Feedlot performance and biological responses to coated and non-coated steroidal implants containing trenbolone acetate and estradiol benzoate in finishing beef steers

Predominately Angus steers (n = 24; initial BW = 435 ± 28.3 kg) were used to evaluate non-coated (NC) and coated implants (CI) containing equal amounts of trenbolone acetate (TBA; 200 mg) and estradiol benzoate (EB; 28 mg) in finishing steers on sera metabolite responses, gene expression, and immunohistochemical analyses of the Longissimus muscle (LM). Performance data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design, and all other data were analyzed as repeated measures for a completely randomized design. Treatments were no implant (NI), NC (Synovex-PLUS; Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ), and CI (Synovex-One Feedlot) implant. There were 2 pen replicates per treatment (n = 4 steers/pen). LM biopsies, blood, and BW were collected before feeding on days 0, 14, 28, 56, 84, 112, and 133, with final BW being captured on day 140. Genes of interest were determined by RT-qPCR using two housekeeping genes. Sera was analyzed for estradiol-17β (E₂),17β-trenbolone (TbOH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I), NEFA, and urea-N (SUN). An α of 0.10 determined significance for performance and sera data; α of 0.05 was used for gene and histology data. No performance differences (P ≥ 0.10) were detected. An implant × day interaction (P ≤ 0.10) for E₂, IGF-I, and SUN was detected; implants elevated (P ≤ 0.10) E₂, 17β-TbOH, and IGF-I; and decreased SUN across day of the study, meaning sera metabolites are not altered with time on feed. An implant × day interaction was detected for myogenic factor 5 (MYF-5) positive cells and proportions of MHCIIX. In LM, CI had greater (P < 0.10) IGF-I in LM over NI. CI increased (P < 0.05) G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) expression, as well as, GPER1 semi-quantitative scores over NI and NC. An implant × day interaction (P ≤ 0.05) for estrogen and androgen receptor-positive nuclei was detected; implants had increased (P ≤ 0.05) estrogen and androgen receptor-positive nuclei compared to NI. CIs increase genes associated with muscle tissue growth.