Aviagen Kft, Aviagen's Hungarian business, has announced a major expansion plan of its farming base as part of an ongoing investment and development project which is currently taking place in the region.

A fifth house has been added to four of the nine existing grandparent farms in Hungary and this project was completed in July this year. These farms use the latest innovations in poultry housing and equipment technology, in order to meet the highest standards of bird health and welfare. In addition, work has commenced on a refurbishment of a third dedicated rearing farm of 5000 m2 which will take the first stock in September 2009, taking the total to three dedicated rearing farms for six production farms.

Construction has also begun on grandparent farm in the Czech Republic, located near Brno, which is expected to be operational in early 2010. The farm will comprise of four houses totalling 5000 m2 and is located centrally between Aviagen's Hilbersdorf and Györ hatcheries and is anticipated to be the first of several grandparent farms in the Czech Republic.

Tyark Osterndorff, Business Development Manager for the region, said the Central and Eastern European region is growing, and demand there has increased to the point where Aviagen has already outgrown their existing facilities.