Glanbia has ordered all its stores to put a temporary hold on selling some batches of its bagged cattle feed. The temporary suspension is linked to an ongoing investigation into the presence of an unapproved feed substance detected in its equine feed.

Last Friday, GAIN Equine Nutrition, owned by Glanbia, confirmed that it found Zilpaterol, a growth hormone licensed for use in the United States but banned in the EU, in some of its horse feeds.

Glanbia said the hold on sales is a precautionary move

The ingredient suspected to be the source of contamination in the horse feed is also used in some of the company’s ruminant feeds. Testing is under way by both Glanbia and the Department of Agriculture on feed batches and ingredients.

Glanbia said the hold on sales is a precautionary move, pending further tests, and fresh feed from its mills is available. Bulk feed is largely unaffected. The Department of Agriculture confirmed that it is liaising with the State Laboratory to test samples for the presence of Zilpaterol, but initial results are not expected until later in the week.