October 5, 2012

Major new investment in Cobb research in Europe

Cobb-Vantress, Inc. is to invest EUR12 million (US$15 million) in doubling the capacity of its Herveld pedigree farm in the Netherlands over the next 12 months.

Expansion of the farm is the latest move in increasing the company's global research and development programme. The farm, which belonged to Hendrix Genetics, came under Cobb's ownership  as part of the acquisition of the Hybro breed.

Work will begin in early November to construct 13 new houses which are expected to be completed within 12 months, followed by refurbishment of the existing buildings.  The expansion will result in an estimated 35 additional jobs at the farm.

Last year, the on-farm hatchery was renovated at a cost of EUR1.0 million ($1.25 million), increasing the hatch capacity and making the facility the company's first pedigree single-stage hatchery.

"Europe remains a key focus for Cobb's long-term growth, and so this investment is part of our overall strategy for the future," said Jerry Moye, president of Cobb. 

A feature of the new houses will be the innovative system for environmental control using ground source heat in winter and deep water from a nearby lake for pre-cooling incoming air in summer -- believed to be the first such combined system in the Dutch poultry industry.

Roy Mutimer, general manager of Cobb Europe, says, "This expansion of our research capacity complements the investment in our facilities for producing grandparent stock to meet growing demand from our franchise distributors across Europe, the Middle East and Africa."

"Over the past two years we've spent almost €4.5 million ($5.5 million) in rebuilding and re-equipping two of our great grandparent farms in Norfolk, reflecting our confidence in the increasing market for Cobb products in this part of the world."

The start of the new investment at Herveld comes within six months of the opening of Cobb's fifth US research complex built at a cost of EUR17 million ($22 million) in Tennessee.