Animal Health News & Notes for February 25, 2011

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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for February 25, 2011
Copyright © Brakke Consulting, Inc.
 
Editor: Lynn Fondon, DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
 
Brakke news
recruiting
 
earnings news
Butler Schein
Sanderson Farms
Webster
 
other news
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica
Divergence
Entest Biomedical
Equitex
Global Animal Management
Intervet/Schering-Plough
LifeLearn
Lixit
Monsanto
Quaker Pet Group
Sherpa Pet Group
 
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Animal Agriculture Alliance’s
Tenth Annual Stakeholders Summit
May 5-6, 2011
Arlington, Virginia
 
The 2011 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit’s theme, “United We Eat: Securing Animal Agriculture’s Future” will help attendees reflect on the challenges of the past decade and new opportunities to strengthen agriculture advocacy efforts in the future.
 
All registration materials must be submitted in advance of the conference as on-site registration will not be offered. For additional Summit information, contact the Animal Agriculture Alliance at (703) 562-5160 or by e-mailing summit@animalagalliance.org. Registration materials are also available at www.animalagalliance.org/register.
 
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COMPANY EARNINGS RELEASES
 
> Henry Schein reported results for the fourth quarter of 2010.  Butler-Schein Animal Health sales grew 282%, to $223 million, due to the Butler acquisition. (company website) 
 
> Patterson Companies, Inc. reported results for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 ended January 29.  Third quarter sales of the Webster Veterinary unit declined 1% from the year-earlier period to $150 million.  (company website)
 
> Sanderson Farms reported a first-quarter loss of ($33.6 million) compared with a profit of $15.8 million a year ago. Revenue rose to $428 million from $420 million. The company reported that its feed costs rose 21% in the quarter, while chicken prices fell 4.8%. (Meating Place)
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING, INC.
EXECUTIVE AND SALES FORCE RECRUITING
 
Since 1986 Brakke Consulting, Inc. has successfully assisted many clients in acquiring exceptional employees at all levels, in the many departments of animal health, pet, veterinary and specialty chemical companies.  
 
We pre-qualify candidates, allowing clients to choose from a few of the best applicants for a position.  Our approach increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the Human Resources Departments of client companies. For more information, go to www.BrakkeConsulting.com.
 
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
 
> Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health introduced a new computerized tracking system that allows US catfish producers to declare that fingerlings have been vaccinated with Aquavac-ESC or Aquavac-COL.  Called Aqua-Merit, the data-tracking and certification system was developed with the company’s wholly owned, independent subsidiary, Global Animal Management, Inc. (company press release) 
 
> Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica announced the launch of Buscopan 20, an antispasmodic treatment for use in cases of equine colic, and an aid to the symptomatic treatment of calf scour. A sister product to Buscopan Compositum which contains both an antispasmodic and a non-steroidal component, Buscopan 20 contains only the antispasmodic component – hyoscine butylbromide. (Vet Advantage)
 
> LifeLearn, Inc. announced the launch of MyPetED mobile applications for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. MyPetED allows pet owners to maintain a complete profile of their pets’ health background, instantly contact their veterinarian, and access other helpful services for their pets. (company press release)
 
> Entest BioMedical announced that it will acquire three veterinary hospitals in Orange County, California.   The acquisition would generate about $900,000 in annual sales, raising Entest’s revenue to $2 million a year.  Financial terms were not disclosed. (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
 
> Lixit Corporation announced it has purchased Equitex, a manufacturer of equine accessories.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. (PetBusiness.com)
 
> Monsanto Company announced that it has acquired Divergence, Inc. Divergence’s current focus is its work with parasitic nematodes, including developing biotechnology traits for nematode control and nematicides with novel modes of action and superior safety profiles. Financial terms were not disclosed. (company press release) 
 
> Quaker Pet Group announced it has acquired Sherpa Pet Group. Quaker Pet Group made its first acquisition in July 2010, with the purchase of New York Dog.  Financial terms were not disclosed. (PetBusiness.com)
 
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
 
> EU – BSE REGULATION  The EU’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has voted to allow 22 member states, including the United Kingdom, to increase the age of testing for the presence of BSE 72 months (from 48 months) for healthy slaughtered cattle.  The existing monitoring procedures and age limits will remain for Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. (Meating Place)
 
> US – VETERINARY LEGISLATION  The Congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Veterinary Public Health Amendments Act (H.R. 525), which – if approved by Congress – would allow for the repayment of the student loans for veterinarians who commit to teaching or working in public health. The legislation clarifies the Public Health Services Act (PHSA) by allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use PHSA grants to support institutions that educate future public health veterinarians. The Act will now move to the House of Representatives for a vote. (AAVMC)
 
> US – VETERINARY RESEARCH   The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) announced that its Animal Health Network, a collaborative effort to advance animal research, will develop the Cat Health Network, a species-specific pilot program. The goal of the Cat Health Network will be to improve feline health and welfare through funding of focused feline health studies. (association press release)
 
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Western Veterinary Conference
February 20-24, 2011
Las Vegas
 
Over 14,600 veterinarians, technicians, students, exhibitors and others attended the 83rd Western Veterinary Conference this week in Las Vegas, an 8% increase over 2010 attendance. There was vigorous traffic and interest in the Exhibit Hall in its new second-floor location.
 
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
 
Congratulations to the Western Veterinary Conference on organizing and conducting an excellent meeting in 2011. It was well attended and those I’ve spoken with thought the veterinarians were opening their checkbooks a bit more than last year; let’s hope that continues for the balance of the year.  The impressions and activities at the first two big trade shows that kick off a new year seem to be quite positive.  We’d like to see more new products that will generate $50 million or more in annual revenue, but at least there are a few new products arriving in the market. However, there seems to be no new disease categories to help grow the marketplace.
 
I want to encourage managers in the food animal sector to have one or more managers at the 10th Annual Animal Agricultural Alliance meeting in early May.  It’s always a great time to be in the DC area and it would give you a chance to visit with your favorite US Senator or Congressman.  They seem to need our support and encouragement in a few areas right now.  In particular, they could provide spend some time encouraging the regulatory bodies to review and improve the approval process for new products.  2010 was another disappointing year for new product approvals at CVM and USDA. New products and technology are what drives growth in the animal health markets.
 
The storm clouds that are currently on the horizon for the industry at this point are the record price levels for feed grains and the possibility that the whole Middle East could implode, giving us another round of $4.00 per gallon gas prices. Does this sound a bit like 2008? 
 
Have a great weekend!!
 
Ron Brakke
 
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Brakke Consulting, Inc.
2735 Villa Creek, Suite 140
Dallas, TX  75234    USA