Always adhere to best management practices including Beef Quality Assurance compliant practices for implant use in beef cattle. Start by reading label directions on specific implant products. Label directions include information on the age, weight, and/or sex of cattle for recommended use of specific implants. Some implants require refrigerated storage or protection from light. Others require cool, dry storage, and still others should be stored at room temperature without excessive heat or humidity. The needed storage conditions will be indicated on the label. Review label instructions prior to implant storage and use. Check the product expiration date, and only use implants before expiration.
Make sure the appropriate implant applicator (often called an implant gun) is on hand for use with the specific implant chosen. Manufacturers make implant guns specifically designed for use with certain implants. Match implants to the correct implant guns to minimize implant defects. Load the implant gun according to label directions. Only use sharp needles in implant applicators. Dull or burred implant applicator needles increase the risk of tissue damage and infection at the implant site. Burrs on needles can also damage implants. Check periodically for clogged implant applicator needles. Wash clogged needles with water and then disinfectant and allow to dry before reuse. Effective animal restraint makes implant administration easier and more likely to be done properly. Catching cattle in a head gate just behind the ears is ideal when implanting. With horned cattle, use of nose tongs can provide additional animal restraint and handler safety. Once a calf is properly restrained, select an appropriate ear for implanting. Select the ear with fewer ear tags, tattoos, and ear notches. If ears are tagged during the same cattle working event, then administer tags prior to implants. Try to tag calves in the opposite ear from the implant site. When possible choose the same ear to implant in all calves worked together. This will help in monitoring implants later.
Locate the proper implant location on the ear. Proper implant placement is under the skin on the backside of the ear. Implants should be administered in the middle third of the ear between the skin and cartilage. Therefore the needle insertion site should be a point toward the tip of the ear at least a needle length away from the intended deposition site. Implants should never be placed in the cartilage ribs of the ear and should not be placed closer to the head than the edge of the cartilage ring furthest from the head. If the implant site is contaminated with mud or manure, then scrape the site with a dull serrated knife and clean the site with disinfectant before implanting. Do not contaminate the site with dirty hands. For reimplantation, place the second implant parallel to but not in contact with the previous implant or in the unimplanted ear. Grasp the ear to be implanted with one hand, and position the loaded implant applicator parallel to the backside of the ear. With the tip of the needle, prick and lift the skin to completely insert the needle under the skin avoiding major blood vessels.
The needle should form a canal between the skin and cartilage for deposit of the implant. Be careful to avoid gouging or piercing the cartilage. Needle resistance may indicate that the needle is gouging the cartilage. Once the needle is completely inserted, then back it up slightly (about 1/8 to ¼ inch). Some implant guns have retractable needles that eliminate the need for pulling the needle back slightly. Depress the trigger of the implant gun, and withdraw the needle slowly and steadily. Implant pellets should be deposited in a row. Gently palpate the ear to make sure that the implant was properly inserted.
Pellets should not be bunched or crushed, and the full dosage of implant pellets should have been deposited. Improper implant administration can make the implant less effective or ineffective. Never sacrifice proper implant administration and sanitation for speed. Make sure that all persons administering implants are trained in acceptable implant handling and administration techniques. Select the most conscientious crew member to administer implants. Periodically check implant technicians to make sure they are using good implanting technique. There are several common potential causes for implant failure including missing implant, partial implant, crushed or bunched implant pellets, improper implant site, abscess, inadequate implant storage, and inappropriate implant timing or target animal. Many, if not all, of these causes of implant ineffectiveness are preventable.
Abscesses often result from infected implant sites. Abscesses may wall off the implant preventing absorption or push implant pellets out of the implant site. Adequate sanitation during implanting can help prevent abscess development. Thoroughly disinfect implant needles between animals. Wipe implant applicator needles with cotton or gauze moistened with alcohol or other suitable disinfectant. Consider fly control measures when implanting during fly season.
Maintain thorough and accurate implanting records. Record the date of administration, product administered, location of administration, and unique animal identification. An animal health processing map may be useful for this.
Implant records should be retained, and cattle buyers or future managers should be made aware of past implant management. This will help prevent poor implanting decisions in later production phases. For more information on stocker cattle production or related topics, contact an office of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Source: Mississippi State University