Plusvital, the Irish equine nutrition company that purchased the University College Dublin (UCD) spinout Equinome in 2015, has said it now expects to employ 50 people here within the next five years – an increase from the 35 it previously hoped to employ.
Since acquiring Equinome in December 2015, Plusvital has been tapping into the UCD spinout’s advanced testing capabilities, with it having developed novel equine genetic tests, innovative nutraceuticals and other equine performance and health products.
This genetic testing was highlighted on Siliconrepublic.com today after it was revealed that the 2,000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold was surprisingly pulled from next month’s Epsom Derby after a DNA test performed by Plusvital found the distance would be ‘not optimal’ for the horse.
€3.5m investment across three years
The company has also revealed that the next five years will see greater expansion than once previously announced, with the company expecting to have 50 staff on its books in five years.
In its acquisition announcement towards the end of 2015, Plusvital revealed that it had planned to have 35 staff by the end of 2017, meaning 15 additional roles are now set to be created, albeit it over a larger timeframe.
Clarifying further what these roles will be, Plusvital said that they will be roles for highly-qualified scientists and professionals.
In addition to this job creation, Plusvital will make an investment of more than €3.5m in equine science research over the next three years, which it expects will result in the introduction of a range of new scientifically-supported equine products in genetics and nutrition, among other areas.
Horse with saddle image via Shutterstock
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