Zoetis has announced the purchase of a 21-acre manufacturing site in Melbourne, to significantly expand its current operations at the site and increase future capabilities to develop and manufacture vaccines for sheep, cattle, dogs, cats and horses. Currently 130 million doses of vaccines for companion animals and livestock are produced in Australia each year.
A healthy livestock sector is critical to the health of the Australian economy – and contributes to the world’s food security — with the sector responsible for $67-billion in annual turnover, and employing 428,000 people. Zoetis plays a critical role in keeping Australia’s sheep and cattle healthy by supplying farmers with more than 100-million doses per year of sheep and cattle vaccines.
“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,” said Kristin Peck, CEO, Zoetis, who joined Ministers from the Victorian Government in Australia to announce the purchase from the government.
“Australia’s livestock sector is highly regarded around the world, and Zoetis is proud to help the region’s livestock farmers 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 added.
“Recent years have shown us the importance of local manufacturing, and our expanded footprint in Melbourne signals our commitment to Australian farmers and veterinarians. We’re pleased to play an important role in supporting a healthy livestock sector in Australia, and helping Australian producers remain productive and profitable,” said Lance Williams, Senior Vice President and Zoetis’ ANZ lead.
The site in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville has a rich history of supporting Australia’s agriculture industry, going back to the development of a vaccine for black disease in sheep in the 1930’s. Zoetis has been operating at the site since 2004 under a long-term lease, and today the site produces the 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.
Increasing Investment in Australia
The Parkville 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 this investment Zoetis’ footprint at the Parkville site will grow 5-times as it expands operations over the years ahead.
Zoetis sold $484m of products in Australia in 2023, an increase of 17% over the previous year. Zoetis employs 426 people in Australia across its commercial, manufacturing and R&D teams.
