NatureForm upgrades European hatchery in record time

Global vaccine egg supplier VALO BioMedia has upgraded its European Granja Rodriguez Serrano hatchery in Spain in record time, with new setters from NatureForm Hatchery Technologies. The 17-setter installation was completed in a two-week timescale, avoiding any disruption to production in the vaccine hatchery.
“With extensive experience in the vaccines market, NatureForm totally understood the very specific requirements for this project,” says NatureForm CEO Steve Warren. “Within 14 days, all the existing machines were dismantled, floors were repaired, electro-mechanical works were completed and the new setters were installed, ready to resume incubation in line with Granja Rodriguez Serrano’s time-critical production schedule.”
Valo BioMedia is a leading global supplier of vaccine eggs, which are used to produce both human and animal vaccines, as well as for pharmaceutical research purposes. In addition to Spain, the company has facilities in Germany, Brasil, Mexico and North America.
A long history of working with NatureForm incubation made the setter replacement a natural choice, says Manager Antonio Rodriguez Serrano. “NatureForm has always been an excellent, knowledgeable and responsive partner in the past.
“As a vaccine egg supplier, our production schedules are extremely time-sensitive. This refurbishment enabled us to continue meeting our current commitments, while also ensuring that Granja Rodriguez Serrano is primed and ready for future growth, as a result of increased demand for vaccine eggs in the market.”

HatchTech Coaching helps company maximize performance

The ModernHatch broiler hatchery in Poland achieves consistent and maximum hatchery performances, thanks to HatchTech Hatchery Coaching.

  
The company is pleased with the results, according to Kornel Zyla, hatchery manager at Modern Hatch, who says, "HatchTech Coaches are always on call and ready to offer assistance, no matter whether we need the biological consultancy service or technical advice, or help with hatchery management and planning. They offer outstanding innovations, both in a technical respect and regarding working methods.
"When a HatchTech Hatchery Coach has spent three days here on site, everything really runs smoothly again. They don’t just arrive with expert knowledge, they share and leave that expertise here in the hatchery," Zyla says.
The results speak for themselves:

• 2% to 3% higher hatching percentage
• Improved chick quality, with less selection necessary
• Reduced chick mortality in the first week
• Better performance from the equipment
• Consistent results for fact-based decision-making
• Smooth and efficient operational management

Hatchery Coaching Manager, Willem van den Oetelaar, says, “Your hatchery can also profit from these benefits. We at HatchTech firmly believe that quality is the benchmark, and we can coach you and your staff to help you achieve maximum performances and consistently superior chick quality.”

Attend webinar on early flock health, hatchery probiotics

Industry experts will discuss the benefits of increased seven-day weights and reduced early mortality on broiler flocks and new approaches to achieving these performance objectives in a webinar sponsored by Pacific Vet Group and presented by WATT Global Media.
Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/591526369 to attend the webinar, "You Never Have to Recover from A Good Start: Importance of Early Flock Performance and Recent Innovations in Hatchery Probiotics," which will be held Wednesday, May 7 at 9 a.m. CDT.
During the webinar, attendees will learn about:
• Industry trends and new developments in alternatives to antibiotics
• The critical ingredient for consistent, reliable performance from a probiotic
• Pioneer colonizers that give broiler chicks a head start to optimal performance
Speakers
Dr. Billy Hargis, professor in the department of poultry science at the University of Arkansas, will speak on innovations in science-based probiotics.
Dr. Ross Wolfenden, vice president of research and development at Pacific Vet Group, will address the critical importance of isolate selection.
Dr. James Barton, director of technical services at Pacific Vet Group, will discuss a new technology specifically developed for hatchery administration.

