VetLife Growth Promotant Use and Safety FAQs

GROWTH PROMOTANT IMPLANT PRODUCTS

Growth-Promotant implant products
1.	What implant products are offered by VetLife?
2.	Where are VetLife implants manufactured?
3.	Where are your implant devices manufactured?
4.	How do I use and care for the Component One gun?
5.	How do I get a VetLife implant device?
6.	Where can I purchase VetLife implants?
7.	What is the purpose of the Tylan pellet in Component with Tylan implants?
8.	Does the Tylan pellet have any systemic effects within the animal?
9.	Is there a withdrawal for any implant products?
10.	Can implants cause any side effects?
11.	Do implants cause behavioral problems in cattle?
12.	Do implants cause dark cutters?

Growth-Promotant implant products

1. What implant products are offered by VetLife?

VetLife offers a complete line of implant products for all beef production needs – from suckling calf implants to finishing feedlot implants. The VetLife implant reference chart lists all products, ingredient levels, indications and implant devices. If you need assistance in developing implant strategies for your operation, please complete the VetLife request form and include your question. The VetLife Technical Services team will answer your questions promptly.

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2. Where are VetLife implants manufactured?

VetLife is a subsidiary of Ivy Animal Health. All VetLife implant products are manufactured by Ivy Animal Health at the state-of-the-art, company-owned facility in Overland Park, Kansas.

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3. Where are your implant devices manufactured?

All Component One guns are hand-assembled with pride by a dedicated team at the Ivy Animal Health facility in Overland Park, Kansas. Each gun is signed by the assembler to ensure quality and satisfaction at the user level.

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4. How do I use and care for the Component One gun?

The Component One gun is easy to use and very durable and reliable. Please follow the tips below.

Component One Gun use Tips [76 KB]

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5. How do I get a VetLife implant device?

VetLife implant devices are provided by the distributor from which you purchase product.

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6. Where can I purchase VetLife implants?

VetLife implants can be purchased from your local animal health provider, veterinarian or an animal health distributor. Contact VetLife if you need assistance in purchasing any VetLife product. We can be reached by phone at 888.462.3493.

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7. What is the purpose of the Tylan pellet in Component with Tylan implants?

The blue Tylan pellet contains 29 milligrams of tylosin tartrate as the active ingredient. It is added as the first pellet in each dose of Component with Tylan brand implants. The Tylan pellet acts as a localized antibacterial, maintaining the health of every implant site and protecting your implant investment.

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8. Does the Tylan pellet have any systemic effects within the animal?

No. Tylosin tartrate acts as a localized antibacterial only.

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9. Is there a withdrawal for any implant products?

There is no withdrawal for any VetLife implant products

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10. Can implants cause any side effects?

Generally, properly used implants cause no deleterious effects. But producers should be aware that implants can alter the appearance and behavior of cattle in some circumstances. Labels of some implant products caution against specific side effects such as prolapse or bulling. Producers should check product labels before making any implant decisions.

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11. Do implants cause behavioral problems in cattle?

Implants include biologically effective doses of synthetic or naturally occurring steroid hormones as active ingredients. These steroids may be involved in the complex regulation of behavior and animal-to-animal interactions, but many other factors are involved as well. If you would like more information about the variety of factors that contribute to bulling behavior in the feedlot and management tips to minimize this problem, please request a buller management kit by completing the VetLife request form.

A well-chosen and properly applied implant program should not result in any unusual behavioral problems, but producers should be aware that implants can alter the appearance and behavior of the cattle in some circumstances. Labels of some implant products caution against specific behavioral effects such as increased bulling. Producers should check product labels before making any implant decision.

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12. Do implants cause dark cutters?

Implants do not cause dark cutters. Dark cutting carcasses are caused by abnormal physiology after slaughter. Normally, muscle contains glycogen, a type of starch that is used by the muscle for energy. After slaughter, glycogen is converted to lactic acid. Because circulation has ceased, lactic acid accrues in the muscle and the pH drops, producing normal beef characteristics. If glycogen is absent at slaughter, these normal changes do not occur and the higher than normal pH results in beef that is darker, firmer and drier than usual. This is called a dark cutter or DFD (dark, firm and dry) beef.

Any event that causes muscle glycogen to be abnormally low at the time of slaughter could potentially result in a dark cutting carcass. Usually, high incidences of dark cutters are caused by specific stresses such as long hauls or overnight stays before slaughter. Some cattle are more susceptible to cutting dark than others, and there are some times of the year that dark cutters are predictably high. Implants can be involved, too, as some implant programs may increase the likelihood that some cattle will cut dark. In particular, TBA-containing implant programs occasionally result in a higher incidence of dark cutters than implant programs that do not contain TBA.

One to one-and-a-half percent of fed cattle produce dark cutting carcasses. A high incidence of dark cutters can be a severe economic problem for the cattle feeder. The causes of dark cutters are complex and not fully understood. Proper pre-harvest management, at and after the feedyard, can help to avoid dark cutter problems.

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