PGG Wrightson partners with Deosan and Biologics

PGG Wrightson, New Zealand's largest farm supplier, has formed a strategic partnership with leading locally-owned dairy industry suppliers Deosan and Biologics to enter the booming dairying sector.

Deosan makes environmentally-friendly dairy hygiene products, "Supernova" organic detergents for milking sheds, "Teat-Ex" teat-spray to prevent mastitis and bloat control products. Biologics supplies animal health supplements, fertilisers and a farm mineral management service. Deosan and Biologics are both headed and majority-owned by managing director Kip Bodle.

PGG Wrightson national sales and marketing manager Grant Bunting said PGG Wrightson has traditionally been strong in the sheep and beef farm sectors but this partnership with two innovative and highly regarded dairy industry suppliers will strategically position PGG Wrightson in dairying.

"We have a corporate strategy of growth through partnerships and when we looked around the dairy sector Deosan and Biologics stacked up as ideal partners in terms of their strong market position, their people and their leadership in delivering environmentally-friendly products and services that are delivering quantifiable benefits to farmers," said Mr Bunting.

Mr Bunting said besides the opportunity to service New Zealand's booming dairy sector, dairy farming is at the core of PGG Wrightson's global growth plans.

Deosan and Biologics managing director Kip Bodle said PGG Wrightson's national network of 106 stores including 30 in the dairy heartland areas of Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Southland and Canterbury provided an excellent distribution platform for Deosan and Biologics products and services which were previously sold directly and through veterinarians and smaller-scale rural merchants.

"PGG Wrightson has the infrastructure we need for merchandising with stores close to markets. They employ local people, many with farming experience, to run their branch stores. In addition they have over 100 technical field representatives who will be trained to support Deosan and Biologics products and services."

Mr Bodle said like PGG Wrightson, Deosan and Biologics are focused on providing dairy farmers with solutions for better herd health and hygiene rather than being product driven. "Our goal is not just to sell the products we have today but to raise the bar with new products and services that improve productivity and are environmentally sound.

"We believe Biologics offers a unique mix of practical and effective animal health solutions. Improved production of milk solids, increases in conception rates and reductions in the cost of maintaining optimum herd health are among the key benefits we are seeing from the use of our products and animal health management programmes."

As an innovator and manufacturer of dairying hygiene products, Deosan is helping to address the dairy industry's sustainability and environmental challenges. "As dairying continues to grow, farmers are using more water, energy, and producing more waste than ever before. Our products are developed to minimise energy and water consumption and reduce effluent.

"Overall, our business is committed to product innovation through research and development and to delivering intelligent solutions that meet the present and future needs of New Zealand dairy farmers."

Mr Bunting said the partnership with Deosan and Biologics was part of a comprehensive service for dairy farmers which is being developed by PGG Wrightson. The service includes: