August 19, 2013

Merck suspends sale of cattle-feed additive Zilmax in US, Canada

Merck Animal Health will temporarily suspend sales of feed additive Zilmax in the United States and Canada, markets worth $159 million in 2012-while it conducts a scientific audit targeting cattle lameness and other mobility issues.

Zilmax is a growth-promoting drug that is fed to cattle in the final weeks before slaughter, and can add about 2%, or 24 - 33 pounds, to an animal's weight. It is in a class of feed supplements called beta-agonists, which speeds weight gain in animals and make meat leaner. Merck's action follows Tyson Foods Inc.'s decision last week to suspend purchases of cattle that were fed Zilmax

Merck Animal Health, in conjunction with independent experts, will conduct a scientific audit, which will monitor the process of feeding of Zilmax, and will follow identified 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. We also will do a thorough review of potential compounding factors-such as nutrition, transportation and receiving facilities.

The suspension 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.

Merck Animal Health upholds that it believes in the science that supports Zilmax and is confident in its safety and performance. However, reinforcing its science and data-based approach, the company has announced it has strengthened its commitment to its Five-Step Approach to Ensuring Responsible Beef. 

"We remain confident in the safety of the product, based on our own extensive research and that of regulators and academic institutions, and are committed to the well-being of the animals that receive it," says KJ Varma, BVSc, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVCP, senior vice president of global R&D. "This important step demonstrates our commitment to providing our industry partners with data that will reaffirm confidence in Zilmax. We sincerely regret that this situation creates business challenges for our customers but it is critical to ensure that this process is conducted appropriately and with rigorous scientific measures. After the five-step plan is completed, the results will be shared publicly."

In addition, Merck is accelerating the development of its Merck Animal Health Advisory Board, which will bring together industry experts, producers, academics and company leadership to promote an open dialogue on animal well-being and help shape and strengthen the company's animal health and well-being program in the future.

Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck.