An agreement between the two firms gives Food Chain Innovation the management of sales and marketing in the UK and internationally.

"This innovative technology fits well with our mission to bring new and innovative products and technology to the agri-food sector," says Allan Meldrum, co-founder of Food Chain Innovation.

The FLOCKMAN control panel

David Filmer commented: "We are very pleased to be working with such a forward thinking and dynamic company as our new worldwide marketing and sales agent. It's a great combination of nutritional and scientific expertise with practical experience of the broiler growing operation".

FLOCKMAN has been developed by David Filmer over the past five years to manage meal time feeding for broilers and to utilise the natural benefits of their crops and gizzards to significantly improve feed conversion.

Additional benefits include an improved immune system, less mortality and improved leg strength leading to higher welfare of the birds. Trials in the UK and in Thailand have shown consistent benefits of between three and five points in feed conversion resulting in a pay-back in three broiler cycles or less.

"The feed conversion benefit is a consistent finding across all the trials to date," says Mr Filmer. "At this time of escalating costs for feed raw materials around the world, the technology provides an exciting opportunity for integrators and independent broiler growers to reduce their exposure to feed costs."

The units are supplied on direct purchase at the launch price of £1,950 ex works per chicken house.

Further details are available from Allan Meldrum at [email protected] or on +44 (0)780 3242322.