FDA expands approval for feeding Optaflexx
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for feeding Optaflexx (ractopamine hydrochloride) to beef cattle as a topdress to increase live weight gain and improve feed efficiency during the final 28 days to 42 days of the finishing period.
As a result, cattle feeders of any size may now feed Optaflexx as a topdress or in a complete feed to increase live weight gain and improve feed efficiency by helping cattle better utilize nutrients.
“Cattle feeders are always looking for ways to improve performance during the final days on feed since cattle naturally slow down their growth rate and become less efficient,” says Travis Choat, director of beef technical consulting for Elanco.
Since Optaflexx has a zero-day withdrawal when fed according to the label, feedyard managers can react quickly to changing market conditions.
Keeping tenderness
“Optaflexx is a beta-1 agonist, which increases protein synthesis while having little effect on fat metabolism, or marbling,” explains Choat.
“This is different from beta-2 agonists, which have been shown to negatively affect tenderness in beef due to protein degradation – an important part of the tenderization process – and impacts on marbling.”
Related website: Elanco
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