Fact that Figure 2023

SUMMARY Table of contents

Report VIV Asia in Bangkok, 8th-10th March 2023

Sawadi-Ka! Welcome again

It seemed every visitor and exhibitor had been yearning to be back under the roofs of VIV Asia after four years of enforced absence!

Cage Free Academy

March 2023

23 high-level specialists from South and North America and Europe attended H&N Cage-Free Academy in Cuxhaven 27th to 31st March 2023.

Boost your sales!

Why H&Ns Marketing Value Portal is the first of a kind in the entire poultry industry

It’s a frequent problem: production is crucial, so everything is dedicated to it. Marketing and sales only gets considered if there is any time left.

Nicaraguan power player in pigs, and now poultry

H&N International welcomes VELACSA AVICOLA as a new distributor of H&N Day-old-Layers (DOL)

Their powerful profit model took off with pigs, now VELACSA offers even more protein value creation as they received H&N birds of the Super Nick breed for the first time in May 2023.

Mafalda Lopes

H&N International welcomes our new Director of Planning & Logistics

Mafalda Lopes has been appointed as H&N Internationals new director of planning and logistics leading our logistics team.

H&N International welcomes specialist for Technical Services Latin America Dr. Juliana Armijo de Souza 22

Brazilian born Dr. Juliana Armijo de Souza joined our team in January 2024, taking on the responsibility of delivery Technical Services in Latin America.

SUMMARY

When science took over

the hen house original footage with Arthur Heisdorf!

Luckily, Art and Mary Heisdorf left more than one original source besides their big brown personal scrapbook with newspaper clippings, original letters, and early marketing materials.

Our Crown of Brown

the best in town

Our brown layer H&N Brown Nick produces eggs of “spectacular” color – a rich warm brown, almost like milk chocolate!

Dr. Rocco Emilio Scappaticcio

H&N International welcomes new nutritionist for the Americas and Europe

Nutrition is one of the key levers to drive layers and egg targets towards the individual desired outcome and local market demand.

New Geneticist joins H&N International Headquarter

Continuously rising global market demands for the most adaptable, reliable and most efficient layer birds keep propelling H&N Internationals growth...

Dr. vet. Roberto Espinola The Mary C. Heisdorf Scholarship

Or “the inner circle of people really interested in poultry”

The Mary C. Heisdorf scholarship was founded 1st June 1989. The founder was her husband Arthur J. Heisdorf, widower after Mary had passed away in 1988.

History of data storage

From punched cards to cloud

Paper discs, magnetic discs, layers of silicon: the history of data carriers is checkered. But one theme is constant across all storage media.

SUMMARY

Updates release with more functions and even greater user friendliness

H&N Internationals invention KAI is unparalleled in the world’s egg producing industry! There are a couple of Apps around for stand-alone tasks and with more or less support, but none of them comes close to what KAI offers. Sounds like steaming hot self-adulation?

50

Heisdorfs History

Despite the beginnings of H&N International in North America in 1945 and the triumphal procession of Nick Chick and the following H&N breeds to global markets, many USfarmers are not aware that, in fact, they breed with the iconic layer hen.

4th H&N Distributor Conference, Istanbul 2023

Have you ever boarded a time machine to look at your own potential future? We did at the 4th Distributor Conference. 85 participants in total made this one a truly special event!

48 52

Flex your muscles, book your personal trainer!

KAI is the industries‘ cutting edge farming app – and it even comes with your own trainer!

Evgeny Kravchenko

H&N International welcomes Key Account Manager Russia and CIS countries

Party with Arty

Best Flocks awarded at H&N Distributor Conference 2023, Istanbul

Outstanding work deserves outstanding acknowledgement! The highlight and culminating moment of each Distributor Conference is the AwardCeremony to recognize the best flocks. There are all sorts of reasons to not change to yet another App. You already have so many. You feel tied to one particular or obliged to use this one and no other or you are simply used to the one you had so far.

Understanding the way things work, and being able to convey product benefits and value proposition to customers is a leading theme in Evgeny Kravchenko's’ career, which started some ten years ago in the food packaging industry.

SUMMARY

H&N Academy 2023 – „one of the most interactive meetings I’ve ever seen!”

Cuxhaven, 13th to 17th November 2023

– Dynamic Learning became one of our favorite ways long before to share knowledge and acquire more of it!

Amel Rabia … and aaaction!!! 64 60

Veterinarian Junior at H&N International

We welcome Amel Rabia as our accomplished and dedicated veterinarian junior at H&N International. Amel brings a wealth of experience in the poultry field, having served as the responsible party for a poultry complex in Algeria.

Yes, they are beautiful to look at! They are probably not just a girl’s best friend! But what’s that thing we have going on with that diamond symbol?

More than the sum of its parts Click a Chick Contest

Looking at the symbolism and system behind the diamond and Winning Images and Winning Images

“FACTS THAT FIGURE”!

XABIER ARBE Managing Director H&N International

You know me, I don’t like to make too many words. We all want to get straight to where the profit is! No waste of time and energy!

But here is the thing:

Communication not just conveys contents. Communication also defines, paves and fortifies ways while transporting information between sender and recipient! The way we deal with others shows who we are ourselves.

The way we talk, or not talk, reveals a lot about how we see the world. The tone of voice as much as facial and body language are powerful non-verbal hues of verbal messages.

Therefore, communication may sometimes feel strenuous when information is bounced back and forth. Yet in doing so and doing it well, connections are made, and mutual trust is built. And mutual trust is the foundation for sustainable business!

Our cover illustration

Neither eggs nor hens are on the cover this time. Poultry is not just about protein production, ours a peoples’ business!

So, instead of focusing solely on production, this time we have chosen a strong symbol for targeted sales. Because you also want to sell well to rake in the profit you and your birds have created in weeks of hard labor! Now you want to bring your product value message across to your local customers! You absolutely want to make sure it gets across and reaches them and they consider your brand and your offer as the one they trust and buy. Our new Market Value Proposition (MVP) Portal is unique in the industry, because it helps you sell the birds better! Tell the sales-story better!

A story untold is a story unheard. The same goes for product stories and unique selling propositions (USPs). A good product message around that unique selling proposition is so important that it mustn’t be thrown at the markets at random, hoping that it is picked up and sticks. Let’s bring it across together and for sure!.

Xabier Arbe, Managing Director H&N International

REPORT VIV ASIA IN BANGKOK, 8TH-10TH MARCH 2023

SAWADI-KA! WELCOME AGAIN

It seemed every visitor and exhibitor had been yearning to be back under the roofs of VIV Asia after four years of enforced absence! Our booth 2510 in Hall 2 was very well visited on all three days of the trade fair with prospects and long-term customers touching base with us from all over Asia. We wanted to make the most out of it, so we offered our customers dinner on the rooftops of Bangkok on two evenings to continue quality time together.

Outstanding in the industry

Our farming assistance App KAI was one of the big topics –KAI contains all the knowledge needed to manage pullet rearing or production of hatchery or table eggs. And to manage the staff, too! The task manager and reminder functions KAI offers currently are unique in the industry, no other App is closer to a real expert that oversees all steps and procedures, monitoring and evaluation of results.

Many visitors took the chance to download the app right away when they heard about the functionalities. It takes few easy steps: download the app from Google Play or App Store, visit www.hn-int.com/KAI, find your country to create your country code – and you can start personalizing KAI with your user profile, create your farm

with houses and flocks – even if you don’t work with H&N breeds you can monitor your birds with KAI.

Arrived at the “Holo”-Deck

Our mission continues to be the most customer centered company According to our brand claim

Genetics and more”

we also featured a new holographic experience for mobile devices. The hologram is just another proof that we live in all worlds, the analog and the digital, versatile and adaptable just like our birds. The hologram shows how we work by putting everything around the customers’ egg targets in the center.

That’s what drives us, our customers are simply the core of our universe”,

says Xabier Arbe, Managing Director of H&N International.

Khapkun-Ka – and we hope to see you all soon again!

