“This is a major new project for Cobb that takes advantage of the favorable poultry health status that New Zealand enjoys,” said Roy Mutimer, vice president for the Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions. “New Zealand has a lower risk of diseases such as avian influenza, and we intend for it to provide a stable and disease-free point of supply.

“These are indeed exciting times for Cobb. Asia-Pacific is our fastest growing region, and the new facility will play a major role in providing grandparent stock for our distributors there and also for our own parent stock production complex in China.”

The new facility will be built at Rotongaro, near Huntly, South Auckland, and represents a US$40 million investment by Cobb and will create a least 70 new jobs in the farm and hatchery complex on a 368-acre (148-hectare) site.

The New Zealand Land Information service says the export of high-value genetic stock is likely to add some US$40 million each year to the country’s overseas sales.

Cobb-Vantress, Inc. is a poultry research and development company engaged in the production improvement and sale of broiler breeding stock. Cobb is the world’s oldest pedigree broiler breeding company. Founded in 1916, Cobb has grown into one of the world’s leading suppliers of broiler breeding stock with distribution into over 120 countries. Cobb has contributed to the dynamic efficiency and growth of an industry that has transformed chicken into an economically affordable healthy protein source for many of the over seven billion people in the world.

www.cobb-vantress.com