Agricultural News
Dan Thomson on Fatigued Cattle Syndrome- Updated with Audio and Published Study
Sat, 22 Aug 2015 10:35:51 CDT
The director of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University, Dr. Dan Thomson, reports on important new research which confirms a feedlot cattle condition dubbed "fatigued cattle syndrome". This study discovered the actual cause of highly-publicized cattle mobility issues at the packing plant which occurred a couple of years ago, and that the use of beta-agonist products in cattle finishing was not the root of the problem.
Zilmax was voluntarily withdrawn by Merck in August of 2013- they continue to maintain an up to date website- Zilmax.Com and the Company says they continue to work to get Zilmax back onto the market once field studies are complete.
According to a report published in the Journal for American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Thomson and his co-researchers believe that while the use of Zilmax might be a factor in developing these mobility problems- it is clearly not the only factor- "Although anecdotal evidence generated concern that cattle fed the ?-adrenergic receptor agonist zilpaterol hydrochloride were at greater risk of developing mobility problems, compared with cattle not fed zilpaterol, this condition is likely multifactorial."
They conclude in their article "More research is necessary to elucidate the metabolic, biomechanical, and pathophysiologic changes asso-ciated with FCS and investigate potential risk factors for the development of FCS such as the feeding of ?-adrenergic receptor agonists, body weight, heat stress, the sorting of cattle into groups with similar body
weights prior to shipment, cattle handling practices during loading and unloading, the distance cattle have to walk before loading or after unloading, the length of time cattle spend in transit, and cattle foot-
ing so that practical strategies to effectively minimize or prevent FCS can be developed and implemented."
The full report can be seen by clicking on the PDF file at the bottom of this story.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear Eric Atkinson talk with Dr. Thomson about this condition- and how his research suggests that Zilmax is not the cause of Fatiqued Cattle Syndrone.
06455_Fatigue_Cattle_Syndrome_JAVMA.pdf
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