Novartis launches new pack aimed at small herd sheep farmers

PRESS RELEASE

Rycoben® new pack aimed at sheep farmers with smaller herds

18th August 2011

Novartis Animal Health has launched a new 800ml pack for it’s double acting worm control and cobalt and selenium deficiency preventative Rycoben® SC for sheep.

The new packaging is aimed at farmers and smallholders with smaller stock numbers who still want reliable worm control from a well-established product.

Rycoben should be used as advised by the prescriber and has the advantage of a three-day meat withhold period allowing farmers the flexibility to put lambs to market at an optimum time.

Simon Harris, Endoparasite Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health, said: “We recognised that more and more livestock keepers are opting for smaller numbers of valuable pedigree or rare breed stock, or selectively treating a limited proportion of their flock, so we wanted to bring the Rycoben 800ml pack to market as soon as possible.”

Rycoben offers broad spectrum roundworm control, kills all stages of roundworms, controls tapeworms and lungworms, and kills adult liver fluke in chronic liver fluke disease. It is also the only white drench licensed as an aid in the prevention of cobalt and selenium deficiency in sheep.

Selenium deficiency is common on pastures growing on acidic soils, especially those in higher rainfall areas. Effects include “white muscle disease” which manifests as sudden death and weak or stillborn lambs, stiffness and collapse, poor growth rates, poor immune function and reproductive disorders. Cobalt is essential in the formation of vitamin B12 and deficiency or “cobalt pine” can commonly affect lambs on cobalt deficient pastures at weaning time.

Rycoben is also available in 2.2L, 5L and 12.2L packs.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About Novartis Animal Health

Novartis Animal Health is a leader in developing new and better ways to prevent and treat diseases in pets, farm animals and cultivated fish. We focus our energy on developing new medicines that improve the quality of life for companion animals, as well as those that improve the health of livestock and farmed fish as we strive to support high-quality production and welfare.

For further information, please contact:

Novartis UK Press Office   +44 (0) 1276 698691

Simon Harris                                                                                                                                               

Novartis Animal Health                                                         

01276 694402                                       

simon.harris@novartis.com                  

Henry Creagh

Kendalls Communications

01394 610022

henry.creagh@kendallscom.co.uk

About Novartis Animal Health

Novartis Animal Health is a leader in developing new and better ways to prevent and treat diseases in pets, farm animals and cultivated fish. We focus our energy on developing new medicines that improve the quality of life for companion animals, as well as those that improve the health of livestock and farmed fish as we strive to support high-quality production and welfare.

For further information, please contact:

Novartis UK Press Office   44 (0) 1276 698691

Simon Harris,   Novartis Animal Health. 01276 694402 simon.harris@novartis.com                        

Henry Creagh, Kendalls Communications, 01394 610022, henry.creagh@kendallscom.co.uk