Elanco launches milk strip test in U.S.

(Greenfield, Indiana –12/17/10) -- Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), announces the addition of Keto-Test® to its current portfolio of productivity products for dairy producers.  Keto-Test is a color-changing test strip for milk that indicates the presence of ketones in the milk of dairy cows. Though commercially available in other countries, this will be the first U.S. introduction of the product.   

Keto-Test is designed to provide dairy producers an easy-to-use and cost-effective alternative for ketosis-screening to help determine if further investigation is warranted.  Keto-Test can be used as a simple alternative on any cow that would be considered for a urine ketosis test.

An estimated 15 percent of cows in U.S. dairy herds have elevated ketones during the first 60 days of lactation when they are at highest risk due to increasing metabolic demands brought on by lactation¹.  Elevated ketone levels have been associated with increased incidence of displaced abomasums, lost milk production, impaired reproductive performance, and an increased risk for early culling. Ketosis frequently goes undetected and is commonly referred to as subclinical ketosis. 

Keto-test is a simple, quick, non-invasive test that requires no special equipment or training and can be easily performed in the parlor when cows are handled for milking.

Keto-Test will be available throughout the U.S. on 12/17/10. Contact your local Elanco sales representative for more information. 

About Elanco

Elanco is a global innovation-driven company that develops and markets products to improve animal health and food-animal production in more than 75 countries. Elanco employs more than 2,300 people worldwide, with offices in more than 40 countries, and is a division of Eli Lilly and Company, a leading global pharmaceutical corporation. Additional information about Elanco is available at www..elanco.com.