Zilmax

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Okotoks

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SheilAnneDavis said:
Why hasn't anyone chimed in with what Zilmax is, what it does and why it does it, on a cellular and biological level?

We had a pretty specific conversation about Zilmax both in the classroom and in the feedlot this past spring. I'm amazed that no one has talked about what it really does when you feed it.

The active ingredient in Zilmax is Zilpaterol hydrochloride, which we were told acted as a repartitioning agent which put a biological preference on the growth of muscle instead of the deposition of fat. One thing that was stressed that the animals body isn't converting fat into muscle, rather using the nutrients it would have put into fat, into muscle instead.

The Zilmax is a way to trigger a synthetic catecholamine hormone response, in other words it mimics hormones like adrenaline and epinephrine, which regulate the cattle's flight or fight response, which is important of course, since cattle are prey animals. That response triggers the body to respond to the animals need to get stronger to avoid predators and builds the muscle. Essentially the Zilmax has the effect of running a wolf through the feedlot and stirring up the cattle's fight or flight response several times a day.(I'm sure the Zilmax is a bit easier on producers and feedlot managers blood pressure though! ha!)
They were also referred to as Beta Antagonists in the conversation, and below are the last two points of information that were given to us about the mode of action.

-β-agonists increase protein synthesis but more importantly they decrease protein turnover thus greater protein accretion.

-Rather than repartition energy they alter the partitioning of substrates towards lean tissues rather than fat tissues (more nutrients to muscle less to fat)

We also talked to a feedlot about feeding Zilmax, however, the details from that conversation are fuzzy as we didn't have the opportunities to take notes. I know that some slaughter plants and customers are very much against using it, where as others feel it's advantageous. They said their customers who visited often referred to the pens being fed Zilmax as "Schwarzenegger cattle" due to the very obvious additional muscle as compared to the other lots. I believe they said they could see results in a few days to a week in the cattle.

Using it you're going to increase your Yield grade because of a high proportion of lean to fat in the body composition, but from what I've been told, you don't want to use it until you've got that animal finished completely because you aren't going to add anymore fat at that point. I believe one topic we discussed was that you're going to compromise on your quality grade when feeding it, but if the spread in pay between choice and select steers isn't very big, the better Yield Grade can make up for that.

There is also a slightly less aggressive product in Optaflexx, which unlike Zilmax, has no withdraw period.

I believe what I have put above is correct, according to the notes I have from my beef production class. If I screwed anything up and someone knows better, let me know what I misunderstand! Thanks :)
Thanks for some good information. I have a couple of questions, is there any residual in the meat product of animals fed Zilmax, especially if they were fed more than the recommended dose?
If an animal on Zilmax was taken off it would they quickly lose the effects since no wolves were stalking them so to speak!
 

SheilAnneDavis

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I'd assume there is residue due to the fact that Zilmax has a 3 or 4 day withdraw before slaughter. I don't see why anyone would want to feed it for extended amounts of time, I've seen articles about it being able to be fed from 20-40 days, but that the optimal results are at 20 days. Why would you keep dumping money into an additive that is going to have diminishing returns? If you're going to use any feed product you're going to want to use the optimal amount, without just wasting money. From a simple dollars and cents stand point, why waste the money on something after it's provided it's optimal results?

I am by no means an expert, but done some readings. I believe I saw somewhere they said the optimal time for the marketing and slaughter of the cattle to be 4-10 days after you quit feeding it. What that means? I'm not 100% sure. Perhaps there is some drop off, but I don't know. 

Here is a pretty good fact sheet put out by Texas A&M I found. Bound to be better than the ones put out the company it's self.  It's a bit outdated. But it does a good job reiterating the point of not feeding these type of supplements illegally and off label.

http://animalscience.tamu.edu/images/pdf/beef/beef-zilmax.pdf
 

Sparkle

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Interesting piece of info for all you Zilmax fans!!! This exerpt is brought to you by Drugs.com. After reading this info you have to ask yourself, Do I really want to risk my health for a little more weight gain?  Please pay close attention to handling risks for humans in the warning section. Then you can say to yourself--I should have stuck to proven genetics...

(zilpaterol Hydrochloride 4.8%)

Active Drug Ingredient
Zilpaterol hydrochloride 21.77 grams per pound (48 grams per kilogram)


Permitted Claims And Limitations
Carcass Measurements
Effect of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride, 6.8 grams/ton (7.5 ppm)a

Dressing Percentage, %↑
Hot Carcass Weight, lbs.↑
Ribeye Area, sq. in.↑
Yield Grade ↓b
12th Rib Fat Thickness, in. NC
Marbling Score NCc
aThe effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride on parameters listed in this table is supported by data generated at the dose tested in the clinical efficacy trials.
NC = No Change, ↑ = increased, ↓ = decreased
bReduction indicates an improvement in Yield Grade.
cZilpaterol hydrochloride has been shown to decrease marbling score when fed for 40 days.

Restricted CA Drug - use only as directed.
Warning:

The active ingredient in Zilmax® is zilpaterol hydrochloride, a beta2-adrenergic agonist. Not for use in humans. An anti-dust process has been applied to the drug product, Zilmax®, in order to greatly reduce inhalation risk. Extended handling tasks with the potential for dust generation require respiratory protection. Wear appropriate skin protection (e.g., impervious gloves, apron, overalls) if there is a potential for extended skin contact. Wear protective eye wear, if there is a potential for eye contact. If accidental eye contact occurs, immediately rinse with water and consult a physician.
 

