AUSTRALIAN-OWNED company Troy Animal Healthcare will acquire a suite of sheep product brands from multinational Elanco in the aftermath of Elanco’s takeover of Bayer AG’s animal health business.

Troy Animal Healthcare said today it will add to its existing animal health portfolio with the acquisition of the rights to Elanco’s sheep livestock brands Avenge®+Fly in Australia, and the Zapp® Encore® and Maggo® sheep ecto-parasite products in New Zealand.

Elanco was required by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to divest Avenge+Fly, as well as the cat and dog intestinal worm treatments Drontal, Profender and Droncit, as conditions of the company’s acquisition of Bayer AG’s animal health business.

Troy said the deal will mean manufacturing of Avenge+Fly will move from New Zealand to Troy’s western Sydney factory at Glendenning, where new jobs will be created as production ramps up.

Avenge+Fly is a leading treatment for sheep lice and blowfly strike prevention in Australia. Maggo and Zapp Encore sheep ecto parasite products are used extensively by primary producers in New Zealand for the treatment and prevention of flystrike. Troy said it will work to further develop the reach of the products in both markets.

Troy Animal Healthcare chief executive officer Nicolas Shortis said the company is proud to be building its capacity to support primary producers in Australia and New Zealand by offering products to reduce the effects of parasites and ensure the health and welfare of sheep flocks.

“Troy has considerable depth of management experience and strong supply and distribution relationships to support sheep livestock products.

“We plan to combine our expertise and this acquisition to further innovate the rural OTC market,’ he said.

“This is an important time for the Australian sheep industry as growers rebuild flocks following the drought and as the La Niña weather cycle contributes to the potential for increased flystrike.”

Troy said its current business plans include further development in the sheep parasiticide area, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements. The company’s portfolio includes Vitamin ADE, a significant product which supports the health of sheep, cattle and pigs, Doramate, an effective injectable parasiticide product for cattle and pigs, and Buccalgesic, an innovative animal welfare product which is used to provide pain relief for cattle and sheep during animal husbandry procedures.

The acquisition of the rights to Avenge+Fly in Australia includes registrations, trademarks and a lengthy patent, and has been approved by the ACCC.  Acquisition of the rights to Zapp Encore and Maggo products in New Zealand includes registrations and trademarks, and has been approved by the NZCC. The deal closed today, Troy said.