NICARAGUAN POWER PLAYER IN PIGS, AND NOW POULTRY

H&N

WELCOMES

Their powerful profit model took off with pigs, now VELACSA offers even more protein value creation as they received H&N birds of the Super Nick breed for the first time in May 2023. VELACSA will sell H&N Super Nick day-old layers (DOL) to layer farmers in Nicaragua.

Located in Abangasca Sur, north of León, VELACSA manages two growth areas. The company works to provide comprehensive solutions to all branches of the local agribusiness in Nicaragua. The company logos on their own Facebook channel show a sunny farm complete with a feed container and pigs, dwarfed by a huge, imposing wild boar in dark colors: “First we raised pigs,” says President Juan Pablo Velázquez, "but we never limited ourselves"

From the beginning, we investigated into more ways to diversify our portfolio, and to establish ourselves as a modern, multi-level company that provides more than animals, but complete solutions to our customer base!

H&N Super Nick was chosen because VELACSA was looking for a premium breed to work as a mass white egg layer providing the highest egg mass. We are very happy to partner with VELACSA and further support the company’s strong position in the market!”

said veterinarian Dr. Ronald Trenchi, technical specialist at H&N International and key account manager for Latin America.

H&N International welcomes VELACSA AVICOLA as a distributor: Juxleonard Enrique Bolaños, Carlos Alfonso Velazquez, Dr. Ronald Trenchi from H&N, Juan Pablo Velazquez and Carlos Velazquez. Read more in our press room.

CAGE FREE ACADEMY

March 2023

Hitting the Freeway –success is a way The

Can Lucky Freed Chicken … be Cash Cows?

23

high-level specialists from South and North America

and Europe attended H&N Cage-Free Academy in Cuxhaven 27 th to 31 st March 2023.

Having so much knowhow in one spot made this Academy a very rich and pleasant experience.

Cage-free is not so much a question of in or out – it’s a process involving multiple stakeholders on all levels from farm to federal!

Some countries are entirely cage-free today like Switzerland, others pursue a two-pronged or multi-pronged strategy to reach it, yet others are starting to consider it.

Cage-free is a big change in production management and nutrition. However the main change is at the culture of the company.

Cage-free farmers can’t apply the same mentality as in cage production, therefore there must be a core change in the farms’ organization when egg production in cage free is supposed to happen.

Little details become more important and the coordination of the different people in the egg production becomes the key to success.

Rearing is yet more crucial, body weight, feed intake development, feeding pattern… all those parameters will determine success or failure. The big “change” is really many changes

The farmers’ job also changes; this new production form requires more time spent with the birds. The birds will show new behaviors and the farmers need to be there to see these, understand them and change whatever is needed so the birds can show their full genetic potential. New ways of production require changes and an adaptation period.

Many topics got discussed affecting the changes needed for having a successful cagefree production. All mornings were packed with reviewing topics related to genetic selection, management, health and nutrition and the changes that producers need to make compared to the production in cage.

In the afternoons participants went on Dynamic Learning Workshops to exchange and enhance know-how and local experience amongst experts from various corners of the world. Trouble shooting exercises for management followed. Then participants took on the role of detectivenutritionists solving performance issues related to the nutrition in cage free.

Free time, our “obligatory” bowling session on Tuesday and a karaoke night on Wednesday spiced the event with leisure and fun, before we wrapped it up with the certificate ceremony.

By the way:

The new H&N Cage-Free Management Guides hold all information around cage-free for each H&N breed. Find them here: www.hn-int.com/downloads

Mafalda Lopes has been appointed as H&N

Internationals new director of planning and logistics leading our logistics team. Mafalda will be overseeing all tasks related to planning shipments, forecast and surveillance of deliveries and shipments to our worldwide customer base.

Mafalda not only brings numerous years of experience to the team. In previous roles and responsibilities, she also acquired in depth knowledge of each single project-step across the entire value creation process!

With a background in veterinary medicine and poultry farming, in October 2014 Mafalda became the Quality Manager for the commercial distributor H&N Peninsular in Portugal. In this position she oversaw the hatchery process and management of Day-old Layers (DOL). In 2016 she implemented a Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2008 into the hatchery and managed the entire certification procedure across each operational task and activity.

Excellence of execution in any process and quality are not just nice words. Behind quality is a precisely organized, well-orchestrated business purpose that becomes provable customer value”, she says.

And “well defined processes, a structured mutual exchange of information and an ongoing constructive dialogue” is what she names as core ingredients of her recipe for success to set up world-class logistics operations and bring people and poultry together.

And her way work: In April 2017 she was appointed as veterinarian support and Production Manager for a Grand Parent Stock (GP) farm in Portugal. Here again she was responsible for quality control for the Parent Stocks hatching and logistics operations. And soon her scope of work grew larger across more countries like Germany, Denmark UK – and next also across the borders of Europe.

Global planning and logistic require a lot of experience in terms of regulations, routes, and best-practice as well as the ability to deal wisely and efficiently with game changers,

force majeure that can occur in any logistics at any time and across many miles and numerous borders – no easy task! Mafalda follows Silvia Mourino who accepted a new position within the EW-group.

Beyond her vast experiences in logistics, Mafalda also brings her insights as a veterinarian and production manager for a GPS farm to the job, together with her skills in quality management and quality control acquired during her hatchery work. With such a broad gamut Mafalda is an expert to understand and manage the “big picture” of how chicks arrive at our customers best and how value travels and grows along the trajectories connecting layer businesses.

We at H&N International are extremely happy to welcome Mafalda in our team!

BOOST YOUR SALES!

Why H&Ns Marketing Value Portal is the first of a kind in the entire poultry industry

It’s a frequent problem: production is crucial, so everything is dedicated to it. Marketing and sales only gets considered if there is any time left. If there isn’t... then what?

Going hand in hand – production and sales

Sales is equally important as production. But too often it ranks last. Even the best produced flock will turn out a failure without generating turnover – that is: getting sold at a good price. You must sell well what you do well! You need to position your birds second to none in each of your local markets. Make your customers know – and demand – the value of your birds.

That is what H&Ns new Portal is: A unique first-of-akind, best of breed sales-tool providing you with tangible detailed propositions of the sellable market value our hens have. How great they are and why – the new portal is where you get your salesgear to arm your sales force with content, material – and self-esteem to proudly sell an industry leading highperforming brand. Your brand!

Please take it personal – personalize your hen and custom tailor your marketing & sales

H&N birds are the most adaptable genetic in the industry. That means they will be what you need, mass producers of early eggs or suppliers of jumbo sizes. They can give you the very egg targets your markets demand. And they will in any housing, any climate and with any feed!

It’s you who “drives” them by way of correct layer feed management, correct light programs, and due diligence in timed procedures.

Make

your sales strategic!

Sales, too, will adapt to your individual market demand. Your staff members assigned with sales and marketing, or you yourself if you personally handle sales, get everything you need to position and describe H&N Birds correctly in each local market. You find product messaging per each H&N breed with corresponding materials such as posters, flyers, brochures and even video material.

All that is far easier than you may think, because you can even do so remotely by KAI Farming Assistance! KAI precisely and in easy words tells you each and every step, KAI keeps track of all tasks and sends reminders or alerts in case any indicator could go off track.

KAI creates the reports you need and gives you realtime support any time you need it! So, production can run like charm towards your personal goals.

Adapting any material to your language or even creating new material for you? No problem at all, let’s look into all options. Material translation, for example, is very easy – you only need to pick your material, just give us your translation, and we will do all the rest to edit and layout your personalized material, add your logo and any other amendments.

The key to your profit

Are you loosing money? Check on your marketing cash-rebate

Remember that there is money set aside for you! Each customer model, PRO, PREMIUM and ELITE are eligible to a percentage of cash-rebate for your own marketing purposes!

This is a direct invest of H&N International into your local sales success – so claim your money and use it to your own benefit!

There is how:

The MVP Portal

MVP stands for Marketing Value Proposition – the value your H&N product, brings to your local market. The MVP is structured like a portal, with more contents constantly coming in.

