Melatonin

[kwolf]

I plan to use melatonin implants on my steer this year and im wondering how well they have worked for everyone else.  I also plan to use a cool collar from sullivans, what are your experiences with that?

 

[Boot Jack Bulls]

We used melatonin implants for the first time last year and had mixed results. On a clean Alias steer, we had little to no hair to start with and ended up with not much more.However, since we were at it, we also used it on our lim-flex heifers. Limis are notorious for bad hair coats and no leg hair and these two were not much different. The melatonin did the trick with those two. After about one month, they shed out an entire coat and we were seriously worried. During the second month, the hair grew like crazy and it was super workable. The one won the WI state fair supreme bred & owned female title and looked so much like a club calf that we had tons of steer guys trying to get in on her.  We only used the implant version and it gets pricey fast. We paid $20 per implant, and put one in both ears every 30 days. Proof that getting the purple banner is rarely cheap!

 

[showsteerdlux]

They work, but it really makes a calf head shy quick.....

 

[HF CHARS]

We have had good luck using grow and shine,,,kind of a hassle to drench them with it everyday ,but they don't get headshy like the above said,,

 

[Boot Jack Bulls]

We use a head table for things like this so they can't make the situation worse. They were also yearling animals, so they are used to chute work. We didn't have issues with them getting head shy, but I would be reluctant to use this method on younger/ greener animals. Also should mention that melatonin can make cattle kinda lazy. The same product is used as a human sleep aid, so its good to keep in mind. Our quiet heifers got so quiet that they needed caffeine before going in the ring. I can help chill out a nervous steer and get him to gain too. Just things to consider.