Zoetis Expands Hyderabad Capability Center, Strengthens Global Animal Health Innovation

Hyderabad September 10: Zoetis Inc. the world’s leading animal health company today announced a significant expansion of its India Capability Center in Hyderabad. This move marks a pivotal step in advancing global animal healthcare through cutting-edge technology.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by Hon’ble Minister for IT, E&C, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Govt of Telangana, showcased Zoetis’ commitment to fostering innovation in animal health and contributing to India’s burgeoning veterinary sector. The expanded center is set to create several hundred new high-skilled jobs by the end of 2025.

Sri D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, E&C, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Govt of Telangana, said, “I am delighted to inaugurate the Zoetis India Capability Center’s brand-new office in Hyderabad. This expansion of Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health company, is a testament to Telangana’s emergence as a hub for specialized life sciences and technology talent. This investment not only creates jobs but also positions our state at the forefront of the global healthcare revolution and as the destination for One-Health. I am excited to see how they will leverage our local expertise to drive worldwide innovations in veterinary care and we will offer all support to them to grow from this dynamic city.”

Keith Sarbaugh, Chief Information Officer at Zoetis, said, “This expansion is a cornerstone of our global strategy to harness technology for better animal health outcomes. By tapping into India’s world-class tech and digital talent and vibrant start-up ecosystem, we’re accelerating our ability to deliver breakthrough solutions for veterinarians, pet owners, and livestock farmers across the globe. Hyderabad will play a crucial role in driving our digital transformation and cementing our position as the tech leader in animal health.”

As the premier global Capability Center dedicated to animal health in India, the facility underscores Zoetis’ industry leadership and its recognition of India’s critical role in the global veterinary landscape. The global animal health market is projected to grow at a rate of 4-6% in the next five to ten years. This growth is driven by increasing pet ownership, growing medicalization of companion animals, and rising global demand for animal protein.

As the leader in animal health, Zoetis has invested more in research and development than any other company in the animal health industry and has consistently increased its R&D investment over the last several years, reaching $613 million in 2023. This investment fuels the company’s focus on science-driven innovation that has led to the creation and growth of new markets to address unmet medical needs.

Anil Raghav, Vice President and Head of Zoetis India Capability Center, added, “Our Hyderabad center is poised to become a global powerhouse for veterinary technology innovation. We’re not just expanding our physical presence; we’re creating a nexus where India’s top tech talent will directly impact the future of animal health worldwide. From AI-driven diagnostic tools to industry-leading digital solutions for veterinarians and pet owners, the technology developed here will allow Zoetis to advance its vision to shape the future of animal care globally.”

(Source : https://www.apnnews.com/)

Innovations and Challenges in Poultry Health: A Conversation with Dr. Marc Cayol

Poultry Creations Magazine is excited to present an exclusive interview with Dr. Marc Cayol, the Global Animal Health Director at Andreas Pintaluba S.A. (APSA). With a Ph.D. in Physiology and over 28 years in animal health, Dr. Cayol began his career at Pfizer Animal Health, which later became Zoetis, where he played a pivotal role in the development and introduction of vaccines for ruminants and swine across various regions.

Since joining APSA in 2016, he has led significant advancements in livestock nutrition and health. In this interview, Marc shares insights from his career, discusses APSA’s efforts to reduce antibiotic use, and highlights their collaboration with Nanovet Nutrition in India.

This exclusive interview features a compelling conversation with one of the leading experts in animal health.

Poultry Creations: Can you tell us about your journey in the animal health industry, from your beginnings at Pfizer Animal Health to your current role at Andrés Pintaluba SA?Dr. Marc: After completing my Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Physiology, I immediately began my career in the animal health industry at Pfizer Animal Health, which later became Zoetis. Over 20 years, I held various roles in commercial, technical, and marketing capacities. I started with the French organization, moved to the US for a year, and then returned to work at the international level. In 2016, I joined Andrés Pintaluba SA, a well-known European company based in Reus, Spain. Andrés Pintaluba SA (APSA) is part of the larger Pintaluba Group. We manufacture and distribute our products worldwide.

Poultry Creations : As the Global Animal Health Director at APSA, what are your main responsibilities and daily activities?
Dr. Marc: Each day brings new challenges. With the production and distribution of products in many countries, we face a variety of tasks daily. Being a company that manufactures its own products makes things easier. However, I am not alone in this; we work as a team. This includes the Manufacturing, Regulatory, and Export Departments, as well as our laboratory. Additionally, we have Area Managers from the Health Division, each managing a specific zone in the world. We also have one Area Manager based in India.