The MVP Portal currently covers our four main breeds Brown Nick, Nick Chick, Crystal Nick and Super Nick with the largest global presence. You have a special market and are interested in Coral? No problem, talk to us! The MVP portal is structured in five main categories with subcategories that hold product messages and associated marketing materials to transport them. These categories are:

Bird - Qualities and Characteristics

Definition and Character

Special Strength and Advantages

Market Footprint

Egg Quality

Number

Size and Weight

Shell Strength (Sellability in terms of Transportability)

Shell Color (Sellability in terms of Uniformity

Feed

Feed Intake and Adaptability

Feed Efficiency

NutriCubes (correct layer targeted feed management in short –for Vets and Farm Staff)

Bird – Production and Management

Housing and Adaptability

Laying

Economic Value

Supporting Services

Technical Services and Support

Marketing Materials and Support

Software

Training

How to use the MVP to your benefit - Process

At one of your next meetings your Key Account Manager (KAM) will ask for some extra time to sit down with you and show you around the new portal. It basically works like an a-la-card restaurant with a lot of choice.

1

2

You can choose which bird features are most important in your local market. You can choose up to 3 product values for each breed you have, that matter most to your customers.

3

Next, choose:

3a.) the channel(s) – a channel is anything that puts through messaged material to your customers! So, a channel can be your website, LinkedIn or other Social Media or mass media channels you use. A channel can also be a personal agent, or a staff member assigned with marketing. A channel can be your trucks driving around with H&N motives printed on it. A channel can be posters, brochures or other print material that you bring to your customers. A channel can be e-mail, mailings or how callers are greeted by your answering machine or central switch board.

And then:

3b) choose your timeline, mark the frequency and duration with which you will use the materials. Mark your calendar: when and how often customers will get targeted with your material? Hold the marketing representative (your staff or you yourself) accountable with regular actions! Because regular activity is mandatory to create the “buzz”, ongoing impressions in your customers’ brains that make them consider your brand!

4

Now, budget the material, make an estimate of what costs will occur, and how much of these can be covered by using your marketing cash-rebate. All H&N customers are eligible to their individual marketing cash-rebate depending on the business model of your choice! This way we directly re-invest into your local brand presence and support your sales! The cash-rebate can be used to produce and print material locally for example, or to book media space in local trade or public media, to book advertisement.

5

Finally, also get your sales-team trained – our KAM have more to offer, they can show your team how to answer and handle any kind of factual or critical questions from your customers; and we offer ready2use power point presentations for each bird. All to tell the story well, and to sell well!

Ask your Key Account Manager (KAM) to show you the Market Value Proposition (MVP) and spend your cash-rebate to create more buzz! You are great and you deserve the world – and primarily your markets – know more about you!

Customers meeting with KAM

Pick 3 key values/USPs to promote locally.

Getting customized calendar from H&N

Include the 3 values and develop new material if needed.

Customers are ready to post from their own calendar with their own texts.

Interlinking with the global brand communication where desired — and pushing own local USPs as needed

Dr. Juliana Armijo de Souza

H&N International welcomes specialist for Technical Services Latin America

Brazilian born Dr. Juliana Armijo de Souza joined our team in January 2024, taking on the responsibility of delivery Technical Services in Latin America. She recalls:

When H&N International offered me this great new opportunity, I didn't have to think it over for long, even though I had a couple of other job offers lined up as well!”

says Dr. Juliana Armijo de Souza.

Before joining H&N International she was based in Chile, where she worked as Key Account Manager (KAM) for Ceva Salud Animal, an international laboratory dedicated to the manufacturing of poultry vaccines.

As a veterinarian, Juliana always had strong roots in the poultry industry including the technical services and consultative sales activities.

But the excitement and challenge of exploring a different new and wider area than the one she had been working in so far made her want to know more of the poultry industry in other Latin American countries and learning new things in Parent Stock and Layer management beyond vaccines.

Already during her university studies pet medicine alone would feel too small a subject to satisfy her thirst for knowledge and interesting career opportunities, and she soon decided to specialize in poultry production as a bigger picture.

Poultry is a peoples’ business, with the total brand-experience including all our stakeholders, our distributors and customers, our colleagues – and new colleagues becoming part of this team!

H&N International impressed me from the start, from the way the colleagues collaborate in this world-spanning team, how positively and people-oriented they are and how innovate and creative the H&N brand comes along! I felt inspired by the camaraderie and dedication, this was enough to know that this would be a great place for me to work!”. says Juliana.

She keeps being surrounded by animals also in her spare time, which she enjoys spending with her little son and husband and amidst three dogs and five cats.

We are very happy to count Juliana in and wish her a great start with H&N International!

WHEN SCIENCE TOOK OVER

THE HEN HOUSE ORIGINAL FOOTAGE WITH ARTHUR HEISDORF!

Old movie from 1960ies shows H&N Internationals revolutionary breeding method

Luckily, Art and Mary Heisdorf left more than one original source besides their big brown personal scrapbook with newspaper clippings, original letters, and early marketing materials.

And another such treasure was found in our archive in 2022, sitting in an old, rust-encrusted round film container! It had been out of plain sight buried under a heavy pile of boxes with other outdated materials and had rested there undiscovered and forgotten.

For how many years we didn’t know when we found it there. And likewise, it was at first unclear what this round rusty container contained, if it contained anything at all.

It’s truly a treasure on film!

“Yuck! It’s probably some old worthless junk, throw it away, it just occupies the much-needed space for our new stuff!”, said one of us when looking at the rusty container with a mixture of doubt and repulse.

“No! Stop! Give me that! Maybe there’s a film inside! Maybe it’s unique! Maybe even priceless!” said the other and wouldn’t let go of the ominous container.

Opening the treasure box

Indeed, inside there was a film reel. A film on what was apparently celluloid, coiled up on a film spool, some 20 centimeters in diameter! This was oooooold stuff! And not just a short movie, but a longer one, at least 20 minutes we guestimated in growing excitement.

Not knowing at that time if it had anything to do with

H&N International at all. A look at the label on top of the container did not give away the movie’s secrets or the year of its shooting either. Carefully looking at the first frames we had to know more, we wanted to see the entire movie. The decision was made to digitize it.

But that was easier said than done because old movies need old projection equipment to be shown and few specialized companies still have such working equipment. Mostly archives and museums have it, but they also draw in boatloads of their own material and often lack means, staff, time and budget to help with external requests.

Thanks to our video expert agency La Marmota Insomne the movie was not only digitized but also subtitled in English. And when they called us up it sounded like this, we quote their O-tones: “It’s truly a treasure on film!”

Starring

Nick Chick, Art Heisdorf and many more

We still could not determine the year of its making since that is nowhere stated. Judging from the contents and the people portrayed, the film was probably made around 1960, maybe even before.

It tells the story of how Art Heisdorf introduced the first iconic breed, the Nick Chick, to the German and European Markets.

H&N International had looked for licensees overseas and contracted Lohmann in 1959 as the first distributor. Soon, Nick Chick found further customers, postwar German and European markets readily embraced the new breeding methods and computer based modern scientific selection coming from the US, and so H&Ns Nick Chick helped many companies grow big and bigger, ultimately to world leadership.

The

Early computing with IBM

The movie also shows former Chief Geneticist Max von Krosigk sitting with H&N founder Art Heisdorf. In the next frame the computing part of layer breeding is portrayed: Art Heisdorf had used IBM computers for his big data selection already in the US and as early as 1951 or 1952. And he brought IBM technology to Cuxhaven, too, as early as the 1960ies.

An article published in the iconic Businessweek (today called Bloomberg Businessweek), edition March 16, 1963, is called “Science takes over the hen house”. It’s about Art and Mary Heisdorfs revolutionary breeding approach and the deployment of computing technology to process all the data the couple collected meticulously. “Science takes over the hen house” would also be a great title for the old movie.

Can we get the cover?

Cover of Business Week, March 16, 1963

On the cover: Jules C. Stein physician, businessman and founder of MCA (Music Corporation America) Inc., originally an artist’s agency, Lew Wassermann, businessman, talent agent and “legendary movie mogul" and Milton Rackmil, ViceCharman of MCA Inc.

At that time a computer would occupy an entire room and specialized staff would operate computers with paper punch cards. Each chick got an own punch card shortly after hatching.

