NEW YORK (December 22, 2008)—Pfizer Animal Genetics is now processing customer samples for Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM). Pfizer Animal Genetics’ testing procedures have been validated by Dr. Jon Beever and confirm they result in identical, accurate outcomes.

“A significant amount of collaboration with various industry partners has brought us to the point where we are now able to provide a test for AM,” says Nigel Evans, Vice President of Animal Genetics, a business unit of Pfizer Animal Health. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to offer this service to the industry as quickly as possible. With the AM test now running, we can work with producers to help reduce the impact of this genetic defect.”

Samples are being tested in the order in which they are received at Pfizer Animal Genetics’ laboratory. If there are pending deadlines for testing that must be met, producers should contact Pfizer Animal Genetics Customer Service and every effort will be made to prioritize work to accommodate special requests. Producers wishing to include AM and GeneSTAR® test results in a sale catalog or printed advertisement must provide a minimum of two weeks advance notice prior to printing deadlines.

Pfizer Animal Genetics has proactively worked to expand its testing capacity in order to serve producers, and has implemented a testing schedule through the holidays in order to provide timely turnaround for results. The AM test price is $29 per head, and each animal tested for AM will earn a $10 credit towards future GeneSTAR testing to be redeemed before June 1, 2009. One $10 credit will be issued for each animal tested.

If customers have not already submitted samples for testing of suspect Angus or Angus-influenced cattle, they are encouraged to do so for timely turnaround. Order forms and a sample collection guide are available at www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com.

Samples may be submitted as hair follicles, blood FTA^® cards, semen samples or whole blood samples in purple-topped blood tubes. When submitting hair samples, producers should make sure that more than 25 hair follicles (with bulb) are included to ensure an adequate volume of DNA is available to complete the test.

Producers are encouraged to visit www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com on a regular basis for ongoing updates and frequently asked questions about AM testing and how to submit samples. Additional questions can be answered by calling your Pfizer Animal Genetics representative or Customer Service at 1-877-BEEF-DNA.

A lethal genetic defect, AM affects some Angus and Angus-influenced cattle. Calves carrying two recessive genes—resulting from the mating of two carrier animals—are stillborn with a twisted spine and extended and contracted limbs. AM is expressed as a result of a deletion affecting two genes and has been traced back to a few prominent Angus bloodlines. A significant number of current Angus and Angus-influenced animals are related to these prominent family lines. For a list of results from A.I. bulls that have already been tested, please visit http://www.angus.org/NAAB_release.pdf.

Pfizer Animal Genetics is a business unit of Pfizer Animal Health, a world leader in discovering and developing innovative animal vaccines and prescription medicines. Pfizer Inc is the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company.

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