Market demand for high-quality Ross breeding stock is expanding, as customers are seeing the economic and performance benefits it can provide to their businesses.

Aviagen SAU customers and employees tour new modern hatchery in Spain

Leading-edge features underline commitment to biosecurity, performance and welfare

The first hatch is scheduled for Aug. 27. With a hatching capacity of 11 million parent stock (PS) per year (and a potential for future increase to 15 million PS), the facility expands Aviagen SAU’s current hatching capacity in the region by 50 percent.

The new hatchery integrates the latest in hatchery technology for high production capacity and maximum biosecurity and welfare. Among these advanced features are automated setters and hatchers built to the highest industry standards, heartbeat detection for improved precision at candling and reduced contamination risk, one-directional workflow inside and outside the hatchery and cloud-based health passports for people and vehicles to safeguard biosecurity.

Located in San Esteban de Litera, the hatchery is strategically situated to efficiently supply customers throughout the region with premium Ross broiler breeding stock.

Double special grand openings

Aviagen SAU hosted two opening ceremonies in the hatchery. The company welcomed 40 Spanish dignitaries and VIPs to a ribbon cutting on June 29, and on July 18, 220 customers and employees attended an inauguration.

Customers and employees hosted on July 18

The ceremony for customers and employees started with an opening speech from Aviagen SAU General Manager Sergio Illán. The group was then led on a tour of the hatchery so they could see the features and capabilities firsthand. Representatives from hatchery developers and equipment manufacturers Petersime and Viscon were on hand to offer explanations on key hatchery attributes.

Sergio stressed that the new modern hatchery underscores Aviagen’s commitment to security of supply, quality and ultimately to its customers. “Our investment in this innovative hatchery, along with our new state-of-the-art GP farms, will help us better serve our valued customers with an uninterrupted supply of top-quality parent stock and promote the success of their businesses for today and tomorrow,” he said.

About Aviagen

Aviagen^® is a global poultry breeding company that develops pedigree lines for the production of commercial broiler chickens under the Arbor Acres^®, Indian River^®, and Ross^® brand names. The Rowan Range^® and Specialty Males^® are specialty breeding stock from Aviagen that offer greater flexibility for customers to meet specific or niche market requirements.

The company is based in Huntsville, Alabama, USA with a number of wholly-owned operations across the United Kingdom, Europe, Turkey, Latin America, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., and joint ventures in Asia. Aviagen employs more than 4,600 people and has a distribution network serving customers in more than 100 countries.

For further information, please visit www.aviagen.com.