It was around the same time Americans deployed IBM computers in their space program, calculating flight path angles and supplies to finally send a team to the moon in 1969 – the Hollywood Movie “Hidden Figures” tells the story of early IBM computing and the specialists operating them.

The creative driving force behind using computing technology in breeding to process huge amounts of data persists today, just way smaller and faster. Not just one technical quantum leap but many since have put far more data and functionality into our hands in much smaller, better and faster computer devices.

Art and Mary Heisdorf surely would have loved KAI, H&Ns farming assistance powered by artificial intelligence, because KAI is the logic follow-up of the early IBM computing giants.

Art and Mary Heisdorf surely would have loved KAI, H&Ns farming assistance powered by artificial intelligence, because KAI is the logic follow-up of the early IBM computing giants.

Back to the roots – H&N

Internationals beginnings

It’s a fun fact to know that today a Microsoft office building stands on a former Heisdorf Hatchery in Redmond, Seattle (WA). You could almost say it “hatched” there in 1979, two decades after Art and Mary Heisdorf had already been using modern computing power, albeit from IBM, in their genetic work.

Three historic societies in the US foster the heritage and memory of Art and Mary Heisdorf: The Redmond Historical Society, Kirkland Heritage and Woodinville Heritage, all located close to Seattle, Washington.

It’s very interesting to see the influence of chicken breeding to the American agricultural sector, the changes in nationwide nutrition and the modernization and export of breeding success to the entire world.

And still today, H&N International continues to be a leading brand also in farming software: H&Ns digital farming assistance KAI is currently unparalleled by any other in terms of scope, functions, flawless scalability and global user-friendliness. It had always been genetics and more!

www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org

www.kirklandheritage.org

www.woodinvilleheritage.com

Our brown layer H&N

Brown Nick produces eggs of “spectacular” color – a rich warm brown, almost like milk chocolate! Not just that, all our breeds excel with industry leading shell strength. Because it’s salability of intact and uniformly colored eggs, not just bare numbers, that create profits!

Take part in our yearlong quiz and accumulate points for each correct answer – this way you can win every month and keep gathering points to take part in our end-of-year contest. We will announce every quiz on the previous Friday. Each month comes with two rounds of the quiz, so you can play biweekly and have a greater chance to collect more points.

In total 24 quiz-questions need to be answered correctly. We will announce the winner of each month in the month to follow. And who collected the most points over the year will win a special price.

Dr. vet. Roberto Espinola

Geneticist joins H&N International Headquarter

Continuously rising global market demands for the most adaptable, reliable and most efficient layer birds keep propelling H&N Internationals growth: Our genetic department welcomes Roberto Emilio Espinola Alfonso in our team.

Reporting to Dr. David Cavero, Roberto will be involved in global research projects, and he will also be supporting the ongoing development and optimization of the breeding program that gives distributors and egg producers around the world the best adapted birds to their individual market needs.

Born in Asunción, Paraguay, Roberto’s fascination with animal health started already in his early childhood. After acquiring a bachelor’s degree in veterinary sciences at the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion in 2019 Roberto went straight on and also got his European Master in Animal Breeding and Genetics at the Wageningen University and Research (WUR) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in 2022.

Despite his young age Roberto already acquired extensive work and travel experience, and he speaks four languages - English, Spanish, Portuguese and Guarani – fluently! And, fast learner he is, he already started tackling German as well. His knowledge covers field experience as well as research work. EXPO, the largest Paraguayan livestock exhibition, organized by the Paraguayan Rural Association had him work with livestock genetics. Afterwards he was a farm manager at Cabaña La Tranquera, overseeing the animals’ handing and the support of daily farm tasks.

He participated in the ELLS Summer School “Contribution of animal breeding to global food security” at BOKU in Vienna, Austria; 2021, and in an International Leadership Workshop for Rural Youth at Herrsching am Ammersee, Germany; 2017.

With such a high activity level, what’s a prolific geneticist’s way to recharge? Going out for a run, keeping flexible with yoga, and going swimming. Quality time with family and friends – and planning his next trips again

Four questions to Dr. Robert Espinola

What fascinates you about poultry?

It’s the magnitude of the industry’s contribution of quality food to the world. I think that poultry is one of the most sustainable ways of animal breeding, and it is in line with many SDGs, such as SDG2 ‘No hunger’ and SDG12 ‘responsible consumption and production’.

What can genetics accomplish in future?

There are traits that have become more relevant or are of greater interest such as aggressive behavior, feather pecking, and even osteoporosis, and I am fascinated how the estimation of genetic parameters can help to select birds with desired features.

What stays crucial is to “unbox” and develop the genetic potential in the correct way, with all correct procedures, maintenance and management tasks.

What makes poultry special in terms of genetics?

“I like the short generation interval compared to other livestock species, where the genetic improvement can be seen in a very short period of time.”

How

can

distributors and farmers make sure they do?

H&N International offers help in all sorts of ways – one way being the farming assistance app KAI for rearing and production.

People of my generation grew up with digital applications everywhere, so for me as a geneticist it’s kind of natural to see an industry leading app like KAI as a supporting extension of our genetics. KAI really helps farmers to manage the birds right and be sure to get the full benefit they can provide.

THE MARY C. HEISDORF SCHOLARSHIP

OR “THE INNER CIRCLE OF PEOPLE REALLY INTERESTED IN POULTRY”

The Mary C. Heisdorf scholarship was founded 1st June 1989. The founder was her husband Arthur J. Heisdorf, widower after Mary had passed away in 1988.

1945 the newlywed Heisdorfs had started their own poultry business in Kirkland, Washington, USA. “At first it was just the two of them, working side by side 16, 17, 18 hours a day. At night, Mary did the office work” wrote awardwinning staff editor Eric Lacitis

in his article THE HATCHING OF HIS LABORS HAS BEEN NO PALTRY ACHIEVEMENT, published June 3, 1986, in The Seattle Times (WA). In the beginning the couple could not even afford a truck, so they first transported crates with chickens on a wagon they would pull. Just five years later and thanks to Art Heisdorfs pioneering revolutionary new breeding technique to select the pure line families of chicks based on the performance of their commercial offspring the company employed almost 200 workers.

And in 1950 started franchising their birds to distributing hatcheries. Of course, Mary was on the board of directors, as she had been a partner in every way to Arthur since the founding day. She had always been an integral part of the business, helping first on the farm and in the hatchery, then with the financial end of the business, and finally graciously receiving visitors from around the world who became distributors of their products. Arthur Heisdorf himself received his B.S. (Bachelor of Science) degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1936.

With the scholarship Heisdorf honored the work of his late wife and business partner. And he found a way to keep the innovative, researching Heisdorf spirit alive – and pass it on to future generations.

University records of recipients date back to 2003. Between then and now 36 awards were given in the amount of US $41,780. Not every year saw awardees, since the University of Wisconsin looks for the best and most promising matches to students. On the other hand, a couple of exceptional awardees have received the scholarship more than once for their outstanding contributions to poultry science, proving to move poultry science forward to new horizons – like Art and Mary Heisdorf intended.

The Mary Heisdorf Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in poultry science or poultry research in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Students must not be majoring in poultry science to be eligible for this award, however most of the students are in the Animal & Dairy Science department.

The application process for this scholarship differs from those offers students apply for directly: The Mary C. Heisdorf scholarship is initiated from the University of Wisconsin, where a board of professors selects the prospects. The students use a general application for scholarships within the college, and then the board of faculty members matches students to the scholarship that fits their interests, strengths and their intrinsic motivation to start a career in poultry.

The original intention of the Mary C. Heisdorf scholarship is “to bring the right people together” as Prof. Ron Kean, faculty associate and extension specialist in the Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences describes. “The name Heisdorf is very well known among poultry geneticists. What makes the scholarship stand out amongst other scholarships is not the fact that it funds students, but that it welcomes them to the inner circle of people really interested in poultry.

AWARDS 36

Like Art and Mary Heisdorf had been really ‘into’ poultry!” The scholarship is not limiting students in anyway in their choice of interest, as long as it involves poultry science.

The

H&N International met two of the students:

Russianborn Elena Olson recalls how she was bewildered at her family getting to buy only chicken legs when she was little. “Where is the rest of the animal?” she would ponder, and this would open the doors to her career around food safety, international import, and export of the world’s number one proteins: Chicken meat and eggs.

