The new agreement is part of a wider cooperation between the Dutch government (SENTER) and Dutch layer breeding company Hendrix Poultry Breeders (HPB), for the supply of brown layer breeding stock. The specific conditions required to optimise the new brown layer breeding programme prompted Serfonteijn Kuikens to re-evaluate its requirements for the new hatchery, and with the introduction of the Smart incubation system by Pas Reform, the company selected SmartSet^TM setters and SmartHatch^TM hatchers for the new installation.

A combined team of local technicians from Serfonteijn Kuikens and Pas Reform’s Dutch engineers installed a tailored combination of SmartSet^TM and SmartHatch^TM equipment to the project at Potchefstroom. The Dutch hatchery technology company also designed the entire layout of the new facility, with a keen focus on Serfonteijn Kuikens’ future needs and expansion plans.

Managing director Mr. Jan Serfonteijn comments: ‘Ultimately, we chose the new Smart Incubation System from Pas Reform for its ability to deliver a short spread of hatch. Our programme is geared to producing both final layer stock as well as layer breeders. And as all our chicks must travel long distances from the hatchery to the final client, a short spread of hatch and the subsequent uniformity this delivers in our day-olds strongly improves our first week mortality rates, which is of the utmost importance to our customers’.

ThePoultrySite News Desk