Dr Deepak Kumar Dhiman’s expertise, experience, and insights in the animal healthcare industry for the magazine interview:
Dr. Deepak Kumar Dhiman
(General Manager, Nutrition Division)
Carus Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.
Personal Journey & Experience
- Can you share your journey in the animal healthcare industry and what inspired you to pursue this field?
After graduating from veterinary science in 2005, I embarked on a career in the animal health industry. I started as a field sales representative at Pfizer Animal Health in 2006 in the dairy farm division. where I worked directly with progressive dairy farmers and veterinarians, providing product support, education, and solutions to their needs and I was promoted to the role of Technical Manager at Pfizer. In this position, I gained extensive experience in technical support, product development, and managing complex projects. I was responsible for providing technical expertise and training to both internal teams and customers. I decided to take a step back from my career and pursue a Master’s degree in Livestock Production Management. This decision was fuelled by my growing interest in animal nutrition and its direct impact on animal health. After completing my Master’s, I joined Zydus in the Marketing team. My role there allowed me to leverage my technical expertise and combine it with strategic marketing skills to develop and promote innovative products in the animal health space. Currently, I am serving as the General Manager at Carus Laboratories, a role I’ve held for the past four years. In this leadership position, I am responsible for overseeing the operations, strategy, and growth of the company’s Nutrition division.
- With your extensive experience in sales and nutrition, what key changes have you witnessed in the industry over the years?
Over the years, the animal health industry in India has perceived several significant changes, shaped by evolving consumer demands, technological improvements, and regulatory shifts. Based on my extensive experience in both sales and technical, here are the key changes I’ve observed:
- Shift toward preventative healthcare
- Increased focus on animal nutrition
- Technological advancements and digitalization
The same for the field team, earlier field team reporting system was on paper-based work where sales representatives had prepared daily reports on hard paper and then posted them through postal. All things are now digitalized and there are now all things are controlled by monitoring apps.
Expertise in Animal Nutrition
- What are the most common nutritional challenges faced by livestock and poultry farmers today?
Dairy farming in India faces several challenges that can impact the profitability and sustainability of the industry
- Inadequate Access to Quality Animal Feed and Nutrition
- Animal Health and Disease Management
- Low Milk Yield and Productivity
- The Market Price of Milk is not optimum
- How has nutritional science evolved to address these challenges, and what role does innovation play in this?
Nutritional science has significantly evolved to address challenges like repeat breeding and low milk production in dairy cows by optimizing the cows’ diet, improving reproductive efficiency, and developing better management practices.
We have unique products that we are producing ourselves in our plant to correct all challenges in dairy animals.
Sales Strategy & Market Insights
- As GM – Sales and Nutrition, what strategies do you believe are crucial for building strong customer relationships in the animal healthcare sector?
As GM – building strong customer relationships is vital for long-term success. As a GM I am trying to understand customer needs and pain points, exceptional customer service, regular follow-up and feedback loops are crucial strategies for building strong customer relationships
- What trends do you foresee shaping the future of sales in the animal nutrition industry?
The future of sales in the animal nutrition industry will be shaped by several evolving trends. These trends are driven by technological advancements, consumer demands, sustainability concerns, and shifting market dynamics.
Product Development & Innovation
- Carus Laboratories is known for innovative solutions. How do you ensure your team stays ahead in developing effective products?
Our team is in touch with some renowned veterinary institutes that are researching some innovative molecules that help farmers in cost-effective production. We are launching most economic products as per the needs of the farmers who can help dairy farmers in maximum returns and fastest recovery from disease.
- What factors should farmers consider when selecting nutritional supplements for their animals?
When selecting nutritional supplements for their animals, farmers should consider several important factors to ensure the supplements are beneficial, safe and cost-effective.
Industry Challenges & Solutions
- What major challenges are currently impacting the Indian animal healthcare industry, and how can they be addressed?
The Indian animal healthcare industry faces several significant challenges like Inadequate Access to Quality Veterinary Services, Climate Change and Environmental Stress, limited research, and innovation,
Advice & Future Outlook
- What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to build a successful career in animal healthcare and nutrition?
For young professionals aspiring to build a successful career in animal healthcare and nutrition, develop a strong educational foundation, focus on building soft skills, and understand the business side.