Elena is a bacteriologist who focuses on how hygiene topics influence the world, spanning the creation chain of poultry production. Her research focuses on bacterial burden and transmission of pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter during pre-harvest live bird and egg production. She believes that some microbial challenges surrounding food safety arise from consumer awareness.

For example, one of the latest transitions in egg production is the demand by the consumer for the transition from traditional battery-cage-housed laying hens to cage-free. With such new requirements, pathogen control becomes a new issue, and novel research is required to overcome the transmission of pathogens throughout the flock. Another concern is the selective breeding and the adaptability of poultry breeds to the local environment, including different climates and unique microbial challenges. Bacterial problems such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter are everywhere. A temperature difference in a highly dense house and a larger flock can have a compounded effect on the whole community and create a tremendous financial risk. Since the application of antibiotics in animal production has been deemed a danger to transmit antibiotic resistance by consumers, novel vaccination and biosecurity protocols are necessary to maintain safety throughout the farm-to-fork continuum. Elena’s goal is to create preventative controls implemented at critical poultry production steps to reduce pathogen load on carcasses and eggs to keep the family dinner safe.

Sean Baker is from Austin, Minnesota and has a vast background in food quality, manufacturing, and ingredient development and application. Food biochemistry is the common denominator and Sean’s special interest. After receiving his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin (UW) – Madison in 2020, Sean spent some time at the Dutch biotech and ingredient company, Corbion. Following a taste of industry, Sean returned to UW to pursue his PhD in Food Science. Sean’s research focuses on the interplay between heme protein (which is what gives meat its desirable color) and lipid oxidation in muscle foods. The associated biochemical processes affect flavor, aroma, taste, nutritional value - and the overall quality of meat and poultry products.

Sean travels frequently to trade events such as recently to the Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) of the American Meat Science Association (AMSA). In his time outside of laboratory and classwork Sean is the Director of Nucleate Cultivate, a student-led non-profit organization for cultivating the next generation of food and ag. tech innovators.

This program provides an international hackathon to equip graduate and undergraduate students with the necessary skills to enter and excel in the emerging cellular and acellular agricultural space

The key to

Dr. Rocco Emilio Scappaticcio

and Europe

Nutrition is one of the key levers to drive layers and egg targets towards the individual desired outcome and local market demand. For Dr. Rocco Emilio Scappaticcio it’s pure fascination, and one he has dedicated his professional life to:

Because nutrition alone already presents producers with fascinating abilities. By administering different diets, or by changing to feeding new ingredients you can really meet the requirements of the birds and solve problems of the flock!” says Dr. Rocco Emilio Scappaticcio.

H&N

International is

very

proud

to broaden the team

by another specialist for layer targeted

nutrition:

Dr. Scappaticcio, new nutritionist for the Americas and Europe, joined on 1st of January 2023 and will set out to support the regions immediately.

Born in Formia, Italy, and based in Spain by marriage, Dr. Scappaticcio brings more than eight years of experience alone in egg production to the team. Before joining H&N International he worked as a technical nutritionist and Research and Development (R&D) department manager for one of the top egg producers in Spain.

Before that he also acquired indepth experience in working for different Italian companies and consulting services such as the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA) and the public authority of agricultural market research and information sector called Istituto di Servizi per il Mercato Agricolo Alimentare (ISMEA).

Already his first work experience took him to Spain as a research technician assistant in the Poultry research center of Nutreco. Consequently, a master’s degree in animal production and health from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) soon followed. And, of course, also Dr. Scappaticcios’ Ph.D., which was completed in June 2022 and again at the UPM, is about layer nutrition and titled

Influence of the energy and digestible lysine contents of the diet on performance and egg quality of brown-egg laying hens”

Furthermore, to his thesis Dr. Scappaticcio has already published more about the nutritional effects and interdependencies of nutrients:

1 2

Effect of pre-peak feeding strategy on performance, egg quality, and tibiae mineralization of brown-egg laying hens from 27 to 62 week of age.

Effects of the source and level of digestible phosphorus in the diet on performance and egg quality of brown laying hens from 64 to 76 weeks of age.

3

Influence of energy concentration and standardized ileal digestible lysine content of the diet on performance and egg quality of brown-egg laying hens from 19 to 59 weeks of age.

4

Effects of source and level of available phosphorus in the diet on performance and egg quality of brown laying hens from 33 to 45 weeks of age.

5

Effects of dietary metabolizable energy and standardized ileal digestible lysine content of the diet on performance and egg quality of brown-egg laying hens from 18 to 41 weeks of age.

What is on his mind when his mind is not focused on layer nutrition?

Definitely family time! I like to spend time with my loved ones, travelling together, seeing my daughter growing up, learning new things with her, and going out to dinner with my wife.”

Watching Football with friends is another thing he enjoys in his spare time.

HISTORY OF DATA STORAGE

FROM PUNCHED CARDS TO CLOUD

Translated from original Source: https://www.swisscom.ch/de/b2bmag/sicherheit/lochkarte-cloud-backup-geschichte/ 18. April 2019Text: Felix Raymann | Medien: Keystone

Paper discs, magnetic discs, layers of silicon: the history of data carriers is checkered. But one theme is constant across all storage media.

Storing data has occupied mankind ever since information was recorded. But let's leave the past behind us and jump straight into the digital age. Let's travel back to the 1960s, when mainframe computers were just beginning to establish themselves.

1930194019501960197019801990

The beginnings: from punched cards to magnetic storage

Today we can no longer imagine a computer without a screen. But in the early days, punched cards served as storage media and the output was made directly to the dot matrix printer.

The text-based screens of the 1980s adopted the 80-character display from the punch card.

This was not only tedious, but also slow. Magnetic storage came along in the 1960s. The tapes on large spools secured the programs for electronic data processing. Backups were hardly an issue. Because the first computers were pure calculating machines that did not yet allow automatic data storage.

The storage facilities diversified in the 1970s. In 1972, IBM introduced a flat, 8-inch diameter, rewritable magnetic disc. The floppy disk was born - ok, the first appeared in 1969, but it was only readable. 80 KB could be stored on a “wobbly disk” (floppy disk). For the title picture of this article alone –around 240 KB – three diskettes would have been necessary. After all, the first floppy disk offered a thousand times the capacity of a punched card.

The triumph of the floppy disk

In the 1970s, the technology began to shrink - and at the same time to become more powerful. When the first personal computers appeared towards the end of the decade, they used floppy disks in the comparatively handy 5.25inch format. In the HD (High Density) version, the data carriers stored an incredible 1.2 MB of data. Now the title picture would have had space on one disc four times.

The floppy disc, the «wobbly disc». (Image: IBM)

In the 1970s, the technology began to shrink - and at the same time to become more powerful. When the first personal computers appeared towards the end of the decade, they used floppy disks in the comparatively handy 5.25inch format. In the HD (High Density) version, the data carriers stored an incredible 1.2 MB of data. Now the title picture would have had space on one disc four times.

Until well into the 1980s, floppy disks not only developed into the standard data medium for the operating system, programs and data. They also served as backup media for the PC. On mainframes, on the other hand, magnetic tapes were still used.

Towards the end of the 1980s, floppy disks, now in 3.5-inch format, had reached their storage peak. They offered almost 1.5 MB of space, i.e. around six times the title image of this article.

The key to your profit

Continuous backups

During the 1980s, magnetic tapes migrated from the computer center to the office. Tape quickly gained popularity as a cheap backup medium for servers on the local network. One tape a day and the data on the server was backed up. In addition, this backup medium is said to have a certain longevity, which made it interesting for archiving data - and still makes it interesting. Current tape drives based on the LTO-8 standard store 12 TB, and even more can be squeezed onto a tape using data compression.