Poultry Creations: What are some of the strategic initiatives you have implemented at APSA to enhance animal health solutions?
Dr. Marc: There are two aspects to this question:
1. From a supply standpoint, with the increasing demand for our products, I have contributed to a strategic decision to increase our production capacity. This has resulted in LEK Veterina, a company based in Slovenia, joining the Pintaluba Group. This represents a significant step forward in increasing production capacity for liquid products, vitamin and mineral premixes, and gaining access to technology for manufacturing nutritional products such as water-soluble powders.

2. From a product standpoint, one of the key initiatives has been the introduction of the ApsaGut solution in many countries. ApsaGut is a range of products based on esterified fatty acids designed to optimize intestinal health.

Poultry Creations: What major trends do you see currently shaping the poultry health industry, particularly in regions like Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East?
Dr. Marc: There are many companies producing products and solutions for animal health and poultry farms, with production taking place in diverse territories. I am observing two trends that often conflict with each other. End users and farmers sometimes look for the cheapest options, but they are also sensitive to quality. Not all products available on the market can claim the same quality standards that we, as a European company, have to follow. The value we bring is that Andrés Pintaluba Group holds certifications such as GMP, ISO, FAMI-QS, etc. Therefore, while the price of our products may not be the cheapest, customers are realizing that we supply high-quality products that benefit their animals and the economic viability of their farms.

Poultry Creations: What are the biggest challenges facing poultry health today and how is APSA addressing these challenges?
Dr. Marc: The biggest challenge that the poultry industry is facing globally is the required reduction in the use of certain products like antibiotics, alongside the consumer demand for healthy food. Antibiotics will never be banned as they are essential for the survival of animals, but prudent use should guide every farm to ensure their availability in the long run. In India, APSA is commercializing feed supplements administered in drinking water and feed. We are also considering registering some treatment products. Additionally, we have developed solutions that can be used preventively to at least reduce, if not replace, the use of antibiotics. ApsaGut is a good example of how APSA is addressing these current challenges. It aims to manage intestinal health while reducing the use of antibiotics in prevention.

Poultry Creations: How you see development in Indian market? What are the initiative you are looking into.
Dr. Marc: I visit India regularly and see a strong demand for innovative and natural solutions. The market is evolving towards more sustainable and efficient practices. We are focusing on developing products that meet these needs, including natural health solutions and partnerships with local organizations to address specific challenges and enhance farm productivity.

Poultry Creations: Could you please elaborate more about collaboration with Nanovet Nutrition in India. What initiative both the companies are going to take to add value to Indian producers.
Dr. Marc: APSA and Nanovet Nutrition are joining forces in India to focus on the key segment of gut health. APSA will supply the products, while Nanovet leverages its extensive network of customers and professionals to promote the benefits of our solutions, such as ApsaGut. Without Nanovet, it would be challenging for us to effectively conduct technical promotion in a country like India. Through Nanovet’s field presence and customer connections, we are confident that our solutions will reach a wide range of producers, delivering significant benefits to their operations.

Poultry Creations: What advancements do you foresee in the next five to ten years in the field of poultry health?
Dr. Marc: In any R&D project, it is challenging to predict which specific projects will successfully translate into products. However, as mentioned before, the field of investigation is definitely moving towards natural and effective solutions.

Poultry Creations: What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to enter the animal health industry?
Dr. Marc: I don’t have direct experience running a farm, but I view it as a vital market segment since we all play a role in feeding the world, and producers have an important role in this chain. Having spent 28 years working in the animal health industry, I can say that it is a field I know and enjoy. It offers the opportunity to interact with people from diverse countries, making it a rewarding career. Being part of this industry means contributing to the food chain and making a significant impact.

Poultry Creations: How do you view the current state of the poultry market in India, and what potential do you see for growth and improvement?
Dr. Marc: I cannot make a definitive judgment on the current state of the poultry market in India. However, as we observe in many markets, the trend is moving towards greater integration of poultry farms. This shift is likely to offer advantages for farmers but will also introduce more constraints, particularly in terms of performance and biosecurity, which they need to be prepared for.