Major upgrade at van Gent parent stock hatchery

Hatchery owner Mr Cees van Gent operates one of his new BioStreamer setters.
Broederij van Gent, a Cobb parent stock (PS) hatchery located in Veenendaal, The Netherlands, has recently upgraded a substantial part of its incubation equipment. Installation of 30 Petersime BioStreamer setters was completed at the end of December 2013, and at this moment, the Eagle Eye hatchery monitoring software is being set up. Moreover, the floor was renewed and the existing HVAC control system has been replaced with Petersime controllers.
For reasons of flexibility, the incubators are a mix of 4, 8 and 12 trolley machines as van Gent works with all kinds of batch sizes. Delivery, installation and commissioning were completed by Petersime and its Dutch distributor PEJA Automation within a very short time frame in order to ensure continuous operation.
Broederij Van Gent is a PS breeder hatchery that works exclusively with Cobb Europe. The company has already been working with Petersime equipment for 41 years. For this upgrade, owner Cees Van Gent opted for high-end BioStreamer incubators for two reasons.
"Firstly, we wanted to optimize our hatch results, and to me Petersime's S-line incubators are among the best in the market," he explains. "Secondly, we want to improve bio-security even further. Hatchery hygiene is of the utmost importance for us, and Petersime incubators are especially designed to safeguard bio-security during the entire incubation process."
Broederij van Gent was founded in 1946 in Veenendaal, the Netherlands, as a layer and broiler hatchery. In 1991, the company became a parent stock breeder hatchery for Cobb Europe, with whom the owners enjoy an excellent partnership. Van Gent employs 17 people in total. The chicks are supplied to Cobb customers across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and can sometimes go farther afield in support to other Cobb regions worldwide.

Pas Reform expands into US

Leading Dutch hatchery technology company Pas Reform has made another landmark move in its plans for international expansion, with the formation of a new company, based in the U.S., to serve the North American poultry industry.
Pas Reform has joined forces with NatureForm, a leading supplier of single stage technologies for the poultry, game and vaccine development markets.
The newly formed company, NatureForm Hatchery Technologies, will deliver fully integrated solutions for North American hatcheries seeking expansion, as the US poultry industry prepares to deliver 15 per cent growth over the next seven years.
NatureForm Hatchery Technologies' product range includes Pas Reform's SmartPro hatchery technologies, NatureForm's Phoenix range of incubators and a full complement of hatchery automation and hatchery climate control systems.
In addition to equipment supply and technical support services, the new partnership will have the full backing of Pas Reform Academy, for incubation research, hatchery management training and customer-level consultancy. The new company will be headquartered in Jacksonville (Florida, USA) with production facilities, logistics, sales and after-sales service coverage for customers across North America.
The two companies are complementary in many aspects, says Pas Reform CEO Bart Aangenendt, which will be a strong foundation for the new venture: "NatureForm and Pas Reform have enjoyed a mutually successful association for several years. As companies - and as people - we share a dynamic and progressive vision for the future of the hatchery sector globally. We believe that this new company has unparalleled expertise in single stage hatchery practice and is unique in being able to deliver truly integrated solutions for the hatchery business in North America."
"NatureForm Hatchery Technologies signals a key moment in Pas Reform's plans for international expansion, and we are fully committed in this collaborative venture and in the future of the poultry industry in the USA."

Verbeek Hatchery Holland celebrates 50 years of hatching, rearing day-old chicks

Verbeek Hatchery opened a modern hatchery facility in 2011 to supply day-old chicks.

Verbeek Hatchery Holland is celebrating 50 years of hatching and rearing day-old chicks and pullets. Established in the Netherlands in 1963, the company transitioned in the 1960-70s from a traditional egg producer into a modern, responsible hatching and rearing company.
To expand its operations, the company CEBECO joined Verbeek as a co-partner, and AgruniekRijnvallei has now taken over all shares and parent ownership of Verbeek Hatchery. The company has been led for the past 10 years by Pieter Kruit as managing director.
Other notable achivements over the company's time include switching to the Novogen hen and constructing a modern hatchery in 2009, which has been supplying the growing demand for day-old chicks since 2011.
Verbeek will welcome its customers to celebrate on October 8-10.

