November 3, 2008

South Africa's Country Bird acquires 50 percent of Thai Nutri Feed

Poultry producer Country Bird Holding in South Africa got approval to acquire 50% of the Thailand's animal feed business Nutri Feed.

The acquisition puts Country Bird in line with production integration policies at leading poultry producer Astral and Rainbow, South African's second-largest.

Country Bird's financial director, Robbie Taylor, said that the idea is to improve their margins by fully integrating marketing, breeding and feeding.

The margins on feed have been increasing, while poultry margins remain under pressure and greater exposure to the feed industry puts them in a better profit position and secures our feed supply, he adds.

Country Bird is the third-largest poultry producer by volume in the country.