Prevalence and risk factors associated to the incorrect application of the anabolic implant in intensive cattle feedlots in Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with the incorrect application of the anabolic implant in feedlot cattle.

Design/methodology/approach: An observational study was carried out in which 888 ears of cattle from 5 feedlot cattle were evaluated. The criteria for the condition of the anabolic implant were correct and incorrect (encapsulated, abscessed, in cartilage, misplaced, crowded, partial and absent). The results were evaluated using the Chi-square test and logistic regression, the alpha level established was 0.05.

Results: A 64.30% prevalence of incorrectly applied anabolic implants was observed. At least 50% of the feedlots presented failures in the application of the implant. The encapsulated condition and the misplaced condition represented 91.6% (51.4 and 40.2%, respectively) of the total of the incorrect conditions. The risk that a bovine presents an incorrect condition increases 1.8 times more when it is a feedlot´s size was greater than 4000 bovines (P<0.001) and 4.2 times more when they are female (P<0.001), the season was not a risk factor (P>0.17).

Study limitations/implications: The incorrect application of anabolic implants leads to failures that complicate their absorption and integration into the body, therefore, it is suggested to carry out more studies to determine the economic impact that this can cause.

Findings/conclusions: It is concluded that the prevalence of implant failure is high, and therefore, the productive and economic benefits that the application of this productive technology favors are not being obtained, and there are also determining risk factors.