Ceva symposium: Hatchery innovation will drive productivity gains

The Ceva New Technology Vaccine Symposium concluded with practical information directly from producers who presented benefits and trial overviews of the product in their own facilities. About 200 people attended the symposium, held April 9–11 in Miami, Fla.
Presenters represented a large part of the global market from the U.S., Mexico, Malaysia and Brazil. Conclusions from the symposium included: improved feed conversions, standard weight increases, lower mortality rates, better financial results, fewer technical visits, improved biosecurity, less use of antibiotics, aiming at hatchery vaccination only and with a final conclusion that lowest price is not the focus, but bottom-line value needs to be the focus through measurable attribution of change.
The April event marked the second time Ceva hosted a scientific symposium. The first, held in 2011, introduced "the science behind the innovation," and the level of participation showed the real shift toward the adoption of new technology vaccine strategies.
"The number of day-old chick broilers vaccinated in hatchery with new technology vaccines has dramatically increased in the past five years," said Ceva. "Today, almost half of the broilers produced in the world each year are vaccinated in the hatchery, with these new technology products against Gumboro, Newcastle or Laryngotracheitis. We expect and will encourage this figure to grow to 70 to 75 percent by 2015."

Aviagen releases 'How To' hatchery tutorial on egg turning

Poultry breeder Aviagen has released the 8th publication in its "How To" series of hatchery tutorials, aimed at providing practical advice for hatchery managers and supervisors. The latest "How To" document focuses on egg turning in the hatchery, which impacts embryo development and hatchability.
According to Dinah Nicholson, Aviagen global manager - Hatchery Development and Support:
“Egg turning problems are a frequent observation when members of the hatchery specialist team make customer visits. While complete failures are still rare, it is surprisingly common to see some trollies which have not been properly attached to the turning mechanism or have less than optimal turning angles.
“Turning angles can be very badly adrift, especially in older units or very large incubators, which may struggle when fully loaded. Turning angles need to be between 38 and 45 degrees, otherwise you can have raised embryo mortality with knock on damage to hatchability.”
The "How To" document contains a check list for setters and advice on the possible causes of failure to turn properly. A turning angle template, part of the range of Aviagen technical tools, demonstrating the optimum angle for incubating eggs, is also part of the publication.
Nicholson added: “Our unique 'How To' series provides an essential reference source for hatchery personnel. We identified a real need within the industry for clear, easy to follow advice and have produced the series as a result. We are delighted how well this publication has been received by our customers worldwide.”
Other titles in the "How To" hatchery series are:
Measure Egg Water Loss
Measure Chick Yield
Measure Eggshell Temperature
Identify Infertile Eggs & Early Deads
Break Out and Analyze Hatch Debris
Monitor Setter Temperature Variation
Check Your Chicks Are Comfortable

Hatchery-Breeder Clinic held at International Poultry Expo

The Hatchery-Breeder Clinic was recently held in conjunction with the 2012 International Poultry and International Feed Expo, focusing on improvements in broiler performance.
In his presentation on Profiles in Breed Development, Scott Martin, hatchery specialist for Cobb-Vantress’ technical support team, commented that breeders should address incubation management, and said that improvements in broiler performance start at the hatchery level. Martin said that breeders should use data loggers to monitor the temperature and humidity of eggs at all of these points.  Terry Bruce of Tip Top Poultry gave a presentation on Breast Vaccination Concerns, saying that the poultry industry could be adversely impacted unless it addresses the issue of granulomas associated with Salmonella breast injections. “Granuloma formation is a natural response to the bacterial vaccine. It’s not something foreign that is being introduced,” Bruce said.  Other topics included a Disease Update for Breeders; New Equipment for Hatcheries and Breeder Farms; Changing Vaccination Programs and the Impact on Disease Trends; and Male Management for Optimum Fertility.

