Animal health market expands 4%
Wormers accounted for 26% of the market, biologicals for 20% and external parasiticides for 10%. The most notable expansion was in the vaccine market with an increase of 5%.
Animal and Plant Health Association (APHA) director Declan O’Brien said most sectors of the market performed to expectation in 2004 as weather patterns were normal.
“The expansion of the vaccine market is very encouraging. It represents an emerging trend of preventing disease rather than treating disease by producers,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said the use of vaccines returned to a normal pattern of usage in 2004 following a decline in 2003. Mr O’Brien said the outlook for the market in 2005 is for a similar level of sales as experienced in 2004. Naturally, weather patterns may impact.
“Given the time span necessary to expand or contract production in the animal sector, the introduction of the single farm payment is expected to have little impact on the market during 2005,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said the impact in 2006 will be dependent on market returns. At present, the indications are that animal numbers will not change dramatically.
It is anticipated that liberalisation under the World Trade negotiations versus increasing demand from developing economies, are the factors that will have the greatest impact on prices and production in the medium term, he said.
APHA is the representative body for manufacturers and sole distributors of animal health and plant health products in Ireland.
