All scientific studies prove there is zero risk to humans, and laboratory tests consistently support this finding. Although safe to humans, Maverick Ranch’s policy is that we are opposed to some of the implants and provide an economic incentive to discourage use. In 1995, several strong androgen implants became popular. If used, they tend to make steers a little more like bulls, and some of the beef becomes too lean to qualify for USDA Select or Choice grade which are the USDA grades that Maverick Ranch uses. Colorado State University has recently completed a study that shows that several implant strategies not only reduce USDA grade, but they make the beef so lean that it decreases tenderness and palatability.

Since it is important for a branded beef program to have the best possible eating qualities, we respond by simply not buying cattle that have been managed in a way that creates poor eating quality. Genetic improvement throught genetic breeding for leanness in cattle has been so great that implants have lost their economic edge by creating more cattle that “won’t grade” USDA Choice and Select.