Melatonin Implants versus Melatonin Pills

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Belties R Us

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Has anyone used the implants with or without success? I was planning on using the pills but I think the implants are cheaper. Not sure how much more or less effective they are though. Opinions appreciated! Is melatonin worth the actual cost or will proper daily care do the same thing? I've been reading older posts and they use Grow and Shine. What is the dosage requirements per calf per day? Which way do you think is the simplest and most cost effective? Thanks!
 

rackranch

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Dosage is 4 implants in every 30 days a minimum of 90 days out but recommended 120 days out.  For me, 16  implants is a lot.  Especially if you need to used a growth implant in there as well.  Calve might not like you around his head by the time its over. : )  That being said, you will get a better and more consistent dosage with the implants.
 

vc

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you can always use Grow n shine for a third option
 

GoWyo

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Does anyone have a good idea how to conveniently grind up the pills?  Thought about using an old coffee grinder and just grind the daily dose and put in pill bottles or something like that.  The pills are a pain to smash every day so that they get dispersed evenly in the feed.
 

chambero

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Why smash them up?  Never had a calf that wouldn't eat them just pitched in the feedpan like any other supplement we top dress with.
 

GoWyo

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Feeding two or three in the bunk, so concerned that somebody wouldn't get the proper dose or that they would sort them and didn't try feeding pills whole.  Guess we will try them whole next time.
 

firesweepranch

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The dosage we gave for a nasty tempered steer was 100 mg a day, so the amount you give depends on the dosage you buy. For us, it worked out to around 16 pills a feeding, and we just through them in the grain whole. The steer never left any behind, but he never left any feed behind either! He never grew hair, but it sure took care of his edginess.  (thumbsup)
 

vc

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We based it off off the recommended dosage for grow n shine, so for hair it is 100mg a day depending on your pills most are 3 mg so 33 pills, we fed them once a day. With multiple cattle you can always give them to them in a bolas capsule once a day, that way you know they get the right dosage.
For hair, 90 to 120 days.
 

klm

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Dec 2, 2010
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I am just starting to use Melatonin. Is there a withdraw time for steers? Also will it show up in a blood or urine test at slaughter?
 

simba

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GoWyo said:
Does anyone have a good idea how to conveniently grind up the pills?  Thought about using an old coffee grinder and just grind the daily dose and put in pill bottles or something like that.  The pills are a pain to smash every day so that they get dispersed evenly in the feed.

When I fed melatonin I just used a sharp knife and was able to chop them up pretty fine. Then I put it in a syringe and sucked up some water. By the time I walked to the barn it was in a fairly consistant mash inside the syringe. I can't remember the brands but one chopped up really good and the other was really hard to cut and didn't dissolve very well. I was able to find the 10mg pills though, so that made it a lot easier to prepare it. My steer took 100mg/day at home and 130mg on showday for those asking.
 

steelroom

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Oct 2, 2008
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puritans pride has 10 mg tablets, so 10 per day. It used to be the cheapest place by on the internet to purechase.
 

Tallcool1

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Jun 21, 2012
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We used Grow & Shine last year, and I think this year we are going to implant.

I know it will cost more to implant, but it is darn sure less hassle.

As far is the melatonin in the implant having a calming effect...I really don't know.
 
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