Merck Animal Health Announces SENSEHUB® Feedlot Takes Top Award as Best New Food Animal Product
Award marks the 5th year in a row for recognition in this category
MADISON, N.J., Jan. 24, 2023 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), announced today SENSEHUB® Feedlot, the company’s technology that provides real-time data to detect potentially sick cattle earlier, more efficiently and accurately than traditional visual observation, has been awarded the Best New Food Animal Product from S&P Global Animal Health.
SENSEHUB Feedlot technology allows cattle producers and feedlot operators to proactively track an animal’s biometrics and behavioral data through a non-invasive cattle ear tag, equipped with sensors, to monitor cattle temperature and movement.
“Being recognized with this award is a testament to our people throughout our company– from research and development to manufacturing to sales,” said Shannon Kellner, vice president, U.S. Livestock Business, Merck Animal Health. “Our strong pipeline brings together innovative solutions from biopharmaceuticals and technology solutions to help our customers improve the health of their animals and bring efficiency to their operations. We are proud to continually be recognized as a transformative leader in the animal health industry.”
Past Merck Animal Health products that have been honored include the IDAL® portfolio technology, PORCILIS® Lawsonia intramuscular vaccine for piglets, NOBILIS® SALENVAC ETC and WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL. Additionally, Merck Animal Health was named Best Animal Health Company, North America in 2021.
“SENSEHUB Feedlot features an illuminating LED light that makes it easy to identify and sort cattle needing attention with less labor and minimal disruption to other animals,” said Jeroen van de Ven, DVM, vice president, Technology Solutions, Merck Animal Health. “It is the only automated monitoring ear-tag product on the market for use in feedlots as well as stocker and backgrounding production systems.”
The development of SENSEHUB Feedlot, one of the technological solutions that Merck Animal Health has developed through the acquisition of Quantified Ag, a Nebraska-based early start-up acquired in 2020, reflects approximately eight years of development work. Its development encompassed numerous animal studies, data analysis, the building of hardware and software applications, manufacturing processes and customer experience and feedback efforts.
SENSEHUB Feedlot offers those who manage and care for cattle additional data to help them detect potential illness. Cattle’s defense mechanisms mean they often hide symptoms of illness, making it very challenging for even experienced pen riders to find sick animals. SENSEHUB Feedlot assists the pen rider by providing additional and precise information. Animals can be identified earlier, so they can be pulled, evaluated and, if necessary, treated more quickly.
“Merck Animal Health continues to dominate this Best New Food category as a leader in bringing differentiated products to the market. The company is building quite a reputation for winning this award multiple times, which is a testament to innovation within the livestock area and continued developments for the customer,” said Joseph Harvey, head of S&P Global Animal Health. S&P Global provides essential financial information and analytics, including specific commodity coverage, to businesses globally.
About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.