September 1, 2009

US' Perdue Farms will close its hatcheries in Showell and Bishopville, Maryland, in early May 2010, but will expand two others.

The Showell and Bishopville facilities are outdated and require significant investment in facility maintenance and equipment to continue operating, said Mike Roberts, President of the Food Products Group.

Perdue plans to invest US$3.7 million to expand production at one hatchery on the Delmarva Peninsula and the other one in Kenly, North Carolina.

The investment will increase hatch production by 40 percent at one of its Salisbury hatcheries and nearly double hatch production in Kenly, according to Purdue.

Perdue will invest in new equipment and ventilations systems to accommodate the increased production in Kenly.

This investment will improve overall hatchery operations efficiency by more fully utilising existing facilities.