Rasun to become Iraq's first fully integrated poultry producer

Rasun, part of the Vano Group, one of Iraq’s agriculture companies and the Ross GP distributor for Iraq, has announced an agreement to extend its Grandparent production base that will make the company the first fully integrated poultry producer in the country.
The company currently has GP and PS hatcheries, two feed mills, veterinary and feed labs, a recently acquired slaughter house and a processing plant. “Once our investment plans are completed in autumn 2011, we will be able to offer increased supply to the Iraqi poultry market," said Dr. Salah M. Bakir, chairman and CEO of Rasun.

Pas Reform launches iPad technology for hatchery managers

Pas Reform introduced iPad technology that links hatchery managers to the company's SmartCenter hatchery information systems, allowing iPad users to manage hatchery operations on-the-go.
The company's two types of information systems, SmartSetPro setter and SmartHatchPro hatcher, are both compatible with the technology. Through the technology, the user is provided mobile access to the Smartcenter's three main program tiers of hatchery operations, hatchery management and hatchery analysis.
The SmartCenter hatchery technology links to an iPad through the device's integrated WIFI connectivity, without the need for application downloads, according to the company. Pas Reform says the iPad's screen will display color-coded incubator icons and real-time hatchery information.

Construction starting on Cobb breeding complex in Tenn.

Cobb will invest $19 million in developing a new pedigree breeding complex in Tennessee, which will be the fifth such pedigree complex in the country. An agreement to purchase a 1,000-acre farm at Deer Lodge, Tenn., is signed and construction work is scheduled to begin immediately, with completion within one year.
The project, which will create around 115 new jobs locally, has begun the process to secure a Fast-track Infra-Structure Development Program grant from the state of Tennessee through the county’s economic development committee.
“We’ve had an extremely positive response from Morgan County and the state of Tennessee officials who welcome the boost this will provide to their local economy,” said Dave Juenger, director of support services for Cobb-Vantress.
The pedigree complex will house a number of Cobb lines including some of the Hybro lines acquired by the company in 2007. The development will include a hatchery as well as the brooding, rearing and production housing and employee center. In November, the company opened its $14 million parent stock hatchery in Lafayette, Tenn.

Pas Reform acquires LAN

Pas Reform has acquired Dutch company LAN, accelerating plans for globalization within its automated hatchery division.
According to Pas Reform CEO Bart Aangenendt, LAN will give the hatchery industry access to new applications, especially in complex handling systems, robotics and vision technology. LAN will be operating under a new name, LAN Hatchery Automation.

Almarai Co., Petersime to build new broiler hatchery in Middle East

Saudi Arabia-based food and beverage manufacturer Almarai Company is expanding further into the Middle East poultry production business with the construction of a new broiler hatchery.
The company acquired poultry integrator Hadco in 2009 and is now looking to become a leader in the poultry industry. Almarai has partnered with Petersime to build the greenfield hatchery, which will have state-of-the-art incubators, automation equipment and climate control systems. "My goal is to build the greenfield hatchery within the budget, time frame and industry-leading quality standards of Almarai," said Almarai Construction Projects Manager John Traynor. "My team is working closely together with Petersime’s project department, since they will not only supply the incubation equipment, but also all additional hatchery equipment such as climate control systems and automation.”

Pas Reform wins hatchery contracts in Kazakhstan, Greece, Turkey

Pas Reform has been awarded several new hatchery production contracts to expand the poultry operations of three companies in their respective countries.
Pindos Ioannina Agricultural Poultry Farming Cooperative, in Greece, is in the process of developing a new hatchery complex that will double its day-old broiler chick production to 1 million per week. Turkey's Erpiliç will be working for the fourth time with Pas Reform, on a hatchery that will boost production capacity by 61 million day-old chicks per year. Ust-Kamenogorskaya Ptitse Fabrika, in Kazakhstan, has commissioned Pas Reform to install upgraded systems into its exsisting hatcheries as part of its expansion program that will increase its production to 16,000 tons per year.
All three contract companies expect to have their expanded operations running in 2011.

