NEWS 100 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2025 Pooch & Mutt, a pet food and health brand within the Vafo Group, unveiled a major step forward in its scientific capabilities with the acquisition of a new laboratory at AberInnovation, a world-class campus supporting cutting-edge agritech and biotech research. Pooch & Mutt acquired BIOME9 in early 2025, a pioneering microbiome research company for veterinary partners across the UK. This allows the growing pet care brand to offer customers an at-home gut health test that uses science, research and AI to deep-dive into dogs’ unique microbiomes, to identify current or potential future health issues. The new facility, located alongside the UK’s University of Aberystwyth and Aberystwyth Vet School, will bring all BIOME9 laboratory operations inhouse. This move reportedly strengthens the scientific foundation behind Pooch & Mutt’s Gut Health Test, ensuring even greater accuracy, faster turnaround times, and expanded research capacity for ongoing product innovation. Paul Dennison, CEO of Pooch & Mutt, comments, “This expansion strengthens our commitment to bringing even better pet care to owners. By investing in BIOME9’s in-house laboratory capabilities, we can ensure the highest level of quality control and deliver faster, deeper insights from our Gut Health Tests. It’s another major stride towards making good gut health accessible and actionable for every dog.” Read more>> Pooch & Mutt advances dog gut health testing with new lab Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the global leaders in preventive medicines for livestock, obtained positive opinions by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommending the granting of marketing authorisations under exceptional circumstances for its avian influenza vaccines VAXXITEK® HVT+IBD+H5 and VAXXINACT® H5. Both vaccines immunize birds against the H5 avian influenza virus, which is currently causing outbreaks across Europe, the company states. Avian influenza, commonly referred to as avian flu or bird flu, is a highly contagious disease affecting domestic and wild birds. The H5 strain is one of the most prevalent avian influenza virus strains causing outbreaks in both wildlife and commercial flocks. As avian influenza is a highly regulated and notifiable disease, there is vigilant monitoring. To contain avian influenza outbreaks, large numbers of birds often need to be culled, leading to significant economic losses for poultry producers and possible restrictions in international trade. As the virus continues to evolve, innovative vaccine solutions are an effective way to help prevent and manage avian flu outbreaks. Decisions regarding vaccination against avian influenza rest with the national authorities of each country. International institutions like WOAH (World Organization for Animal Health) recommend integrating vaccination into bird flu control strategies. Read more>> Boehringer avian influenza vaccines receive EU support Photo: Boehringer Ingelheim Photo: Freepik
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