Animal health market expands 4%

THE animal health market expanded by 4% last year, bringing the total market value in Ireland to €96 million. This followed a decline of 3% between 2002 and 2003.

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.