Petersime expands operations in Russia

Petersime has further expanded its operations in Russia via the establishment of Moscow-based subsidiary Petersime OOO.
The company, which has already installed more than 30 hatchery projects in Russia, hopes to use the subsidiary to increase support to customers and its local distributor. “The establishment of Petersime OOO opens up a unique opportunity to better serve our existing customers and to approach new ones," said Anna Nemtseva, director of Petersime OOO. "We are convinced that the innovative Petersime technology will enable Russian hatcheries to further contribute to the growth of the country’s poultry industry."

United Egg Producers address SE crisis, animal welfare

The annual board meeting and executive conference of the United Egg Producers (UEP) held recently in Williamsburg, Va., was detailed in the organization newsletter United Voices. The following initiatives will be implemented.

• The UEP has established a Food Safety Scientific Advisory Council comprising eleven scientific experts to improve industry safety programs.

• The UEP will update the 5-Star Total Quality Assurance Food Safety Program to be presented to the FDA and the FMI for their consideration.

• Funding of approximately $2.7 million will be required for the Michigan State University and the Midwest Universities Consortium to evaluate alternative caged systems, including enriched colony modules.

• Animal welfare guidelines have been established for hatcheries producing pullet chicks, following a 2009 incident involving alleged improper disposal of cockerels.

• The Egg Pack Committee reported contributions for the current year, which exceeded the goal.

• Mark Oldenkemp, of Valley Fresh Foods, was honored as the UEP’s Egg Producer of the Year.

• Howard Helmer received the President’s Award for his long service promoting eggs.

Guest speakers at the conference included Robert Kohlhagn of Diverse Ctiversey Inc. on sustainability. Chuck Conner, president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, addressed issues relating to cooperatives and activities of the USDA and the Department of Justice. Dr. Cora Morgan of the Food and Drug Administration provided a review on performance measures to access SE reduction and Marie Fenn President, of the National Peanut Board, discussed the salmonella crisis in 2009 affecting peanut products.

Aviagen annual Russian seminar held in Moscow

Aviagen's annual Russian seminar was held recently in Moscow promoting the theme of "quality counts."
Over 100 people attended the event, which took a look at the entire lifecycle of a broiler from hatching through processing. Presentations focused on such topics as hatchery practice, assessing chick quality, broiler economics and research on cost-effective nutrition.

House of Raeford Farms installs solar energy system

House of Raeford Farms, Rose Hill, N.C., recently installed a solar thermal hot water system to help reduce energy costs and increase sustainability efforts. The project is in partnership with Asheville, N.C.-based, FLS Energy.
“Solar energy is something that we had considered, but the economics were tough to justify. The opportunity FLS Energy brought to us, however, made it easy. We can now purchase domestically produced energy, reduce our costs and benefit the environment at the same time,” said Robert C. Johnson, House of Raeford CEO.
The solar hot water system, built behind the hatchery, has 208 panels, and is designed to reduce costs for heating water by upwards of 40% and provide hot water 24 hours a day. House of Raeford will provide the land and purchase all of the system’s output, and FLS Energy will supply the solar energy generation technology, expertise and resources and construct, own and operate the system. The solar system will offset almost 40,000 gallons of propane annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 290,000 pounds per year.

AVICOL expands San Felipe hatchery

Avicola Colombiana SA (AVICOL) has announced the modernization and expansion of its San Felipe hatchery.
AVICOL has partnered with Petersime to upgrade the hatchery using Petersime's embryo-response incubation technology. "We are constantly looking for ways to improve our services and products for our customers," said AVICOL General Manager Wilson Meza Rincón. "This project is simply the next step in the improvement process." A new wing will also be added to the hatchery to meet increasing demand for AVICOL's products.