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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for May 15, 2009
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM, MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
earnings news
Alpharma
Bioniche
PetMed Express
Provimi
Ridley
Seaboard
other news
Elanco
Neogen
Starpharma
Vetoquinol
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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES
> King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Revenues from the Alpharma Animal Health business were $80 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. (company website)
> Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. announced financial results for the third quarter of its 2009 fiscal year, ending March 31, 2009. Consolidated revenues totaled $7.4 million compared to $7.2 million for the corresponding period in fiscal 2008. The increase in sales involved a variety of animal health product lines, including Folltropin-V, Cue-mateTM, Pregnecol and embryo transfer products where promotional efforts contributed to increased sales across numerous geographic locations. (company website)
> Provimi reported results for the first quarter of 2009. Revenues were EUR 434 million ($573 million), a decline of 19% compared to the first quarter of 2008. The sales decrease was primarily attributable to decreasing raw material prices and lower volumes. (company press release)
> Ridley, Inc. reported results for its fiscal 2009 third quarter ended March 31, 2009. Revenues were $141 million, a decline of 16% compared to the comparable period in the prior year. Net income was $3.5 million compared to $5.0 million in the comparable period in the prior year. The Nutrition Solutions division, which includes the feed supplement block and equine nutrition businesses, reported sales of $31 million. (company website)
> PetMed Express, Inc. announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Net sales for the year were $219 million, an increase of 17% compared to the prior year. Net income was $23 million for the year, compared to net income of $20 million for the prior year. (company website)
> Seaboard Corp. reported net earnings in its first quarter ended April 4 of $16 million compared to earnings of $70 million in the year-ago quarter. Sales in the quarter were $917 billion compared to sales of $994 billion the year ago quarter. (Meating Place)
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
> Starpharma Holdings Limited announced the signing of a collaborative research, license and commercialization agreement with Elanco. The parties will collaborate to develop new animal health products with enhanced properties using Starpharma’s dendrimer technology. (PRNewswire)
> Vetoquinol USA celebrated the opening of its new US headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. The French company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony during which its managing director offered tours of the facility. (Dallas Business Journal)
> Neogen announced the launch of Funcol Elizabethan collars, a full line of functional and colorful veterinary Elizabethan collars. The collars feature pawprints in seven different collars for easy identification of the line’s seven different sizes. (company press release)
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
> MEXICO – H1N1 VIRUS Smithfield Foods’ CEO said in a letter to employees that additional testing conducted by the Mexican government of the company’s pig herd in Veracruz turned up negative for H1N1 or any other virus, contradicting local accusations that the farm was the source of the outbreak. Smithfield voluntarily sought the services of independent laboratory tests even after Mexican, US and other international health authorities had inspected the company’s jointly held farm in Veracruz and determined there was no evidence of H1N1 originating there. (Meating Place)
> US, EU – HORMONE-TREATED BEEF A long-running trade clash between the US and the EU over hormone treated beef is almost resolved, according to the top US trade representative. The EU last week agreed to buy more high-value American beef to avoid having classic European products like Italian mineral water and French Roquefort cheese slapped with punitive sanctions by the US, which says the World Trade Organization has repeatedly ruled in its favor in the 13-year dispute. (Cattle Network)
> US – ANIMAL LEGISLATION Maine’s governor has signed legislation preventing two farm animal housing methods. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, the new law will prohibit gestation crates and veal crates. (Feedstuffs)
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
There’s nothing like a few days in Washington, D.C. to help one better understand why April 15th is so important to our federal government. The problem seems to be that government agencies under the supervision of the Congress spend money faster than we can send it to them.
I must say that I did enjoy my time in D.C. visiting with management at the CVM (Center for Veterinary Medicine), a couple of clients and attending the Animal Agricultural Alliance meeting. I was particularly impressed with the progress that the Animal Agricultural Alliance has made the past few years. There were over 150 managers in attendance representing the national and state organizations of the major species, manufacturers of products and others supportive of animal agriculture. It appears to me that the Animal Agriculture Alliance has the right people at one table, and if the combined interest of those involved can be focused on the priority issues, there could be light at the end of the tunnel in combating the information that is being spread by various anti-animal agriculture groups.
It will take a combined effort to educate the public regarding animal agriculture and mute the misinformation campaigns that are prevalent in the minds of consumers. It’s estimated in 2007 and 2008 that animal rights or welfare groups raised over $300 million in each year. As a starter, have you called or written your state or national representatives regarding the animal agricultural issues in the past 30 days? If not, you’re part of the problem; they need to hear from those that understand the other side of the story.
Have a great weekend!!
Ron Brakke
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