October 27, 2006

Bayer HealthCare responds to changes in global cattle market
 

Press release
 

"The global cattle market is in a state of tremendous flux and producers of beef and dairy cattle all over the world will face some major challenges," anticipated Dr Jan van Diest, head of Bayer Animal Health in France, during his welcoming address to delegates at the International Bayer Cattle Symposium.

Bayer HealthCare recently invited over 200 veterinarians and specialists in cattle management from all over the world to attend a high-caliber scientific event organised in conjunction with the 24th International Buiatrics Congress in Nice, France.

Van Diest highlighted the role of Bayer HealthCare's Animal Health Division as a research-based company, which is responding to changes in the global cattle market and seeking to support animal owners and veterinarians with new answers to their problems.

Economic pressure is forcing farmers to produce a growing volume of meat and milk at ever lower costs in order to remain competitive. Manufacturers of veterinary drugs also need to adapt to this situation. This is not an easy task, since the length of time needed to develop a new drug is increasing in step with more stringent regulatory requirements. Leading suppliers of veterinary drugs now invest about EUR40-65 million to bring a new product to the stage of being granted marketing authorisation, and the trend is an upward one.

Agustin Torres, product manager in the Food Animal Production section of Bayer Animal Health, commented, "Against this background, we have all the more reason to be proud of having developed a product that protects calves effectively against coccidiosis and the resulting diarrheal conditions. These problems cause considerable economic damage, and this can be reduced by using the new medication."

At a satellite symposium focusing on 'Coccidiosis and Neosporosis: New Insights', Dr Charlotte Maddox-Hyttel from the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research in Copenhagen, Denmark, warned of the insidious nature of coccidiosis, a disease entity whose role is still underestimated. Agustin Torres took this opportunity to underline once again the great importance for beef and dairy cattle producers to provide effective therapy against coccidiosis for their animals.