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Report: Zilmax sales may resume

Reuters reports that Merck plans to resume sales of its beta agonist product Zilmax in the U.S. and Canada after it completes an audit of how the product is used.

A spokeswoman for Merck told Reuters that it’s too early to speculate on when those sales will resume.   But it is the first time that Merck has indicated that it intends to bring the growth promoting feed additive back to the market.

Merck halted sales of Zilmax in August after Tyson Foods said it would stop accepting Zilmax-fed beef.  At the time, Tyson said some of the cattle entering their slaughter plants were having difficulty walking. And some animal health experts were suggesting Zilmax, which accelerates muscle growth in cattle, could be one possible cause.

A week later, Merck announced it was going to temporarily pull the product from the market as part of a complete review of how it was being used and a recertification of those using it. Merck also promised a thorough tracking of animals from feedlot to slaughter house in an effort to determine if there were any problems.

Market analysts and economists say the suspension of Zilmax sales is one of the factors behind the significant dip in cattle carcass weights in recent weeks.