Fast, big and cheap: the hard drive

The hard drive quickly replaced the floppy disk. Because the advantages were overwhelming: hard disks are fast when reading and writing, offer a lot of storage space and are suitable for all common backup strategies. And with today's magnetic storage capacities of up to 12 TB, a file as small as the title picture is no longer significant. Still a popular medium for backups today: external hard drives. (Image: Alamy)

External hard drives are suitable for backing up small amounts of data because the storage can be disconnected from the computer after the backup and stowed away in a closet. However, external hard drives and RAID systems (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), which also mirror data, have a number of significant disadvantages. As a rule, they are not physically separated from the computers. In the event of fire, water damage or burglary, there is a risk of data loss. In addition, ransomware can encrypt connected backup hard drives and make the backup unusable.

NAS: the hard drive goes online

With a NAS (Network Attached Storage), a storage in the local network, backup processes can be automated. Because the memory is always available and does not have to be connected manually every time. That's convenient, but doesn't outweigh the disadvantages of external hard drives: There's no physical separation. And for ransomware, NAS are a godsend.

Image: Alamy

Backup to the cloud

As storage sizes have increased, so has the amount of data. When Windows 3.0 appeared in 1990, seven floppy disks were enough. In contrast, an image of Windows 10 is around 5 GB in size. Around 3500 diskettes would therefore be necessary. And data and applications migrate from the local network to the cloud.

With this diversification, the requirements for backup have changed. If the server is running in the cloud anyway, it's absurd to bring the backup back to the office. However, going the other way makes sense.

A backup in the cloud offers various advantages: the backup is automatic, the data is locally separated and protected from flames such as ransomware. The cloud provider takes care of replacing defective hard drives. And if the backup needs more space, it can simply be rented.

But: Because companies, as users of a cloud service, hand over the data, trust in the cloud provider is elementary. Secure, encrypted access and appropriate data protection regulations are the basis for this trust.

Not only does the cloud provide fully automated backups that are available at all times –nowhere else is the data as secure as in the cloud. This applies in particular if the data centers are located in Switzerland and are certified with the highest security level (Tier IV). And that also elegantly solves the ongoing issue that runs through the history of storage media. The long-term security or backup of the data.

Secure, encrypted access and appropriate data protection regulations are the basis for this trust.

KAI

UPDATES RELEASE WITH MORE FUNCTIONS AND EVEN GREATER USER FRIENDLINESS

H&N Internationals invention KAI is unparalleled in the world’s egg producing industry! There are a couple of Apps around for stand-alone tasks and with more or less support, but none of them comes close to what KAI offers. Sounds like steaming hot self-adulation?

Don’t worry, KAI is really that great and we will proof it in detail. In fact, we are more than happy to proof, because KAI is already a great success that makes egg production more profitable, easier and safer for many users.

KAI currently is the only farming assistance in the proper sense of the word with real individual, realtime assistance, prevention, consultancy and help 24/7!

Almost like a human expert, just way better! KAI is a portable companion on your mobile device, coming along anywhere farmers want to take it – to the barn, customer meetings – or into vacation. KAI is like a very advanced remote-control farmers can use to survey and manage farm staff, coordinate tasks, monitor achievements and get production reports. KAIs artificial intelligence framework is tireless and learns from each task and data and will issue alerts or offer real-time advice in case any parameters threaten to go off track. Prevention has never been easier!

Don’t worry, KAI is not on the chatty side, alerts, support and advice come in text, not in spoken word. You can take KAI to the barn, hen house or hatchery, and it won’t set off the birds. Your staff can take their time in reading and, if necessary, re-reading texts again alone or together with co-workers. All advice is short and clear and helps to eradicate errors or onboard new staff more easily.

DOL-farmers and egg producers enjoy full control being put into their hands as KAI supports them in everything it takes to properly manage the genetics and to personalize their birds, so they perfectly match local market demands.

Speaking of birds: KAI supports monitoring also foreign breeds. If a farmer has no H&N birds yet, but likes to manage his breeds with KAI, that is possible. Because KAI connects all procedures and tasks with individual parameters and targets and takes local climate, lighting conditions and everything else affecting production into account – and learns continuously:

KAI manages farm life by automated task reminders and alert farmers of all daily and weekly things to do, report and check. The App designs the correct individual lighting program in line with the farms geolocation and weather season and, of course, adjusted to the individually desired egg targets. KAIs onboard egg advisor function supervises correct lighting and helps to keep track of egg results.

All that would be few without the artificial intelligence KAI bases on. Thanks to AI KAI learns from all inputs into the daily tasks, results and checkups, and then proactively offers targeted alerts, bespoke advice and matching solutions for any potential problems at that particular farm.

The key to your profit

The craziest thing about KAI – it’s totally, entirely and absolutely for free! Each customer of H&N, whether choosing PRO, PREMIUM or ELITE business package, gets KAI for free as part of the entire solution bundle. And even personal trainer sessions can be booked for free in case users want to get help in taking their first steps or want some support.

The sense in that is simply that all parties benefit from correct farming. And that’s because KAI makes farming process know-how so direct, like a car-key you insert to start the engine, or the remote control to operate your TV channels. No need for detours, read lengthy manuals in search of problemsolving, spend over hours to transcript paper notes into excel lists or fret over the correct lighting program for your birds at your geolocation and for your individual egg-targets. KAI designs that especially for you so it works! As simple as GoogleMaps that KAI has onboard!

It comes for free as a double App for Android and iOS, KAI Blue for rearing pullets and KAI Red for egg production of hatching and table eggs. Both, of course, fully compatible and reflecting the entire value creation chain.

Of course, KAI is polyglot and currently available in English, Spanish, Thai and Turkish with more languages in planning.

Latest releases: What’s new?

Personalize KAI with the new Avatar-Feature – X Avatars come pre-installed. Still not the one you look for? Let us know what your Avatar should be like, and the next release may perhaps feature it!

Shaky connection or no internet?

No problem at all, with the new release KAI can be used also in the offline mode for up to 5 days in a row. Mark the period you plan to be offline upfront and be sure all data gets saved until you go online again! Data you enter or change while offline will be saved and automatically synchronized as soon as you are back in the internet. The only exception is when you set up your account for the very first time and start keying in your flocks, houses and egg targets KAI needs to be internet connected.

Surely of greatest interest to our customers will be the anonymized benchmark-view to get an idea of where your own results rank compared to similar sized farms. With strict data protection applied for all users, farmers are still able to see how they do compared to the global market. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Building a house is now super-fast, almost in the snap of a finger: You can copy a house! Also, houseManagement has been drastically simplified, so farmers can decide to add equipment later, like number and type of feeders, number of drinkers, water system, ventilation etc. later, when they are onsite and can count directly. You can inactivate and reactive houses, too!

Data analysis has been simplified in the Performance Quick Review - you can check how good you are versus pre-set standard data; you can get a daily comparison of local versus standard data

Also, the task manager got an upgrade: Tasks can now be viewed in the new calendar function, organizing tasks on a daily weekly or monthly basis and surveilling recurring tasks or keeping faster track of staff tasks is now easypeasy.

The new advanced search option allows to look for any information users want to view directly, like for example vaccination dates, a particular flock or tasks – advanced search links directly to where you want to go next if you don’t want to move by way of the menu.

Although KAI is super-intuitive and self-explanatory for anyone using a mobile cell phone or handheld some users may appreciate getting initial support from another human being and H&N is delighted to offer free sessions with a Personal Trainer from H&N that will help to set up KAI and take first steps.

FLEX YOUR MUSCLES, BOOK YOUR PERSONAL TRAINER!

KAI is the industries‘ cutting edge farming app –and it even comes with your own trainer!

There are all sorts of reasons to not change to yet another App. You already have so many. You feel tied to one particular or obliged to use this one and no other or you are simply used to the one you had so far.

OK, but can YOUR App do this?

Offline data up to 5 days?

Create and export reports and analysis directly in the App?

Send automatic task-reminders?

Issue warnings to help you prevent mistakes?

Create your individual lighting-program basing on your geo-locations?

Is your app unbiased and offers to monitor external breeds as well?

And finally –does your App come with free live demos and personal training?

Not that you need help, KAI is professionally set up and made so simple and user friendly, that you can start using it right away. It’s self-explanatory – and offers in-system help via the little round symbols marked “i“ for “information”.

