The installation included SmartSet setters and SmartHatch Hatchers, hatchery climate control and automation systems. The Dutch company was also commissioned to produce engineering plans for the new site, planned in two phases to bring Pavlovskaya hatchery's annual capacity up to 16 million hatching eggs per annum.

"Our decision for a 'Smart hatchery' came after reviewing a number of options", says the hatchery's production director, Elena Nemchinova, "and we are certainly seeing improved results with modular single-stage operation.

"Increased chick uniformity is having a direct and positive impact on post-hatch performance", she continues, "Poultry farm Pavlovskaya is achieving record results."

With its core business in broiler meat production, Pavlovskaya Hatchery complements sister operations, OOO Poultry Plant Diveevskoe and Feedmill Pavlovskaya. Together, the companies produce a range of more than 80 different poultry products, under the management of Russkoe Pole, one of the most progressive companies in the Russian poultry sector.

Pas Reform's Academy has worked with Pavlovskaya throughout its expansion programme, to deliver ongoing training for personnel and backup in monitoring results and fine-tuning the hatchery's multiple incubation programmes.

Pavlovskaya's deputy director, Shkarupa Sergeevich, says the hatchery is committed to implementing new, modern equipment and technologies, while at the same time ensuring that its personnel are fully trained to take the hatchery into the future. "Using the latest technologies is beneficial", he says, "because our hatchery managers now have access to the most up-to-the-minute thinking, through working practically with the Pas Reform Academy to further their knowledge in our own working environment.

"We will continue to build on this success," he concludes, "to increase capacity still further and to keep improving the quality of [our] products in the future.