Broiler breeder Aviagen has just opened a new parent stock hatchery in Russia, intended to help secure its penetration of this all-important market.

 

Located at Yasnogorsk in the west of the country and costing EUR8 million (US$10 million), the new unit has the capacity to produce 5.5 million parent stock a year, increasing to 7.5 million as the market expands.

 

"The first eggs will be set in July, with test hatches taking place in early August and the first deliveries to customers later in August," said a company statement.

 

"Russia is one of our most important markets as it is facing significant growth in the next five years."

 

A company spokesman also added that having facilities inside Russia would help secure access to the market as the country pushes towards its target of 100% self-sufficiency in food production by 2012.

 

"For the first 18 months, the eggs for Yasnogorsk will be imported from Aviagen-operated farms in Europe, but our plan is to set up our own farming base in Russia." Work on this has already started.

 

Aviagen is the world's leading breeder of broiler stock, with seven hatcheries in Europe, producing over 7 million fertile eggs per week, and a major breeding programme in the US.

 

According to company executives, it has a 47% share of the global broiler market, dominated by its Ross 308 bird.