STUDIES OVERVIEW

Zilmax® (zilpaterol hydrochloride) feed additive benefits the food chain from the cattle feeder to the retailer, while providing consumers with a proven safe, wholesome and quality product.

Performance:
Zilmax is indicated for increased weight gain, improved feed efficiency, and increased carcass leanness in cattle fed in confinement for slaughter during the last 20 to 40 days on feed.

Zilmax is shown to:

• Increase dressing percentage
• Increase hot carcass weight
• Increase ribeye area
• Improve yield grade
• Have no effect on 12th-rib fat thickness
• Have no effect on marbling score (when fed for 20 days)

Consumer studies: A benefit to retailers and consumers is the ability of Zilmax to provide production and harvest benefits without compromising quality. Intervet’s research, conducted for the FDA, demonstrates that consumers find little difference in beef tenderness and overall acceptability of beef from cattle treated with Zilmax feed additive and current beef products.

More than 500 consumer evaluations for taste and tenderness demonstrated equal consumer acceptability for 14-day aged steaks from cattle fed Zilmax and control-fed cattle. The group rated both control-fed cattle and cattle fed Zilmax for overall acceptability — 94 percent (Zilmax) vs. 92 percent (control/untreated), and tenderness acceptability — 93 percent (Zilmax) vs. 98 percent (control/untreated).