World Dairy Diary

Pfizer Focus on Milk Quality

Pfizer Animal Health has launched a new online resource — www.milkqualityfocus.com — offering technical and actionable information on mastitis management and milk quality.

“We understand the challenges dairy producers face and the constant commitment they must have to manage mastitis and produce high-quality milk,” says Dr. Bradley Mills, DVM, Veterinary Operations, Pfizer Animal Health. “With more stringent European Union somatic cell count (SCC) standards on the way, Milk Quality Focus will provide a timely and valuable source of technical, practical and easy-to-use information on mastitis and milk quality.”

Each month, Milk Quality Focus will feature video perspectives from industry experts, veterinarians, dairy producers and processors on a new topic that incorporates the most recent research and efficacy data on mastitis therapies; practical and easy-to-implement advice on mastitis management; and insight on ways to improve milk quality and increase productivity.

The video series currently posted explores dry cow mastitis therapies. Future videos will highlight benefits of extended therapy and broad-spectrum treatment, how milk quality impacts the bottom line, the incidence and management of coliform mastitis, positive impacts of a structured milk quality management plan, and the milk quality supply chain.

Pfizer advises dairy producers to use Milk Quality Focus as a starting point for discussions with their veterinarian or animal health representative about improving their mastitis management program.

Wis. FFA Receives Donation From ANIMART

ANIMART, Inc. recently donated nearly $30,000 to the Wisconsin FFA on behalf of dairy and livestock producers who purchased Pfizer Animal Health vaccines during a 2010 winter and spring program.

“We are proud to have offered large animal clients and producers a program to support FFA through their purchases of Pfizer Animal Health products during a three month promotion,” says Ruth Metz, co-owner of ANIMART with her husband, Dr. James Metz. “ANIMART, through our clients, is pleased to help FFA chapters across Wisconsin develop tomorrow’s future agriculture leaders.”

Since last year, ANIMART has been a member of the Blue and Gold Society, an elite group of nearly 40 individuals and organizations who generously demonstrate their support of Wisconsin’s FFA members and programs by contributing $10,000 or more. Since 2008, ANIMART has contributed more than $70,000 to the Wisconsin FFA Foundation supporting agricultural education and FFA programs benefiting nearly 18,000 Wisconsin FFA members.

Source: ANIMART, Inc.

Boehringer Ingelheim Acquires Fort Dodge Products

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) has closed a deal with Pfizer to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge Animal Health business. The acquisition, which includes products in the U.S., Australia, Canada and South Africa, as well as two manufacturing and research facilities located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, significantly increases the size of Boehringer Ingelheim’s companion animal and cattle portfolios and strengthens the company’s position as a leading vaccine supplier.

“We’ll be expanding our business significantly, in fact, doubling our sales in the United States,” said BIVI president George Heidgerken. “The product assets we’ve acquired from Fort Dodge are a broad range of strong brands in the cattle vaccine business. This is part of our long term strategy to improve our product offerings and our capabilities for the U.S. cattle producers and the U.S. cattle market.”

The cattle vaccines included in the acquisition include the Triangle®, Pyramid®, and Presponse® vaccine lines. Pharmaceutical products being acquired include Cydectin® (moxidectin) for cattle and sheep as well as Polyflex® (ampicillin sodium). The dairy portfolio includes the key brands Today® and Tomorrow®.

Listen to or download an interview with George Heidgerken here:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Pfizer Adds Fort Dodge Products with Wyeth Aquisition

A new Pfizer Animal Health was unveiled last week as Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth, including its subsidiary Fort Dodge Animal Health, was completed.

The acquisition of many of Fort Dodge’s U.S. products allows Pfizer Animal Health to greatly diversify its U.S. portfolio, as well as broaden its offering in all animal health segments. Pfizer Animal Health now offers an enhanced portfolio in beef, dairy, and companion animals, as well as a redefined product line for swine, equine and poultry.

In the beef and dairy animal category, Pfizer is adding FACTREL® (gonadorelin hydrochloride) and the pioneer line of SYNOVEX® implants to its current cattle portfolio that includes DRAXXIN® (tulathromycin), DECTOMAX®, EXCEDE® (ceftiofur crystalline free acid), EXCENEL® (ceftiofur hydrochloride), BOVI-SHIELD ® GOLD, LUTALYSE® (dinoprost tromethamine), ORBESEAL®, and SPECTRAMAST® (ceftiofur hydrochloride). Pfizer Animal Genetics also continues to explore opportunities to apply genomics technology to livestock health and management solutions.

EXCEDE Approved By FDA For Foot Rot

While I was at World Dairy Expo I also spoke with Dr. Gary Neubauer, Pfizer Animal Health, about the fact that EXCEDE has now been approved by the FDA to treat foot rot.

In this interview with him he begins by talking about the company’s Dairy Wellness Plan which he says is the flagship of the dairy side of Pfizer. He says it’s a 3-pronged approach where “we look at the health and welfare of the cow, we look at the health, welfare and economic vitality of the producer and then we look at the quality, wholesome product for the consumer.” He says they strive for a balance of all three of those so that the cow is healthy, the producer is profitable and the consumer has the best quality product.

Gary says that EXCEDE is on of the premier antibiotics in the Pfizer arsenal because of its long lasting formulation and now it’s approved for foot rot. That, he says, makes it fit right in with their Dairy Wellness Plan.

You can listen to my interview with Gary as part of our Milking Parlor Podcast: milking-parlor-43.mp3

To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, here are some instructions.

World Dairy Expo 2008 Photo Album

Sponsors of World Dairy Diary coverage of this year’s World Dairy Expo include GEA Farm Technologies and BASF Plant Science.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Pfizer Shows Its Industry Pflair

Dr. Gary Neubauer, Pfizer Animal Health, attended World Dairy Expo to meet dairy producers and he had a lot of them to meet with! I stopped to ask him about all the activity which included what looked like a lot of political campaign buttons. He says it’s called their Industry Pflair program.

“What Pfizer is trying to do is have a concerted effort in the dairy industry to simply show our pride for the dairy industry, allow producers, veterinarians, industry people to come to the booth and they find lanyards, buttons . . . ” Basically he says that producers can take and wear these items so that people will stop them and ask about it. This provides them with an opportunity then to help educate people about the industry and dispel some of the myths out there. He says people need to realize that a dairy producer is one of the hardest workers you’re going to find.

You can listen to my interview with Gary as part of our Milking Parlor Podcast: milking-parlor-42.mp3

To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, here are some instructions.

World Dairy Expo 2008 Photo Album

Sponsors of World Dairy Diary coverage of this year’s World Dairy Expo include GEA Farm Technologies and BASF Plant Science.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download