June 16, 2020

 

Aviagen's collaboration supports security of supply for breeding chicks to Bangladesh

 

 

On May 29, Aviagen and sister company Hubbard shipped a combined order of Ross, Indian River and Hubbard day-old chicks to Bangladesh, despite flight route restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The companies' customers in Bangladesh, an airline company, freight forwarders, the country's Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and export colleagues also joined the effort, the Aviagen said.

 

The chicks arrived safely at the farms of customers throughout Bangladesh. They will be multiplied to produce 110,393,893 kilogrammes (243,376,874 pounds) of meat for the Bangladeshi people, according to Aviagen.

 

Solution to COVID-19 export challenges

 

The Aviagen Group is committed to ensure a safe and secure supply of breeding stock to customers around the world, the company said.

 

As flight route reductions prevented the companies from using usual export routes, logistics teams needed to find a creative solution to assure food security for the people of Bangladesh.

 

Thus, Aviagen contacted Qatar Airways Cargo and utilised the company's flight travelling from Doha, Qatar, to Hong Kong to make a stop in Bangladesh and deliver the 168,760 day-old breeding stock chicks - the largest single shipment of day-old breeding stock chicks ever.

 

The strategy was for the chicks bound for poultry producers in Bangladesh to share one flight to Bangladesh. The birds were shipped from three locations - Chicago in the United States, and Paris and Amsterdam in Europe - all converging in Doha, Qatar. From there they boarded the diverted flight of a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 freighter to travel to Bangladesh, where they were dispatched to the individual farms of Aviagen customers Kazi Grandparents Ltd. (Indian River) and Nahar Agro Complex Ltd. (Ross), as well as Hubbard customer Aftab Hatchery Ltd.

 

The successful receipt of 168,760 healthy chicks to customer farms in Bangladesh required extraordinary logistical planning, organisation and collaboration among all parties involved: the team of export specialists, Qatar Airways Cargo, JAS Worldwide freight forwarding company, NNR global logistics company, the Bangladesh Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agriculture Service (FSA), USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHID) liaison and the three customers.

 

From the moment the chicks left their respective hatcheries in the United States and Europe, until they arrived safely on customer farms in Bangladesh, their health and welfare were the top priority for the scores of people managing their care, Aviagen said. They were kept well-hydrated, and their temperature and airflow were controlled and monitored along every step of the journey. All international animal transportation guidelines were followed to ensure the health, safety and comfort of the chicks. As an added safeguard, an animal attendant stayed with the birds and cared for them throughout the flight from Doha.

 

Several characteristics contribute to the historic nature of this shipment. First, it represents the most grandparent and parent stock chicks ever to be exported internationally in a single shipment, according to Aviagen. Also, it is the first time multiple brands of multi-generational chicks destined for different poultry companies have shared an international flight.

 

"Aviagen is committed to helping the poultry producers in Bangladesh put food on every table in their local communities. That's why we work hard to find innovative solutions to secure their supply in the event of trade barriers imposed by crises such as the current pandemic," said Jan Henriksen, CEO of Aviagen.

 

"We couldn't be more pleased with the positive outcome, and I'd like to thank all who planned, organised and collaborated to make this mega shipment happen."

 

"Our team is extremely grateful for the coordinated effort of all those involved in the process that made this significant delivery a reality despite the COVID-19 situation and widespread lockdown," said Rakibur Rahman (Tutul), managing sirector of Nahar.

 

"Because of this accomplishment, we can now continue our plans for future expansion, fulfilling our farmers' demand for Ross 308 day-old chicks to meet the protein needs of the people of Bangladesh."

 

- Aviagen