Controversial vivisection breeder, Hull-based B&K Universal, has now been bought out by New York based Marshall Farms (also trade as Marshall Bioresources).

The take-over has recently occurred, with B&K management resigning including Gerrald Christopher Bantin and others. It is likely that the company will now be put into administration and re-named as part of the growing Marshall Bioresources Europe, who also have a beagle breeding facility in Paris and Italy.

However, Marshall is more well known in the states for it's sister company, Marshall Pet Products who breed and sell ferrets to pet shops across the states.

B&K formerly acted as the UK broker of beagles for the New York station, shipping them in through Manchester International Airport as it was cheaper to do so. It is unknown if the beagle breeding side of the company at Grimston, Hull, will be closed down as it is likely to be more expensive than just flying the animals into the UK. For this reason, however, B&K may just become a holding station for larger animals, opposed to the current breeding station it is.

Campaigns have vowed to carry on campaigning at the company until they close their doors, whatever the name.