Merck Pulls Sales of Zilmax

Merck Pulls Sales of Zilmax

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Merck & Co. said Friday that it would temporarily suspend sales of its cattle-feed additive Zilmax in Canada and the United States. The move comes after reports of cattle displaying signs of lameness, with some major companies like Tyson associating the problems with the drug.

Zilmax is a widely used feed additive for beef cattle to promote growth in the final weeks before slaughter. About 70 percent of the U.S. beef cattle supply is fed with the additive or a similar drug called Optaflexx. On Aug. 7 Tyson Foods announced it would stop buying cattle fed with Zilmax effective Sept. 6 after reports of cattle arriving at its slaughter plants having trouble walking. Tyson associated the issues with the drug Zilmax.

Cattle producers who currently have cattle on the Zilmax will be able to purchase enough of the product to complete the feeding cycle. Merck said it won’t be accepting new consumers until it investigates the claims. The company has launched an audit of the drug.