Our tutorials take you through each cool function KAI offers – simply copying house information, setting houses inactive or reactivate them by the click of one slider or planning your offline time ahead – you will find it all demoed in video.

But if you like a live demo from a real person in your time zone in Asia, the Americas or Europe – let’s go, get it! Three personal trainers are available in English, Spanish, Italian, Hindi and German. Book your own trainer for free!

HEISDORFS HISTORY

DBrian Joyer President of H&N International USA

espite the beginnings of H&N International in North America in 1945 and the triumphal procession of Nick Chick and the following H&N breeds to global markets, many USfarmers are not aware that, in fact, they breed with the iconic layer hen. “Nick Chick? I have H&Ns” is a common reply.

Unlike other genetics H&N International offers layer parent stock only, and only five powerful breeds – and each of these excel in industry leading adaptability to local market demands and production conditions. They can thrive in any climate, any housing, with any feed and for any egg target. Brown, Crystal, Coral or Super – all, like Nick Chick, the first breed, will “nick” with the local market and individual purpose of local farmers.

Rocket Science, Computers and Chicken

Behind this potential of “nickability” is Arthur and Mary Heisdorfs heritage of scientific methods in reciprocal breeding of layer hens and their personal approach to farming. Many people will say breeding is no rocket science, but the Heisdorfs made it one.

They were meticulous, every detail mattered and was recorded. And the gargantuan amounts of data they accumulated from their farm were processed by some of the earliest International Business Machines, better known as IBM.

Computers were bulky, to put it mildly, in those days and Big Blue, then as a brand still rather small and unheard of in most industries. The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) started using an IBM 705 in June 1957 in their project Vanguard, that was even before the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA, was founded in 1958!

And despite a growing interest of American farmers to also get “H&Ns”, H&N International North America set out to bring back the memory of how Nick Chick came to fame.

Unlike other genetics H&N International offers layer parent stock only, and only five powerful breeds – and each of these excel in industry leading adaptability to local market demands and production conditions.

Redmond Historical Society

Kirkland Heritage Society

Woodinville Heritage Society

Evgeny Kravchenko

H&N International welcomes Key Account Manager

Russia and CIS countries

Understanding the way things work, and being able to convey product benefits and value proposition to customers is a leading theme in Evgeny Kravchenko's’ career, which started some ten years ago in the food packaging industry.

With a background in electro mechanics Evgeny started selling industrial equipment and soon worked his way up to selling packaging machines for food industry, multi-tiered projects, and entire packaging solutions. Mostly perishable goods like bakery, confectionary, poultry, meat, and cheese were amongst the contents he brought to customers safely packaged.

And these customers were numerous, as he worked for leading international companies, headquartered in Spain and with a presence for example in Dubai, where he also lived temporarily and worked for one of the world’s leading dairy filling lines suppliers and as well for companies in whole CIS – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and others.

Evgeny is very well versed in B2B sales and marketing and strongly supports the concept of customer centeredness:

Learning from every customer visit and, in return, offering new trends and solutions for the customers’ benefit is something I truly enjoy and hope to bring to good use also in my new responsibility for the customers in my region with H&N International”, says

Evgeny.

Like the majority of H&N International global team also Evgeny will be based in his home office and will tend to the customers in his region from there.

BUSINESS BOOSTS

4th H&N Distributor Conference, Istanbul 2023

Have you ever boarded a time machine to look at your own potential future? We did at the 4 th Distributor Conference. 85 participants in total made this one a truly special event! Starting with a welcome dinner and a special appearance of three dancing Dervishes we took a deep dive headlong into three and a half days of genetic, biosecurity and business updates and a lot of interactive collaboration. And hard partying, too!

Three external speakers contributed their insights: Luis Carrasco, founder, and CEO of his agency AgriNews, spoke about achieving Marketing Excellence with digital marketing and social media. One thing to remember is to create regular appeal and plan social media campaigning ahead with the target audiences’ needs in mind. We called it playtime in the afternoon and introduced our special edition of a popular board game we named “Trivial Poultry” to do a quiz across marketing, genetics, business, customers and markets and, of course, genetics of H&N International.

Our evening was spent on the Bosporus aboard a dinner ship with music and dancers entertaining. And the second day continued to move us forward fast and powerful.

Former director of Swiss BMILab and self-employed business coach Lutz Koegler led through a fascinating fast forward workshop catapulting eight small groups seven years ahead in time. What megatrends affect businesses? How can we prepare for them? How can we re-invent and develop our own business models? How can we be resilient and adaptable to future trends and market requirements all at the same time?

Creativity was one key ingredient. And it was great to see how much of it each group applied to their virtual journey into seven years from now! The

The afternoon saw us paying a visit to the two famous mosques of Istanbul, the Sultan Ahmet or Blue Mosque from the 17th century and, opposite to it, the Hagia Sophia that was build some 1000 years earlier in the 6th century, it’s cupola often called an eighth wonder of the world. Traffic in Istanbul was against us, but boosted by energy we got off-and-on the bus again in almost no time to dress up and head for the GalaParty. And partying we did then!

This evening culminated in the gala dinner and award giving ceremony for the best flocks of white and brown parent stock. In 2023 the “Arty”, proudly named after our founder Arthur “Art” Heisdorf went to Agromix, Netherlands for the best white flock parent stock. The best brown flock parent stock is – again, for the second time in a row – to be found at Cabanha Barhy, Argentina.

Recovering from a rather short and colorful night our last half day started with wine again: Our last speaker about financial excellence knew all about the challenges and chances of leading a family company, establishing structures, taking decisions and creating a sense of belonging. Pedro Ruiz, CEO of iconic Spanish winery Alma Carraovejas led us through a fascinating journey of planting grapevine and thinking way ahead all towards the end-product customers will enjoy only years after.

Introducing all the many marketing tools and support we currently offer required a bit of a tour de force, as there are very many things we tried to highlight in very little time, including KAI and KAI personal trainings. KAI can turn anyone into an able staff member, one reason more to test it and book a free demo session with one of the appointed KAI ambassadors: Dr. Pratap Rananavare, Dr. Emilio Scappaticcio and Saskia Riedel. Too fast? Rewind and access the presentations in our campus.

PARTY with ARTY

BEST FLOCKS AWARDED AT H&N

DISTRIBUTOR CONFERENCE 2023, ISTANBUL

Outstanding work deserves outstanding acknowledgement! The highlight and culminating moment of each Distributor Conference is the Award-Ceremony to recognize the best flocks. It’s a brief moment compared with our distributors doing outstanding work every day and working towards excellence of their flocks.

Although H&N is a breed with long standing tradition since 1945 most of our distributors are pioneers and thought leaders in their country as they apply and unfold the unique potential of the H&N brand. That’s because H&N is really more than world-class genetics, what we offer is a well thought-throw economic system enabling greater profits safer and with greater value for all participants in the value creation chain. To understand and embrace that takes some though leadership and sometimes the readiness to question and improve processes to the better.

Some of our longest standing H&N distributors are already market leaders, many are evolving strongly with new distributors ramping up very fast. All of them powerful market forces to reckon with.

H&Ns founder, Art Heisdorf, too, was a thought-leader and pioneer. He became a force to reckon with as his scientific way of breeding and documenting selection choices revolutionized and modernized the poultry industry.

Thanks to Art Heisdorfs methods

H&N International soon grew to a world market leader in genetics and helped other brands grow big, too!

The key to your profit

Art Heisdorf based everything he did on hard data. Art and his wife Mary were literally taking data from each single chick, each single hen, each single egg every single day.

Because they wanted to base their selection on solid systematic proof, scientifically transparent data through and through.

Art Heisdorf was not just a scientist but also a computerpioneer.

The Heisdorfs already used computing technology in their breeding process even before NASA used computing technology to put a man on the moon! In fact even before NASA was founded!

And the winners are:

Their goal was simple: the best flock. Always just the best! And with a proven track record.

Therefore, in proud memory of our founder Arthur Heisdorf, better known by his nickname “Art” the award for the best H&N flock is named “Arty”.

Different from an “Oscar” statue which is in essence just goldcoated cheaper metal, the H&N “Arty” is solid laser engraved glass and transparent through and through. Like Heisdorf’s breeding procedure.