Sparkle

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Come on people! Obviously you all have some sort of computers! Do a little research on these feed additives. They are all over the internet.
 

aj

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I worked in my buddies 10,000 head feedlot as a feedtruck driver(we read bunks ourselves). It seemed like it would be hard to get a good mix using that little of zilmax product. I believe the liquid protein we used had a heat inhibitor in it(to keep hfs from coming into heat). If I remeber right the same stuff was used in steer rations. They didn't need it but it didn't hurt them either. it sounds like the Zilmax stuff is a little tricky to use. I have a friend who says it is a tixking timebomb ready to go off cause it will be fed off label in show cattle.
 

JSchroeder

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AJ, why did you feel the need to intentionally mislead people in the other thread on this exact same subject?

What's wrong with being straight forward about your point instead of pretending you didn't know what you were talking about?

What does that accomplish for you or the people who read it?

Do you do it for the attention?  Is it the feeling of being better than somebody else?  A person can make a point without playing those silly games.

You are the only one entertained by your shtick any more.
 

aj

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Jeff......I have been approached by 6 people that say they bought bulls in the last 2 years from the winning pen bull deals. They said they barely made it through the breeding season....one died etc.....I was hoping to trick a steer jock or whatever into explaining how Zilmex or whatever is used in show cattle. Theres no way to sue the breeders under the standard gaurentees or what ever unless something shows up in a blood test or autopsy. I spose its the same deal as the Denver display bulls that die one year after they are displayed. I don't know if its zilmez or another problem but I would be scared to death to buy a bull in Denver from what I was told. Seems like a bull outa last through at least one breeding season before they die. Hell I don't know what the jocks do to the bulls. If I mentioned names or said something else I would be crucified. Sounds like the meetings and discussion groups were non-existent at the annual meeting. Registrations are down 4,000 head someone told me. Memberships are down. How can this happen when all the big money came in? You can eat my shorts Jeffy. Signed with love. Please no one discuss Zillmox or whatever.
 

JSchroeder

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I'm not arguing with you on those points.  I for dang sure know better than to argue with you on whatever it is you think the "show cattle people" are doing to destroy the entire beef industry this week.

I'm asking why you think hiding behind faux ignorance and trolling is the way to make your point instead of being straight forward and honest with people?


And grow up, the last person to call me "Jeffy" was a seven year old about 23 years ago.
 

Doc

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aj said:
Jeff......I have been approached by 6 people that say they bought bulls in the last 2 years from the winning pen bull deals. They said they barely made it through the breeding season....one died etc.....I was hoping to trick a steer jock or whatever into explaining how Zilmex or whatever is used in show cattle. Theres no way to sue the breeders under the standard gaurentees or what ever unless something shows up in a blood test or autopsy. I spose its the same deal as the Denver display bulls that die one year after they are displayed. I don't know if its zilmez or another problem but I would be scared to death to buy a bull in Denver from what I was told. Seems like a bull outa last through at least one breeding season before they die. Hell I don't know what the jocks do to the bulls. If I mentioned names or said something else I would be crucified. Sounds like the meetings and discussion groups were non-existent at the annual meeting. Registrations are down 4,000 head someone told me. Memberships are down. How can this happen when all the big money came in? You can eat my shorts Jeffy. Signed with love. Please no one discuss Zillmox or whatever.

Didn't you say that the year you were in Denver that you tried to buy a bull from Jungels sale?
 

Mill Iron A

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Not going to get in the middle of whatever this is but I did want to mention a couple things about AJ's comment about the feedlot mix.  The most common "heat inhibitor" and really only widespread used in the industry is MGA.  Not sure you should be feeding that to steers.  Large feedlots would have no problem feeding any micro supplement with a clam system or something of the like.  Still not sure why anyone would use these kind of supplements to "enhance" a bull.  The show industry is great for the industry, it brings in money that otherwise would have been spent on horse racing, outdoor sports, and whatever rich people blow money on.  Maybe lack of knowledge of the entire industry, lack of connection among producers, RCALF,etc. would be places I would start way before I would blame the show industry.  In fact I enjoy seeing show cattle that utilize crossbreeding and actual muscle in cattle.  I watch so many sales that are supposed to have "range ready" cattle that are an absolute joke.  Just because they are not straight in their shoulder does not mean they are sound.  Breeding cattle that look like pot bellied dinks is ridiculus (kit pharo). And yet people still fall for it.  Yes, number one problem facing the industry is lack of knowledge.
 

aj

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I like Jungels program.......I don't have a dog in this fight......It's not my war to fight......gotta run.......sounds like a 3 day ground blizzard coming in and got to get stuff hunkered down.
 

aj

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Interesting. I still think that the high tech feeds and drugs almost gets to be over whelming today.
 

aj

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Because natural enviromental pressure is being applied less and less in the show herds.
 

knabe

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aj said:
Because natural enviromental pressure is being applied less and less in the show herds.

i can't remember a time when natural environmental pressure was ever exerted on show herds.
 
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