The Athens mill currently produces approximately 1,350 tons of pelleted and crumbled feed per week. This supplies 115 Aviagen poultry breeding farms in Alabama and the pedigree operation in Tennessee. Having a dedicated feed mill gives Aviagen complete control over the selection, purchase and processing of feed ingredients to ensure the highest quality and feed biosecurity required for its breeding programme.

Aviagen was the first poultry company in the US to design and build a feed mill to eliminate and prevent recontamination of feed with salmonella and other relevant enteric pathogens.

This elaborate process is an important part of Aviagen's commitment to supply Salmonella-free breeding stock to support their customers' food safety programmes. To ensure pathogen-free status the mill operates a 'maximum hygiene program' which in addition to the specific processes also limits access to the main processing area to Aviagen staff only.

Dan Rollins, director of Aviagen's Feed Processing Unit, said: "These biosecurity investments have helped us eliminate the kind of feed safety concerns that can threaten our poultry breeding population. For instance, the mill's new pelletizing line features a Hygieniser, a state-of-the-art system from California Pellet Mill Company (CPM) that thermally treats feed to eliminate Salmonella in the feed. We have also invested in a new liquid coating system that is used for post pellet applications, while completely isolating feed from atmospheric contaminants."

The new equipment uses significantly less energy than the original system, resulting in less environmental impact and lower production costs.

Dr Rollins added: "This expansion also provides redundancies that allow us to continue feed production in the event of a power loss or other disasters. And by implementing the latest Salmonella intervention equipment available, we're able to protect our poultry breeding stock while reducing our energy consumption."

Aviagen continually invests in innovative processes and technologies that facilitate the company to deliver the world's finest and healthiest grandparent and parent poultry stock to customers.

Ted Waitman, president of CPM Acquisition Corp., commented: "CPM is honored to be a partner in this project. We are committed to helping Aviagen provide the high quality, salmonella free feed they and their customers require."

Aviagen is a proud member of the Alabama Feed and Grain Association, an associate member of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).