|
Cargill suspends Zilmax-fed cattle pending Merck research
Story Date: 8/27/2013
| |
Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 8/27/13
Cargill has decided to stop accepting cattle fed the growth promotant Zilmax pending the results of research by Merck Animal Health, which makes the beta-agonist.
“The last of the cattle currently being fed Zilmax that are in Cargill’s supply chain will be harvested by the end of September. Cargill will be suspending purchase of Zilmax-fed cattle in North America, pending research being conducted by Merck,” a statement posted on Cargill’s website stated.
The statement was posted three days after Merck announced it would stop selling Zilmax while it assesses whether there is a link between its product and a growing body of evidence that cattle are arriving at slaughter plants sore, stiff, lethargic and in some cases unable or unwilling to walk.
The actions by Merck and Cargill follow a letter Tyson Foods sent its suppliers in early August saying it would stop accepting Zilmax-fed cattle on Sept. 6. At that time, a Cargill spokesman said the company would continue to process cattle fed beta agonists, including Zilmax.
“While Cargill has not linked Zilmax to any specific incidents involving animal well-being, the company does believe more research is necessary to answer recently raised questions regarding the use of this product,” the new statement explained.
Cargill referred to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association meeting in early August where multiple packers discussed situations that they believed may have been linked to beta-agonist use. Dr. Lily Edwards-Callaway, head of animal welfare for JBS USA, presented a video at the meeting of struggling cattle captured in recent months with remote cameras used regularly for auditing animal welfare.
“I think there are some serious problems here,” animal welfare expert Temple Grandin told Meatingplace, noting she has personally observed cattle at plants that were sore-footed, lethargic, breathing heavily, moving stiffly and reluctant to move at all. The Cargill statement noted that Grandin was at the NCBA conference in early August and had expressed her concerns.
We waited
According to the Cargill statement, the company was the last major beef packer to allow cattle fed Zilmax into its beef supply chain in June 2012.
“Cargill studied Zilmax for years prior to doing so. One reason Cargill was initially reluctant to accept cattle fed Zilmax was a series of extensive beef tenderness tests that created concern about potential impact to product quality.”
The statement went on to say from 2006 to 2012, Cargill developed best practices for the company’s cattle procurement and research & development teams to ensure product quality, adding, “Of the major U.S. packers, Cargill harvests the lowest percentage of cattle fed Zilmax.”
Dr. Mike Siemens, Cargill’s head of animal welfare and husbandry, will represent Cargill on an advisory board Merck has created as part of its product review.
“There are no food safety issues associated with Zilmax or this decision. Meat from cattle treated with Zilmax is safe to eat. Instead, this decision is linked to Cargill’s commitment to ensure the welfare of cattle harvested in the industry,” the statement added.
For more stories, go to http://www.meatingplace.com/.
|
|
|
|
