Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co. Inc. has announced its intention to acquire the assets of LIC Automation Ltd., from New Zealand-based, farmer-owned cooperative Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd. (LIC). LICA is a leader in automation and technology for the dairy industry. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

LICA, a privately held company in New Zealand, manufactures and supplies specialized, integrated herd management systems and milk-testing sensors for the dairy industry. Farm productivity has become increasingly important on the dairy farm. LICA’s automated offerings, including Protrack technology solutions, enables dairy farmers to gather precise information on the health and milking habits of dairy cows, which supports their efforts in herd management, real-time milk analysis, animal evaluation and reproductive health and wellness. LICA products are available in New Zealand and in selected European markets.

“We are pleased to take this step forward with the acquisition of LICA technology, as we continue to broaden our portfolio with complementary products and technologies to advance animal well-being and outcomes for our customers,” said Rick DeLuca, president of Merck Animal Health. “Our portfolio of enhanced dairy farm management and livestock intelligence solutions for the dairy industry helps address the evolving customer needs of dairy farmers and strengthen our leadership in shaping the future of animal health.” 

Pauline Calvert, Livestock Business Unit lead at Merck Animal Health, New Zealand, commented: “We are excited to add LICA’s products to our existing veterinary medicines, vaccines and health management solutions and services, as well as Allflex Livestock Intelligence’s digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products to benefit farmers and veterinarians. Merck Animal Health has a substantial footprint in New Zealand as a leading partner in the agricultural community. The solutions we offer build upon our strong presence in New Zealand, which includes manufacturing facilities at Palmerston North (Allflex Livestock Intelligence, a business unit within Merck Animal Health), Upper Hutt (animal health vaccines) and now Hamilton (LICA milking intelligence and automation). We are exceptionally proud of our continuous commitment and investment to advance animal health and well-being for our unique pastoral-based farming systems in Aotearoa (New Zealand), that supports the efforts of our farmers’ in their day-to-day operations today and into the future. We look forward to continuing to expand our world-class animal health solutions both locally and globally.”

LICA’s product portfolio joins Allflex Livestock Intelligence, the leading New Zealand livestock intelligence business. Allflex Livestock Intelligence is a complementary business that specializes in identification and monitoring technology that delivers real-time, actionable data and insights to help improve livestock management. 

“We are pleased that Merck Animal Health has chosen to acquire this technology,” said Wayne McNee, LIC chief executive. “Merck Animal Health has a reputation for investing heavily in research and development for animal health and welfare. The company has extensive scientific and technological capabilities that can take this technology to the next phase and deliver more value to farmers.”