ANIMAL health product manufacturer Zoetis has purchased an eight hectare manufacturing site in Melbourne to expand its current operations and increase future capabilities to manufacture cattle, sheep and horse vaccines.

The site in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville was purchased from the Victorian State Government. It has a rich history of supporting Australian agriculture, going back to the development of a vaccine for blackleg disease in sheep in the 1930s.

Zoetis has been operating at the site since 2004 under a long-term lease, currently producing Ultravac, Pestigard and Vibrovax cattle vaccines, the Glanvac, GlanEry and Scabigard sheep vaccines, and Equivac horse vaccines, along with vaccines for dogs, cats and pigs.

Zoetis plays an important role in keeping Australia’s sheep and cattle healthy by supplying producers with more than 100 million doses of vaccine for sheep and cattle each year.

“We are excited to increase our investment in Australia and provide greater support to Australia’s farmers and veterinarians – who rely on our vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools to keep their animals healthy and productive,” Zoetis chief executive Kristin Peck said in a statement.

“Australia’s livestock sector is highly regarded around the world, and Zoetis is proud to help the region’s livestock producers be part of a climate solution as they increase productivity, health and welfare outcomes that can have a positive impact on the planet,” Ms Peck said.

Zoetis’ senior vice president and Australia New Zealand lead, Lance Williams, said recent years (ie since COVID) had shown the importance of local manufacturing, and the company’s expanded footprint in Melbourne signalled its commitment to Australian farmers and vets.

“We’re pleased to play an important role in supporting a healthy livestock sector in Australia, and helping Australian producers remain productive and profitable,” he said.

The Parkville land purchase adds to Zoetis’ acquisition of Jurox in 2022, which provided Zoetis with a second Australian manufacturing site in the NSW Hunter Valley, to produce pharmaceutical products for a variety of species.

With the latest investment, Zoetis’ footprint at the Parkville site will grow five-fold, as it expands operations over the years ahead, the company said in a statement..

Zoetis sold $484 million worth of animal health products in Australia in 2023, an increase of 17pc over the previous year. The company employs 426 people in Australia across its commercial, manufacturing and R&D teams.

Source: Zoetis