January 29, 2020

 

Hubbard upgrades its Premium R&D centre in France with $9M investment

Hubbard recently invested an additional €8 million (US$8.9 million) in its Premium R&D centre in France in preparation for "the future".

 

The broiler breeding company said it has always adapted its breeding programme to changes in consumption patterns such as increased demand for conformation, meat quality and efficiency without losing focus on robustness and animal welfare.

 

Hubbard thus intensified the R&D of its Premium Product Range a few years ago, resulting in even more productive and efficient Premium chickens to keep the price of Premium meat close enough to conventional products.

 

"On top of this, during the last two years, we have completely refurbished our Premium R&D centre in France. This has been a huge project in which many people and resources have been involved", said Frédéric Fagnoul, Hubbard R&D director.

 

He said this latest €8 million additional investment "allows us to be even better prepared for the future".

 

Profiting customers

 

"This involves implementation of state-of-the-art technologies and equipment, renovation of R&D farms and the pedigree hatchery. The effort profits Hubbard customers by a boost in performance, health and welfare of their broiler breeder lines", he explained.

 

The latest investment also makes Hubbard's Premium R&D in line with the selection pressure of its Conventional R&D. To achieve this, Hubbard has increased the population size and the number of hatches of each pedigree line in its Premium R&D programme. On top of this, the accuracy of genetic selection methods has been increased by using the latest technologies and techniques, such as advanced 3D imaging to improve selection for skeletal health, meat yield and quality.

 

Likewise, new technology is being implemented to observe FCR (feed conversion ratio) and feeding behaviour during a bird's lifetime, in order to select birds that are the most efficient in converting feed to body weight. These additional gains in FCR means less feed is needed to produce healthy and productive premium chickens, according to Hubbard.

 

Hubbard offers a large range of premium breeder females and males to be able to respond to the growing differentiation of the broiler markets. New developments are driven by the "Global Animal Partnership" in North America and the "European Chicken Commitment" in Europe.

 

"With several new options in our R&D pipeline and some test products currently being placed in the field, we are fully prepared for future market developments in this segment of the broiler industry", Fagnoul said.