Egg-count system catches on in UK

A New Zealand company specialising in parasite management says it has broken into the lucrative British farm animal health market.

Fecpak International, based at Mosgiel, near Dunedin, manufactures fecal egg counting kits for farmers, to help educate them and develop systems for managing parasite control in livestock.

It has signed agreements with six British-based partners, giving it a launching pad for sales in Europe.

Company director Greg Mirams said that four months after Fecpak entered the market, demand for the kits had compelled it to double production.

He said the screening system for parasite eggs in the faeces of livestock had revolutionised sheep drenching practices.

It was also exported to Australia and the United States.

The market potential in Britain was enormous, and farmers there would buy three times the number of kits sold in New Zealand, he said.

Mr Mirams said his strategy for entering the market was the key.

"We didn't want to be Kiwis telling UK farmers how to manage parasites when we didn't know their systems," he said.

Instead, Fecpak joined forces with Signet Consultancy, Scottish Agricultural College, Teagasc Agricultural and Food Development Authority, The University of Wales, Welsh Sheep Strategy and the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Fecpak would manufacture and develop the technology, and train its partners in use of the equipment.

The partners would then train farmers to use the kit and give them information on measuring the problem of worm resistance to drench in livestock, a problem that had not been researched in Britain.

Company director Phil Matheson said the timing of the move had been perfect, because of the growing interest in organic farming.

The company had also been helped by the availability of Government subsidies to farmers during the three year transition to certification.

Mr Mirams said the kits would be assembled in Mosgiel and freighted to Britain.

- NZPA