Cargill has decided to stop accepting cattle fed the growth promotant Zilmax pending the results of research by Merck Animal Health, which makes the beta-agonist.

"The last of the cattle currently being fed Zilmax that are in Cargill’s supply chain will be harvested by the end of September. Cargill will be suspending purchase of Zilmax-fed cattle in North America, pending research being conducted by Merck," a statement posted on Cargill’s website stated.

The statement was posted three days after Merck announced it would stop selling Zilmax while it assesses whether there is a link between its product and reports that cattle are arriving at slaughter plants sore, stiff, lethargic and ...