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Are calves going to be docked more with implants now than without? Or is this the case in just certain areas of the business?

Last Updated: October 20, 2008

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You have an interesting question. Calves that are implanted will weigh more at weaning than non-implanted calves, and, on a price per pound basis, the heavier the calf, the lower the price per pound. This is called a price slide.

Implants have gone through years and years of testing from a food safety and health standpoint. Meat products from beef animals that have received implants are safe to eat, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is extremely detailed when testing products, especially for human consumption.

There are niche markets where the final meat product has claims of "produced without implants and ...." These products are usually priced higher because it costs more to produce them.

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