November 23, 2006

Chinese poultry company identifies need to consolidate layer industry

A study conducted by a Chinese poultry farm has identified several farms that would be suitable candidates to form the core of the layer industry.

The study from Beijing Huadu Yukou Poultry Co. Ltd identified four to six farms stocked with a total of about 250,000 sets of grandparent birds

Sun Hao, Board Chairman of Yukou Poultry, said the study is based on the surveys of 118 parent layer farms throughout China.

The industry is moving towards centralization, after repeated outbreaks of bird flu in recent years, Sun said.

Quoting the data from China Animal Agriculture Association, he said China imported about 240,000 sets of grandparent layer breeders in 2005, of which 58.8 percent is Hy-Line breed and 22.8 percent Lohmann, followed by Isa, Neika and Hisex.

The top three importers, Yukou Poultry, Shandong Yisheng and Shijiazhuang Huamu, accounted for 63.7 percent of the total imports.

China's parent stock layer farms has been halved in the past 3 years, from 1,850 in 2003 to 799 in 2005.

Sun said it is critical for layer breeding companies in China to share brand, technology and management expertise, adding that this would help improve quality and stabilise layer supplies and prices.