Update on Zilmax Provided
Merck Animal Health updates cattlemen on the progress of its five-step process to bringing the beta-agonist back to the marketplace.
by Kindra Gordon for Angus Journal®
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 6, 2014) — Ron Bryant with Merck Animal Health provided an update on the current status of their beta-agonist product Zilmax during the Cattle Marketing & International Trade Committee meeting Feb. 6 at the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Bryant serves as Merck’s business unit head for the company's U.S. ruminants division.
Merck suspended sales of the Zilmax product in the United States and Canada in August, after concerns emerged over mobility of cattle arriving at packing plants.
Immediately following that suspension, Merck worked in conjunction with the cattle industry to develop a “Five-Step Approach to Ensuring Responsible Beef.” Bryant noted that this five-step plan reflects their commitment to try to address — and resolve — the concerns related to Zilmax. He provided the following comments regarding where they are with implementation of those steps:
1) Merck’s plan called for formation of an Animal Health Advisory Board made up of representatives from small, medium and large feeders, packers andcow-calf operators, as well as academic, animal health and nutrition experts, to review available data.
Bryant reported that this Board has been formed and includes a diverse group representing all sectors of the industry. He said they “meet on a regular basis” every few weeks as the company works to move forward on the process of reinstating Zilmax.
2) The company has also implemented a process to certify employees at feedyards who want to feed the Zilmax product once it returns to the market. Training and certification will be required for participating feedyard’s consulting veterinarian and nutritionist, along with the operation’s management. Bryant said this was done to ensure that everyone administering the Zilmax product has been trained to feed it properly.
Once indviduals pass the certification test, they then receive a number. “Only with their number can an individual get access to Zilmax,” Bryant said. Individuals must recertify annually. If a new employee is hired at the feedyard, they have 30-60 days to contact Merck to receive the training, take the test and become certified.
Bryant stated, “Some thought we’d lost control on who was feeding Zilmax, and that’s not a completely untrue statement. By having a certification process and a number assigned to feedyards, we’ve reduced that risk. We think this certification process is a positive thing.”
3) Currently, Merck is working with industry to initiate large-scale mobility studies to directly compare cattle fed Zilmax with control cattle. Feedlots are currently being sought for the study, which will involve 240,000 head of cattle at several locations. Packers are also being sought to slaughter the study cattle. Bryant said, “Packers will be the deciding factor on how fast we can go with getting this study started.”
The study will follow the cattle from the feedyard to the packing plant to determine potential causes of lameness and other mobility issues during feeding, transportation, offloading and staging at the processing facility. Merck Animal Health will do a thorough review of potential compounding factors — such as nutrition, transportation, receiving facilities, etc.
Bryant said Merck is committed to going through the seasons and the heat period with the study. That resulting data will also be verified by a third party at Kansas State University.
He added, “It’ll be a good thing. We’ll know more when these studies are done, and that’s a good thing.”
Once the audit study is completed, the fourth and fifth steps of Merck’s action plan can be implemented. They are to:
- Reinforce appropriate management practices for feeder customers to include overall nutrition and feeding objectives, animal handling, low-stress environments and transportation, based on audit findings; and
- Share findings and remain transparent about the review and audit process.
When asked what the timeline may be for bringing Zilmax back to the industry, Bryant said, “I think the industry will let us know when they are comfortable with the technology.”
He concluded, “We are doing what we think is right and right for the industry — and that’s what we are committed to doing.”
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