Using hormonal growth promotants in NSW beef production

Summary

Hormonal growth promotants (HGPs) can be a cost effective technology to increase liveweight and reduce age at turn-off in beef production systems.

A review of Australia-wide on-farm grazing trials has shown that HGP (oestrogenic) treated steers showed significant liveweight gain responses when compared to untreated steers growing at low daily weigh gains (0.3 to 0.5 kg). This is relevant to HGP selection in grazing cattle.

Some of the topics covered in this Primefact include:

• what is an HGP
• principles of designing an implant program
• responses to HGP treatment
• pasture quality and quantity
• when to use HGPs in your production system
• warning and cautions