The Minnesota-based agribusiness group announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire feed additive company Integral Animal Nutrition on Friday. Additional financial details of the deal were not released.
The number of beef cattle on feed in Australia has hit record levels and end product prices remain high, opening up lots of opportunity for feed makers, says a Rabobank analyst.
A new research center for beef cattle is taking shape in Elora, Ontario and is expected to expand options for research into cow nutrition, genetics, forage use, feedlot systems and livestock health and welfare.
A pair of studies is set to collect information on the use of antimicrobial products in feed and water on cattle feedlots and in swine nursery and grower-finisher facilities, says the USDA.
EFSA found the available literature investigating the effects of the feed additive, zilpaterol, on animal health and welfare is limited but indicates a potential increase in mortality, heart rate, respiration rate and agonistic behavior in cattle.
Special edition: Animal husbandry: genetics, nutrition and management link
Zilmax maker Merck says it has not made any decision to resume sales of the cattle additive in the US as a campaign group there condemns the company for “taking steps” to put the beta agonist back on the market.
New research suggests that the addition of small amounts of calcium oxide to neutralize the acidity of distiller grains could enable this corn alternative to be used at higher levels in livestock feed mixes.
Cargill said it still has no intention of taking cattle fed Zilmax back into its supply chain, despite Merck saying its research has shown the beta-agonist, pulled from the market last year due to concerns over side effects, is safe.
South Korea, a major importer of beef from the US, Australia and New Zealand, has lifted a ban on the use of animal feed additive, zilpaterol, in beef.
Merck said field trial evaluations on its feed additive – Zilmax – are underway in US cattle feeding facilities but Tyson Foods and Cargill are retaining their ban on the controversial product.
