Cobb opens new hatchery in Russia
Breeding company Cobb has opened a new parent stock hatchery at Stromyn, near Moscow, as it seeks to expand its presence on the growing Russian broiler market.
Now fully operational, the hatchery is sited close to the original Cobb grandparent farm. “We are currently employing over 60 people between the hatchery and the grandparent farm, and it is in our plans to expand production facilities four-fold,” said Sam Lipman, general manager of Broiler Budoshego, Cobb’s partner in the Russian market.
Up to now, most Cobb breeders supplied to Russia have been produced in Holland or Germany. But this has become increasingly difficult with Moscow banning imports from these countries due to recurrent avian influenza outbreaks. This, coupled with government subsidies for investing in local poultry production, are the key reasons for Cobb expanding its Russian production capacity over the past five years.
“With the Stromyn hatchery and the grandparent operation much closer to our customers, this will provide significant advantages in chick quality and lower transport costs.”
Pelayo Casanovas, Cobb Europe’s Russia business manager
The company estimates that in 2014 it will be selling close to six million parent stock, approaching 30% of the market.
“We are planning to produce in Russia at least 80% of the Cobb parent stock sold there,” said Pelayo Casanovas, Russia business manager for Cobb Europe. “With the Stromyn hatchery and the grandparent operation much closer to our customers, this will provide significant advantages in chick quality and lower transport costs.”
Stromyn has a ChickMaster single-stage hatchery with a capacity of approximately 3.5 million breeder females per year. It also boasts individual air handling units in each room, while its delivery fleet is equipped with the latest Veit environmentally-controlled trailer units.
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