June 2, 2022

Aviagen North America cuts ribbon on new feed processing facility in Tennessee, US

Aviagen hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its brand new feed processing facility in Pikeville, Tennessee, the United States, last month.

Pikeville marks the company's third feed processing facility in the US, and is now home to the country's most advanced feed mill. With a capacity of 3,000 tonnes per week (156,000 tonnes annually), the new facility will supply Aviagen's internal flocks with nutritious, biosecure feed that is specially formulated for their unique dietary needs.

Food safety and security are a top commitment for Aviagen, and the new facility leverages the latest technology available to achieve full pathogen elimination and comprehensive biosecurity.

According to the company, it was the first poultry breeding company in the US to design and build its own feed processing facilities to eliminate contamination and ensure high levels of biosecurity. Adding to the company's extensive biosecurity measures in and around the facility, the location in Pikeville was chosen for its physical isolation.

Richard Obermeyer, director of feed production for Aviagen North America, who was also present at the ceremony, said: "Protecting the health and welfare of our birds and keeping pathogens out of the food chain are our foremost priorities. This all begins with biosecure, high-quality feed. Pikeville joins our Sallisaw, Oklahoma, and Athens, Alabama, fleet of high-capacity, state-of-the-art feed processing facilities to keep our birds nourished with a healthy supply of nutritionally balanced feed."

The new mill will benefit Tennessee's economy and agriculture, eventually bringing 260 new jobs to the area, including up to 36 positions at the feed mill. As it is Aviagen's goal to source locally, the grain supplying the mill will be purchased from local farmers as much as possible. Obermeyer estimates close to 1-1.5 million bushels of grain will be needed in the first year alone.

- Aviagen