Technology in today's world of nano-this and wireless-that is tough to tame, especially if most of the day is spent at the pasture or pen working all types of cattle in all types of conditions in hopes of penciling in a profit.

But the recent Cattle Industry Tradeshow in Reno, NV, attests to the fact that companies are harnessing new technology to provide producers and feeders with hands-on products and services aimed at improving cattle performance.

The BEEF New Product Tour covered territory from enhanced fly control products to new DNA markers to determine feed efficiency genetics. Making the tour to critique the new offerings were BEEF staff and two independent observers — John Schafer, a Buffalo Lake, MN, Hereford producer; and Clay Mathis, New Mexico State University Extension livestock specialist in Las Cruces.

Revalor^®-XS growth implant from Intervet

Implanting cattle is a proven performance-enhancing tool, and reimplanting has provided an extra boost for cattle after the midway point of feeding. But reimplanting can cause added stress on cattle. The answer could be Revalor^®-XS, a steer implant containing both the initial and second implant pellets.

It's the first combination, delayed-release implant for steers fed in confinement that delivers reimplant performance in just one application, says Jim Miles, Intervet Inc. marketing manager for beef cattle.

“It delivers the proven Revalor performance technology of trenbolone acetate and estradiol that cattle feeders trust to improve cattle-performance traits,” he adds.

The new product provides the same dosage as a Revalor-IS implant followed by a Revalor-S. There are four uncoated pellets and six pellets with the X-7^™ polymer coating for delayed release. At about 70 days, the same time reimplanting would take place, the coated pellets are released at rates to provide performance benefits.

“We're getting the value of enhanced performance of the two implants, in addition to removing the hassle of the two-implant process,” says Eric Alsup, vice president, Intervet's Animal Health Business.

Schafer, who also feeds out calves, says the new implant concept should work very well. He's waiting on additional data from Revalor-XS expected for commercial release by mid-summer. “If it looks favorable, I'll probably try this implant,” he says.

Mathis says cattle feeders “will embrace this new technology, primarily because it has the potential to reduce the labor involved with reimplanting.”

The new implant's cost wasn't yet established at press time. For more on Revalor-XS, visit www.intervetusa.com.

ClariFly^® from Central Life Sciences

A new larvicide designed to control house and stable flies, ClaiFly^® is a feed-through product with the active ingredient Diflubenzuron.

Launched last fall, its primary focus is confined cattle. It passes through the cattle's digestive system into manure where flies breed. Larvae consume the active ingredient, which prevents them from developing into adults.

“It interrupts the fly cycle,” says Central Life Sciences' Mark Taylor. He says farmer-feeder and dairy trials indicate ClariFly used in a good Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program gives the producer “a favorable level” of fly control.

“These are nuisance flies that transmit disease and affect beef cattle productivity,” Taylor says. “Losses can be attributed to reduced weight grains and decreased feed efficiency caused by loss of blood and excessive energy expenditure from battling flies.”

The product controls organophosphate- and pyrethroid-resistant flies. “It's a management tool in a complete IPM program,” Taylor says. Cost of ClariFly is about 4¢/head/day.

“It should fill a niche for cattle in confinement during the fly season,” Schafer says. “I like the product's safety for humans, livestock and the environment. I'll be trying ClariFly this summer.”

For more on ClariFly, visit www.centralflycontrol.com.

GrowSafe Beef^® individual animal management

GrowSafe Systems introduces a unique system for measuring individual animal performance with its GrowSafe Beef^® system. It features fully automated real-time technology that continuously monitors and measures individual performance in the pen.

Set up at pen watering areas, an animal's front legs activate the system when it comes to drink. The animal's partial body weight is scanned and converted to the full body weight. In a typical day, at least 4-6 weight points are measured by the system.

The system allows feedyards to determine when cost of gain begins to exceed the value of gain. “This provides the feedyard with a unique growth curve and prediction into the future,” says Alison Sunstrum, GrowSafe vice president. “We also monitor an animal's frequency and duration at the water trough. We can get a better idea if it's becoming sick.”

The University of Missouri's Monty Kerley is among animal scientists from three universities observing the GrowSafe system, which is also under test at five commercial feedyards. “We've never had a chance to say ‘when is that calf ready to go to market?’ With this system, we can calculate average daily gain after 15 days on feed, then project that growth accurately 45 days into the future,” Kerley says.

GrowSafe data shows that marketing cattle when the gain cost exceeds the gain's value results in an average profit increase of $15.26/head.

Sunstrum adds that when an animal becomes sick, it's automatically marked with spray paint. Pen riders can easily remove the marked animals.