Int’l - Rumensin approved for lactating, dry dairy cows

Long-used in beef and poultry production in the US, Elanco has received FDA approval of Rumensin (monensin sodium) as a feed additive for use in lactating and dry cows. The company says the product is the only FDA-approved feed ingredient for lactating and dry cows that increases digestive efficiency by economically delivering more milk per pound of feed - on average, a return of $5 for every $1 spent on the feed additive. There is no withholding period for milk produced by cows fed Rumensin because of its quick metabolism. There are no detectable monensin residues in the milk produced, either, says Elanco. Rumensin has been used in lactating dairy cattle in more than 20 other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and South Africa. It was first approved for use in lactating dairy cattle in 1978 in New Zealand. It has been used in replacement heifers since 1983, and has been widely used in beef cattle production since 1975. In beef, the product improves nutrient utilization, reduces metabolic disorders and controlls protozoal parasites, Elanco says. Rumensin improves the efficiency of rumen fermentation by changing the naturally occurring microbial populations, which enables cattle to get more energy from every pound of feed. In the US, monensin sodium is also approved and marketed as Coban for use in poultry, including chickens, turkeys, and quail.