By Max Pruetzel-Thomas
Animal Pharm News
June 23, 2011
US animal health product distributor AgriLabs is to market an insecticide for use on cattle, developed by SmartVet. The companies have signed an exclusive sales and marketing agreement that allows AgriLabs to commercialize SmartVet’s AIM GelCaps and the associated VetCap applicator system.
AIM GelCaps resemble paintball pellets but contain a measured dose of the pyrethroid insecticide cyfluthrin, which controls horn flies, face flies and biting and sucking lice. The VetCap applicator gun fires the capsule, which bursts on impact to deliver the appropriate dose of insecticide. This enables cattlemen to treat animals quickly and efficiently, without having to herd or confine them. Once the cattle are accustomed to the process, it is less stressful than rounding them up to apply ear tags or pour-on, according to SmartVet.
The sales and marketing deal was agreed at the Kansas City Animal Health Investment Forum, where SmartVet first showcased its product. AgriLab’s technical services manager Dr Joel Ehrenzweig said: “As a veterinarian dealing with the significant challenges cattlemen face in the field and as an industry representative, I cannot emphasize too strongly the significance of the role of the Animal Health Corridor in bringing SmartVet’s VetCap technology to AgriLabs. Lost production from horn flies cost cattlemen an estimated $800 million a year. Since the VetCap Delivery System does not require running cattle through a chute, the costs of treating cattle and production loss due to handling stress are significantly reduced.”
AgriLabs will demonstrate the VetCap system to cattlemen throughout the US Gulf States this summer. Adam Yankowsky, strategic business unit manager at AgriLabs, said: “With this exclusive collaboration, SmartVet can reach the beef cattle market and dovetail with our business model of partnering with inventive development companies who can benefit from the broad sales and marketing reach of AgriLabs.”
Reprinted with permission of Animal Pharm News
