and vaginal prolapse, buller steer syndrome, and decreased marbling scores and tenderness of the end product. These negative effects can be amplified with breakage or crushing of the implant. Within each size category, raw data were weighted to be representative of the feedlot industry in the 12 states.