Zilmax

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STX108

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Apr 30, 2009
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With products on the market such as ShowFLEXX that contains the FDA approved Optaflexx, has anyone heard of a feed additive on the market containing Zilmax?
 

simtal

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Yes, but its very unlikely that any show cattle are on it (legally).  Zilmax is a more potent beta agonist than optaflexx.  It's currently used in the high plains in some of the larger feedlots.  Zilmax costs around $6500 per bag (pure zilpaterol).  Therefore, only larger feedlots can justify feeding it (one bag will feed 20-30000 head).  Zilmax is priced according to choice-select spread. As choice-select spread narrows, zilmax is priced higher.  To my knowledge, no feed companies have it included in a show feed.  However, I would guess it would become more available in the future.
 

SouthWest

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Aug 18, 2008
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Zilmax has a 2 day withdrawl on it.  A feedyard has to get training and approval by Intervet before even being allowed to feed it.  It will never be on the open market because the company would be liable if some feed got consumed by accident by another head.
 

simtal

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SouthWest said:
  It will never be on the open market because the company would be liable if some feed got consumed by accident by another head.

How is that different than any other drug?  Labels are labels. Don't matter if its zilpaterol or micotil or whatever.
 

SouthWest

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Micotil is injected into one animal.  Zilmax is fed to various animals in pens.  There is less control if cattle get mixed or strays get out and consume some restricted feed.  If drivers are not educated, there can be some restricted feed still left on the truck and that then gets fed to other cattle.  If some feed is left behind and not shoveled out, and some other cattle get placed in the pen, then they can consume it.  Just more probabilities of cattle injesting the drug than if one just injected it into one animal.
 
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