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JBS video inflames beta-agonist debate
Story Date: 8/15/2013
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Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 8/14/13
A video of apparently lame cattle presented last week by JBS USA’s animal welfare director at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association summer conference in Denver has helped fuel further debate about the use of beta-agonists in livestock production.
The video reportedly was shown the same day that Tyson Foods announced it would no longer buy cattle fed zilpaterol, under the brand name Zilmax made by Merck Animal Health, over concerns of their behavior while on the weight-adding drug.
Since then, Cargill, National Beef Packing Co. and JBS USA all have stated they intend to continue procuring cattle fed Zilmax.
Cameron Bruett, spokesman for JBS USA, confirmed to Meatingplace that Dr. Lily Edwards-Callaway, the company’s head of animal welfare, showed the video during a discussion on "certain tools used in agricultural production including beta-agonists" because JBS wanted feedback from other animal welfare experts in attendance. He said Edwards-Callaway told them the cattle had been fed a beta-agonist that she did not specify, but that other factors, such as heat, transportation, genetics and animal health, may have caused the cattle to struggle to move.
"She was displaying several cattle, and some of that population had been fed beta-agonists, but again she did not demonstrate any evidence nor did she state these these animals were displaying signs solely due ot the use of beta-agonists," Bruett said.
Bruett said Edwards-Callaway captured the video in recent months with remote cameras used regularly for auditing animal welfare at a JBS plant that he declined to identify.
Tyson’s move prompted reactions from NCBA and Merck, both of which have defended the responsible use of Zilmax in cattle.
NCBA fired the latest round, saying, “Cattlemen and women believe in making decisions about the use of animal health products like beta-agonists based on science, not speculation. At this time, there is no scientific basis for saying the use of beta-agonists caused the animal welfare concerns cited by Tyson in their decision to stop buying cattle fed Zilmax.”
Merck, meanwhile, has launched a program to retrain and certify beef producers in administering Zilmax to cattle.
Bruett reiterated that JBS at this time continues to accept cattle fed beta-agonists. He said, however, that the company is monitoring Merck's program and awaiting the outcome before it makes a long-term decision.
For more stories, go to http://www.meatingplace.com/.
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