Merck Animal Health has stopped selling Zilmax growth
promotant for beef cattle.
The surprise move comes less than a day after the company
said anybody using the product will need to take training on its proper use.
About a week ago Tyson Foods said it will stop buying cattle
fed the growth promotant in their rations, effective next month, because of
concerns about cattle showing up lame at its slaughter plants.
Are we surprised that Tyson has more clout with Merck than many others who have noticed, and complained about, lame cattle?
And where are the government officials who are supposed to be monitoring the products they approve for marketing through their system to gather reports on adverse effects? Don't pretend there have been no such reports.
JBS and Cargill said they will continue to buy the cattle.
Merck said it will stop selling Zilmax in both Canada and
the United States while it undertakes more research.
It said temporary suspending sales “will allow
sufficient time for the establishment of valid study protocols, identification
of feeders and packers to participate in the audit, and creation of a
third-party team to oversee this process and validate its results.”
The company also plans to study cattle as they
move from feedlots to packing plants to determine whether there are other
factors involved in creating lameness.
“We also will do a thorough review of potential
compounding factors—such as nutrition, transportation and receiving facilities,”
the news
release says.