Poultry Creations: What message or suggestions would you like to give to Poultry Creations Magazine to help us improve and better serve our readers in the poultry industry?
Dr. Marc: I discovered Poultry Creations Magazine during a week spent in Haryana and found it very interesting. The magazine offers valuable tips, shared experiences, and technical articles. It provides a good mix of information for readers. Congratulations to the PCM Team for producing such an informative publication.

The Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSO) in collaboration with the Agriculture Department of the Netherlands Embassy in India organised a pioneering technical session themed “India and The Netherlands – Towards a Sustainable Poultry Sector.” Held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) on November 22, 2023, the event convened esteemed experts and industry leaders to delve into the vital aspects of sustainable poultry practices.

The Show attracted good response from the elite of the Poultry industry with the galaxy of prime speakers in their respective field.The idea of Sustainability, which is a happening word around the world yet with limited and narrowed understanding of the How of it – is indeed a challenge!

The Dean, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Veterinary University DUVASU Mathura – Prof (Dr.) Pankaj Kumar Shukla – a very popular and well-known figure in the industry – not only with in the government but excellent interaction with the active associations, federations and an excellent bridge between the government policies and the seamless benefits of the knowledge and technology to the private sector ultimately helping the farming community. Dr PK Shukla – made and exhaustive but points with a punch of how the Sustainability objectives in our poultry industry – which is more specific to it was brilliantly explained and shared.

Mr Bouke Hamminga (Director PasReforms) another seasoned traveler of India from the Netherlands threw light on how modern hatching technologies has an significant impact on the sustainable poultry production. There were new concepts that helped accelerate growth and increase profitability.

Mr Edouard Perrault, Director SASSO (Hendrix Genetics) shared his experience of how the genetic innovation and advancements were affecting the life of the rural farmer in the traditional colored bird farming in the tropical countries of Africa, Asia. This seems to have a positive impact on the Indian objective of doubling the farmers income. Easy management of the birds and solving generation of income and also addressing the nutritional requirements.

The Agricultural Counsellor of the Netherlands Embassy Mr. Michiel van Erkel is not a new face in these events over the past so many occasions at Poultry India.
The industry thanks him for offering such a beautiful platform for interaction between the Specialists, Industrialists and the government for the benefit of Poultry Industry. The moderator and the audience expressed their immense happiness and thankfulness for the efforts of Michiel in initiating such an event where his efforts to bind the countries in a useful exchange of idea and partnership for the growth of the industry. There were a good number of Dutch investors, companies and participants who always have appreciated such events.

Mr Selvan Kannan (Value Consultants) conducted the Moderation with seamless flair in ensuring interactions to bring out the best of the speakers and the august audience that were rapt in attention. All prominent media persons were present to partake the message on the latest on the sustainability!

The event concluded grandly with take home points and also gathering with dinner. Mr Rambabu from the NBSO did a good job in organizing this successfully once again as in continuation of several of them in the past.

In acknowledgment of the remarkable strides made in the field of poultry farming, the state government has conferred the prestigious Chief Minister’s Award upon Mr. Rishipal Garg, a dedicated poultry farmer from Samana. This esteemed award not only includes a certificate of commendation but also symbolizes a profound honor and recognition of his contributions.

The recognition ceremony took place at the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Ludhiana, where the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, had the honor of presenting the Chief Minister’s Award to Mr. Rishipal.

The event garnered participation from various high-ranking officials from the agriculture department and the enthusiastic local community. It is noteworthy that the event was organized in collaboration with the Punjab Poultry Farmers Association.

Mr. Rishipal Garg is not just a prominent figure in the poultry industry; he also holds the position of President in the Punjab Poultry Farmers Association. His contributions to the poultry sector extend beyond the production of high-quality poultry.

He has pioneered innovative techniques for producing compost from poultry waste, significantly benefiting local farmers.
Remarkably, Mr. Rishi Pal is revolutionizing farming by using Japanese technology to convert manure from his layer birds into compost. This pioneering project in India sterilizes the manure, eliminates odors, and transforms it into an ionized form. The resulting compost is odor-free, pH balanced, and enriched with all 17 essential nutrients, delivering positive results for farmers.

The presence of numerous agricultural officers at the event underscores the growing importance of adopting modern technology in the village of Thuhi, where Rishipal’s farm is making a profound and positive impact.

In essence, Rishipal’s poultry farm serves as a shining example of success and progress in the poultry farming sector. His dedication, innovative practices, and commitment to sustainability have not only improved the local poultry industry but have also become a source of pride for the entire community.”