In 1996, a customer approached us with an intelligent idea on how to improve the current treatment device to control oestrous cycle in cattle. The idea was to increase the comfort level for the cow, while ensuring an effective treatment.

The product developed was an intravaginal, progesterone delivery device that is used to control the oestrous cycle for synchronisation of oestrus in normally cycling cows, or to induce cycling in anoestrous cows.

Over the course of two years, the product was designed, prototypes were analysed, tooling and products made, and robust QC systems and analytical methods was developed. To achieve this, we built and validated a GMP Cleanroom and manufacturing equipment for production, which is licenced by ACVM.

Animal trials were carried out, with AEC approval, and ACVM was able to register this product for sale in New Zealand, and subsequently the product was also registered for export markets.

The first few seasons, it was sold directly to vets from our facility, but was eventually sold to the largest animal health company with the expectation that they could take it to a global level.

Over the years, this product has had some ownership changes, but all along we retained the manufacturing of this product from our Hamilton facility to support global export.