A round-up of new hires and new product announcements in the U.S. pork industry.
Virbac Announces Approval of TULISSIN
Virbac is proud to announce the launch of its first product in the U.S. food production animal market with the FDA approval of TULISSIN (Tulathromycin injectable) Injectable Solution for use in cattle and swine.
The product will be available in two concentrations: 100 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml to properly cover the two segments, the company said in a release. TULISSIN 100 Injectable Solution will be available in 500, 250, 100 and 50 ml bottles and TULISSIN 25 Injectable Solution in 250 and 100 ml bottles.
Virbac will market the cattle products with its own direct sales force; whereas for swine, Virbac announces that it has entered into an agreement with Pharmgate. Under this arrangement, Pharmgate, with a very robust sales and technical services division, will represent Virbac to swine veterinarians and producers across the U.S., the release said.
“We are excited to collaborate with a reputable animal health organization, such as Virbac, as they launch a range of products into the U.S. large animal market,” Ed Seed, head of Global Sales & Marketing for Pharmgate, said in a release. “Adding this initial product, TULISSIN, to our portfolio over the coming year will expand our offering in fulfilling our customers’ complete therapeutic product needs.”
Soto Joins Alltech as U.S. Technical Swine Manager
Dr. Jose Soto has joined Alltech as the U.S. technical swine manager. His responsibilities include providing technical services, working with the research and development team, and performing nutritional consultations, Alltech said in a release.
“With his wealth of experience in the swine industry, Dr. Soto is a great asset to both our customers and our internal team,” Brian McCawley, chief commercialization officer for Alltech, said in a release.
Soto was born and raised in Chile, where he received undergraduate and graduate training in agricultural sciences and agricultural economics, respectively. He received his Ph.D. in applied swine nutrition from Kansas State University, where he worked extensively with amino acid nutrition and dietary energy economic modeling. Prior to joining Alltech, Soto served in various roles for three of the top 10 swine integrators in the U.S., in addition to several swine nutrition companies, where he was involved with research and development, production operations and technical services.
Arm & Hammer Announces New Director of Innovation and Product Development
Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production announced that Dr. Xandra Smith will be stepping into the role of Director of Innovation and Product Development. The news of Smith’s promotion comes as Tom Rehberger, former Director of Innovation and Product Development, retired from the organization at the beginning of December, the company said in a release.
Smith has been with Arm & Hammer since May of 2017. She previously served as the Research Manager Genomics and Ecology of Microbes at the Waukesha, Wis., laboratory site. Smith has led research efforts examining the genomics and ecology of microbes to provide new Bacillus strains for the Microbial Terroir program and utilizing genomic sequencing to understand pathogens important in livestock production systems.
“We are very excited to have Xandra assume the role of Director of Innovation and Product Development,” Scott Druker, general manager, Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production, said in a release. “Her extensive academic and industry experience make her the perfect choice for this role. Xandra’s technical expertise and passion for the work are perfectly suited to help us continue to evolve our technologies and expand our product offerings.”
Smith will be responsible for research, innovation, and support for the Targeted Microbial Solutions platform within the Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production business. She will lead a team of researchers working to solve some of the most pressing challenges in animal and food production today, the company noted.
With his retirement, Smith’s predecessor Tom Rehberger concludes a long and notable career pioneering applications of microbial ecology in livestock production, the company said. His contributions to the industry have allowed Arm & Hammer to provide for its customers in new and innovative ways. During his time with the organization, Rehberger fine-tuned Arm & Hammer’s Microbial Terroir process, one of the first high-throughput molecular microbial ecology platforms for the development of customized probiotics for the livestock industry.
Long named Ohio Pork Council Producer Education Manager
The Ohio Pork Council named Kayli Long as the organization’s Producer Education Manager.
“The Ohio Pork Council is excited to have Kayli join our team,” Cheryl Day, executive vice president, said in a release. “We know her experience, talents and passion for agriculture will be a powerful addition to our organization.”
Long joins the Ohio Pork Council with a passion for educating and promoting the agricultural industry, where her roots run deep, according to an Ohio Pork Council release. She was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA , where she held countless leadership positions. Long’s time in the FFA spent competing in events such as state public speaking, livestock judging and job interview have helped to shape her into a passionate and well-rounded agriculturalist in today’s industry.
Prior to accepting the role of Producer Education Manager, Long had served as the organization’s communications intern during the summer of 2021. While in this role, Long helped to design and write member and producer newsletters, social media posts, and other press releases for the Ohio Pork Council.
She will be graduating from Wilmington College in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education with a concentration in animal sciences. Long currently lives in her hometown with her fiancé, Zachary.
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