DaytonDailyNews.com

LEWISBURG, Preble County — — Eighty-five employees of the Iams pet food plant in Preble County will be laid off during the next nine months, parent company P&G Pet Care announced in a release Friday.

P&G Pet Care is realigning its dry pet food production "to fully leverage manufacturing capability and expertise" at each of the company's four U.S. plants, according to the release.

A total of 129 employees now work at the manufacturing plant, leaving 44 there after the layoffs. The 200 employees who work in the research and development Innovation Center won't be affected, officials said.

Employees will be offered positions at other plant locations and those who do not choose to relocate will be offered separation packages, officials said.

The Preble County plant will shift its dry food production capacity to P&G Pet Care plants in Leipsic, Ohio, Aurora, Neb., and Henderson, N.C., and focus on specialty pet food products, including those prescribed only by veterinarians.

"These changes will provide significant cost advantages and have a significant positive impact on the future growth of our pet food business," according to the release.

"Our employees," the release states, "have made significant contributions to the success of Iams and Eukanuba pet foods over the years, and we deeply appreciate their commitment and service to the company."

The Procter & Gamble Co., based in Cincinnati, acquired Iams in September 1999.