Disclaimer
This information originated from: beef.unl.edu
Implants contain hormones similar to what is normally produced in all mammals, cattle and humans alike. Cattle will respond by increasing their weight gain. The implants are generally comprised of three types of hormones, but primarily only 2 increase growth. The three that can be in implants are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone or their derivatives or synthetics. These are the normal steriod hormones that cattle (and humans) produce. Many of the implants have estradiol (estrogenic), testosterone or trenbolone acetate (androgenic), or combinations of the two.
Growth promoting hormones help stimulate growth in cattle by increasing the efficiency with which nutrients from feed are converted to lean tissue. Typically administered as a small implant in an animal’s ear, growth promoting products have been on the market for more than 30 years—with multiple research studies failing to establish to any negative impact on human health. Hormones similar to those in growth promoting products occur naturally in all plants and animals, including humans. For example, a serving of milk contains nine times the level of hormones as a serving of beef from an implanted steer. A serving of cabbage contains a level 710 times higher and soybean oil contains 7,466 times higher hormone levels than a serving of beef. The average man or woman produces 35,000 times more hormones than a serving of beef from an implanted steer. Just like any other animal health product, growth promotants were made available to beef producers for use only after the product had successfully completed the strict approval process required by the Food and Drug Administration. The rigorous and extensive scientific tests required for these approvals are similar to the tests the FDA requires for human drug approval. Before a new animal drug receives FDA approval, it must be clinically tested for effectiveness and safety. If a product is intended for use in a food-producing animal, it must also be tested for safety to human consumers, and the edible animal products must be free of unsafe drug residues. The sponsor must also develop analytical methods to detect and measure drug residues in edible animal products. The use of growth promotants is regulated further by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, which regularly tests meat for residues that might indicate improper use of animal health products.
All meat and milk contains hormones that occur naturally in animals. Plants also contain hormones which are commonly referred to as phytoestrogens, etc. So, all food will contain hormones. Implanting cattle does not increase the concentration of hormones that you consume. As an example, a feedlot steer that is implanted with an estrogenic implant will contain 1.4 nanograms of estrogen which is 0.0000000014 grams of estrogen. A non-implanted steer will contain 1.1 nanograms of estrogen which is 0.0000000011 grams of estrogen in each serving of steak or beef. The only reason we know that is goes from 1.1 to 1.4 nanograms is because we can measure it today with very sophisticated equipment. In essence, there is no change. If consumers are concerned about consumption of hormones, my concerns are with phytoestrogens in plants. Given all the information I have seen and available, implanting cattle has no effect on meat safety. There are also no nutritional differences between "organic" meat compared to traditional meat. By the way, the ears are removed at marketing and never are in the food supply. That is why beef cattle are implanted in that area.
kobo_ranch said:
I just really wanted to know what does go on. It's just hard to compete fairly when there are those few that do whatever it takes to win!!
Implants have little do with the disparity between the winners and losers, IMO.
