To determine the effects of trace mineral (TM) supplementation and hormone implant strategy on growth and carcass characteristics of cattle, 72 Angus-cross steers (388 ± 17 kg) were blocked by BW (6 steers per pen) to a 2 × 3 factorial. Steers were either implanted (d 0 with Component TE-IS, reimplanted d 56 with Component TE-200; IMP) or not (NoIMP). Within implant treatments cattle received no supplemental TM (CON), TM supplemented at 2016 NRC recommendations of 10 Cu, 30 Zn, 20 Mn, 0.10 Se, 0.15 Co, and 0.50 I (mg/kg; NRC), or TM supplemented at feedlot consultant recommendations of 20 Cu, 100 Zn, 50 Mn, 0.30 Se, 0.20 Co, and 0.50 I (mg/kg; IND). Blood samples were collected on d -7, 70 and 124. Steers received a finishing diet for 124 d in GrowSafe bunks and were harvested on d 125. Data were analyzed in SAS as a 2 × 3 factorial with the fixed effect of block, and steer as experimental unit (n = 12 per combination). Day -7 glucose concentrations were used as a covariate in analysis. There was a tendency (P = 0.06) for an IMP × TM for d 124 plasma glucose with NoIMP/NRC being greater than NoIMP/IND and all other treatments intermediate. There were no IMP × TM for final BW, overall ADG, DMI, G:F, dressing percent, backfat, marbling score, or KPH (P ≥ 0.17). Overall ADG tended (P = 0.07) to be and HCW was (P = 0.03) affected by TM, where IND was greater than CON (HCW: 373, 378, and 388 kg for CON, NRC, and IND, respectively). Overall DMI was increased by TM (P < 0.0001) with NRC and IND being greater than CON. Steers receiving implants had greater (P < 0.0001) final BW (559 and 617 kg for NoIMP and IMP, respectively), overall ADG (1.35 and 1.83 kg for NoIMP and IMP, respectively), DMI, G:F, and HCW (359 and 400 kg for NoIMP and IMP, respectively) than NoIMP. There was an IMP × TM (P = 0.02) for ribeye area (REA) with IMP/CON having greater REA than IMP/IND, with IMP/NRC being intermediate; NoIMP had smaller REA, regardless of TM supplementation. There was an IMP × TM (P = 0.02) for YG where NoIMP/IND was greater than IMP/CON with all other treatments intermediate. These data indicate NRC TM recommendations might not be adequate for finishing beef steers, irrespective of hormone implant administration.