Animal Health Division - Profile

Key Strengths:

• Market leadership position and international market expansion opportunities, particularly in Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific, will drive revenue growth.
• Rising global demand for poultry, pork and beef increases the market opportunities for animal health products and feed additives that are safe and effective.
• Expertise in fermentation and recovery process technologies provide low cost manufacturing capabilities and quality assurance.
• Meeting and exceeding stringent regulatory and quality standards builds brand loyalty and ensures customer satisfaction.
• Expanding product portfolio through internal regulatory and development efforts, strategic alliances, product licensing and acquisitions.

The Animal Health Division (AHD) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of animal health feed additives to the poultry, swine and cattle industries in North America, with a strong and growing international presence in Latin America, Asia and Europe. AHD’s principal animal health products are: BMD®, a feed additive used to promote growth and feed efficiency and prevent or treat diseases in poultry and swine; Albac™, a feed additive for poultry, swine and calves; 3-Nitro®, Histostat™, Zoamix®, anticoccidials and “CTC” feed grade antibiotics, all of which are commonly used in combination or sequentially with BMD. With four decades of expertise in fermentation and manufacturing technologies, AHD produces its core Bacitracin-based feed additives Albac and BMD in its manufacturing facilities in Chicago Heights, Illinois, USA and Oslo, Norway.

In addition to its Bacitracin-based product lines, Animal Health also markets many other animal feed additives and health products used for growth promotion, feed efficiency and disease prevention or treatment. AHD’s core product lines have been tested and shown not to create bacterial resistance and are recognized worldwide for their safety and efficacy in promoting animal health. Due to their broad based knowledge of commercial animal production systems, AHD’s field technical service group and sales personnel are able to work directly with commercial feed manufacturers and integrated poultry, swine and cattle producers to promote animal health.

World production of poultry and swine is expected to continue to increase due to global population growth and rising protein consumption as dietary trends improve. With AHD’s expanding international presence in Canada, Mexico, Latin America and Asia Pacific, the Animal Health Division is aggressively pursuing new global market opportunities. New Alpharma offices in Brazil, France and the Far East were established to build upon its presence in these important geographical markets. In 1997, AHD acquired Rhône Poulenc’s anticoccidial Deccox® product line providing entry to the worldwide cattle market, a significant opportunity to expand revenues and profitability.

During 1997 the Animal Health Division also reorganized its North American operations to better serve changing customer demands and market conditions. Utilizing its expertise in fermentation technology and regulatory affairs efforts, AHD is continuing to expand its product portfolio with new products and combination approvals.