The Cobb China Grand Opening began with inaugural presentations and a celebratory dinner in the Westin Hotel, Wuhan, and was followed the next day by a tour of the farm and hatchery facilities developed at a cost of $35 million to meet the initial target of supplying five million Cobb500 parents a year.

^{Aerial view of the new complex}

In designing and constructing the complex — now receiving the first placement of grandparent stock — top priority has been given to biosecurity, which together with a well trained work force is seen as the key to producing consistently top quality products.

At the Grand Opening event in the late afternoon Cobb speakers outlined the company’s global vision and Chinese marketing strategy along with details of the new facilities planned and constructed over the past three years. Then in the evening dinner guests celebrated completion of the project as well as the 100th anniversary of Cobb in 2016.

^{Guests at the grand opening (click to see better)}

“This will be a game changer in the Chinese market,” said Dave Juenger, Cobb project director. “We have high expectations of consistently achieving top quality for our customers, and we are committed to producing mycoplasma-free breeding stock right from day one.

“In these state-of-the-art facilities, for instance, everyone is required to take three showers before coming into contact with the birds. This level of biosecurity is a prime example of Cobb’s commitment to preventing the introduction of disease on our facilities.”

Pelayo Casanovas, Cobb general manager for the Asia-Pacific region, stated: “Our goal is to add value to our products and to help improve the Chinese broiler industry through our commitment to delivering the best genetics combined with the best quality. And that means freedom from both MS and MG as well as Salmonella, and protection from disease for our customers.

“In addition, our technical services teams — locally and globally — will give our customers expert advice covering all aspects from house preparation, breeder and broiler management to meat yield so they can maximize the genetic potential that Cobb birds provide. This strategic support in China and the Asia-Pacific market generally will enable us to react quickly to help our customers whenever this is needed.”

^{Roy Mutimer speaking at the grand opening}

Roy Mutimer, Cobb senior vice president, said the Cobb research and development program focused on making continually improving, well balanced products for customers throughout the world. He spoke of Cobb strategies to expand production of breeding stock in every region to make sure that products are always available in the event of any local supply shortage. The China project was, he added, aligned with the company’s global strategy to expand poultry output to provide for increased consumption in Asia and also help provide for the growing population worldwide in the longer term.