Acquisition	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 2. Acquisition On February 24, 2015, the Company acquired MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. (“MWI”) for a purchase price of $2.6 billion. MWI is a leading animal health distribution company in the United States and in the United Kingdom. MWI’s annual revenues are estimated to be approximately $3.0 billion. For reportable segment presentation, MWI’s operating results are included within Other. The purchase price has been preliminarily allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. The preliminary allocation is pending the finalization of the appraisals of intangible assets and the corresponding deferred taxes, as well as the finalization of the working capital account balances. There can be no assurance that the estimated amounts recorded represent the final purchase price allocation. The purchase price currently exceeds the estimated fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired by $1.2 billion, which was allocated to goodwill. The estimated fair value of accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable acquired was $346.9 million, $440.0 million and $327.1 million, respectively. The estimated fair value of the intangible assets acquired of $1.5 billion consists of customer relationships of $1.1 billion, a trade name of $344.0 million, and software technology of $11.0 million. The Company established an estimated deferred tax liability of $570.2 million primarily in connection with the intangible assets acquired. The Company is amortizing the estimated fair values of the acquired customer relationships and software technology over the remaining useful lives of 20 years and 8 years, respectively. The trade name has been determined to have an indefinite life. Goodwill and intangibles resulting from the acquisition are not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

Acquisition

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 2. Acquisition

On February 24, 2015, the Company acquired MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. (“MWI”) for a purchase price of $2.6 billion. MWI is a leading animal health distribution company in the United States and in the United Kingdom. MWI’s annual revenues are estimated to be approximately $3.0 billion. For reportable segment presentation, MWI’s operating results are included within Other.

The purchase price has been preliminarily allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. The preliminary allocation is pending the finalization of the appraisals of intangible assets and the corresponding deferred taxes, as well as the finalization of the working capital account balances. There can be no assurance that the estimated amounts recorded represent the final purchase price allocation. The purchase price currently exceeds the estimated fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired by $1.2 billion, which was allocated to goodwill. The estimated fair value of accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable acquired was $346.9 million, $440.0 million and $327.1 million, respectively. The estimated fair value of the intangible assets acquired of $1.5 billion consists of customer relationships of $1.1 billion, a trade name of $344.0 million, and software technology of $11.0 million. The Company established an estimated deferred tax liability of $570.2 million primarily in connection with the intangible assets acquired. The Company is amortizing the estimated fair values of the acquired customer relationships and software technology over the remaining useful lives of 20 years and 8 years, respectively. The trade name has been determined to have an indefinite life. Goodwill and intangibles resulting from the acquisition are not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.