Because hard data proof that H&N flocks are world class winners!

Congratulations to Bart Grosfeld and Hans Groot-Koerkamp of Agromix, Netherlands for the best white Parent Stock flock 2023.

Congratulations to Silvina Ermacora and (Name) of Cabanha Barhy, Argentina for the best brown Parent Stock Flock 2023!

Cabanha Barhy wins the second time in a row, they also won the best flock in 2021 in Mallorca!

… AND AAACTION!!!

H&N ACADEMY 2023

– „ONE OF THE MOST INTERACTIVE MEETINGS I’VE EVER SEEN!”

Cuxhaven, 13th to 17th November 2023 –Dynamic Learning became one of our favorite ways long before to share knowledge and acquire more of it! And we can’t get enough of it: also, our November Academy was rich in

interaction, collaboration and exchange. Together with our valued friends and customers from Algeria, Angola, Brazil, Morocco, Nepal, Spain, Uganda, and USA we went through some high-energy days:

Starting with a lavish welcoming dinner at a new venue, the Hotel Strandperle with its unique Bell ‘Époque Art Deco cross-over inspired interior design, the group spend Tuesday with discussing future developments and putting a focus on correct lighting programs. Small breakout groups maximized collaboration. Bowling, a tradition we have come to love over the years, kept up the dynamic momentum before we closed the first day with dinner.

The key to your profit

On Wednesday we shifted the focus towards the “Dos and don’ts in rearing”, production and nutrition – and our external speaker, nutritionist Rick Kleyn from Spesfeed Animal Nutritional Consultants, South Africa, threw some new-old light on the specifics of layer nutrition. Xabier Arbe, Managing Director of H&N International and nutritionist himself, introduced Rick as “one of the superstars of Poultry Nutrition”

He surely and truly is, because he put a few things straight that otherwise may get lost in the subject:

Especially Ricks explanations of the difference between protein and energy –it may sound totally obvious, but for far too many of us it’s not! –

proved to be an interesting, enlightening look behind and inside “the system” of nutrition.

Some basic truths, like how to get to one calory, have almost been obliterated by – human food marketing!

Believe it or not, but human food marketing has in great portions been transferred to or rubbed off on animal nutrition, creating a boatload of misconceptions! Nutrition is a science, and Rick recovered, or rather re-excavated some simple facts that apply as basics to anyone’s nutrition:

Feed comprises four major components, and feed is not just about protein. Human beings and animals convert food into dietary components and use these to maintain body function and to the creation of tissue, be it meat or eggs.

So, what’s the difference? Humans eat precisely the same things as chickens. Just cooked. Grain and protein. But low and behold, humans don’t lay eggs!

Our body doesn’t know what it’s eating. It just keeps breaking down and metabolizes substances, and these are used to maintain the system or create tissue, depending on the type of animal or bird consuming the feed. Sounds simple, but many people (not nutritionists) let themselves be fooled by a protein-story that originates from adverts about human food, such as those products sold for bodybuilding! Small group workshops intensified the subject.

Our special edition of the world-famous board game Trivial Pursuit, H&Ns “Trivial Poultry” combined facts with fun as we wrapped up the second day. Well, wrapped up? Not yet – the Karaoke Night after dinner did it. Rumor has it that the last singers – and really about everybody sang! – left the stage well past midnight!

After Wednesday could well have been headlined by “stomach related things”, Thursday again shifted focus towards Avian Influenza and respiratory diseases, not without also a lecture for “Troubleshooting Feed”

issues, to keep up Wednesday’s momentum. Lots of room to ask questions and get good answers was provided by more breakout groups and an “Ask the H&N Team” round.

Rick Kleyn, who has seen many many meetings during his world spanning career said:

This was the most interactive meeting, I’ve ever been to!”

Well, let’s have more of this! If you would like to recap the Academy, please find more information on our Campus.

We welcome Amel Rabia as our accomplished and dedicated veterinarian junior at H&N International. Amel brings a wealth of experience in the poultry field, having served as the responsible party for a poultry complex in Algeria.

Her journey has been shaped by a family deeply rooted in the poultry industry, with over two decades of leadership in Algeria.

AMEL RABIA

Veterinarian Junior at H&N International

Amel's educational path reflects her commitment to excellence. After pursuing veterinary medicine at the University of Constantine, she dedicated six

years to obtaining two degrees: a master's degree in hygiene and quality control, and a veterinary doctorate. Armed with this extensive knowledge, Amel embarked on a two-year tenure as a veterinarian, specializing in parent stock layer and commercial chickens in Algeria.

But why poultry?

Amel's motivation lies in the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the poultry industry. She recognizes the pivotal role of a poultry veterinarian in navigating the industry's challenges, from emerging diseases to zoonotic threats and the pressing issues of antimicrobial resistance. Amel is driven by a strong passion for contributing to the sustainable development of the industry, ensuring that it thrives amidst the complexities of the modern era.

Amel's skills set her apart in the field, encompassing a deep understanding of animal behaviour, diagnostic expertise, infectious disease control, timely vaccination practices, autopsies, and a strong sense of teamwork. Her commitment to ongoing improvement is evident in her additional training in general antibiogram and general microbiology.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Amel finds joy in various hobbies and leisure activities when she's not immersed in her veterinary responsibilities.

Her multifaceted background, combined with her passion for the poultry industry, makes Amel Rabia a great asset to H&N International and for sure a driving force in the ongoing success of our poultry endeavours.

LOOKING AT THE SYMBOLISM AND SYSTEM BEHIND THE DIAMOND

Yes, they are beautiful to look at! They are probably not just a girl’s best friend! But what’s that thing we have going on with that diamond symbol?

You’ve probably seen it in the Diamond Posters (Link), the corresponding Diamond-Video (Link) and now the customer testimonials (link). Why did we choose it? Because it’s the perfect symbol for the concept of adaptability!

Visualizing a valuecreating concept:

Adaptability

H&N birds are the world’s most adaptable breeds. Adaptability means that the birds will adapt to your local needs, as you “personalize” them in the very sense of the word. And personalization has become super easy and safe with the help of our farming assistant KAI. The birds will be what you want them to be and what you make them. They will produce the egg targets you and your markets demand, and they will do so in any housing, any climate and with any feed. The birds are flexible and versatile to create hard value – in sellable eggs with world-leading shell quality.

OK, but where’s the diamond in this?

Adaptability is a set of traits that work together, in conjunction. Traits are very often looked at as if they were separate qualities that stood alone and had no effect on one another, albeit any trait can only be found active inside a species – outside, in a spread sheet or a brochure one trait never represents an entire species. It can even be misrepresentative to look at just one trait or judge from looking at just a few!

Not even in a machine a trait, or in mechanics a certain characteristic or feature stands on its own – quite the opposite. Speed is directly influenced by the type of fuel, design and aerodynamic drag of the car, weight of the vehicle body, material used to just name a few influencers. Likewise, and since all traits only exist in one living organism, also in H&N birds traits influence and empower one another. All traits purposefully work in an orchestrated, systemic way – coordinated to give customers exactly this world market-leading adaptability which makes them stand out.

Adaptability is a system, a set of traits that work perfectly together! Working together – ok, but don’t we all do that in one way or another? What makes this working-together, this live adaptive power so special? So spectacular as a concept?

Why adaptability is more than just the sum of traits

This is when the diamond enters the stage! Because a diamond, too, is more than the sum of its parts! Have you ever looked at, and we mean really looked at a diamond? It’s lines, its facetted surfaces, its sparkling reflection, and its perfect geometry?

In the austere language of chemistry, a diamond is the cubic modification of the element carbon, or crystalized carbon, atomic number 6 in the periodic table, nonmetallic, tetravalent, meaning its atom making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds.

The key to your profit

Physically described a diamond is the hardest known material and can be transparent or opaque with none or weak birefringence – that’s the optical property of a material, it’s ability to break light into two mutually polarized sub-beams. A diamond is an optically anisotropic media, which means there is a directional dependence of the light-breaking process. In simple words: the fascinating sparkle we see when we look at the vivid optical concert of dark, light, and transparent surfaces and white, light grey, dark grey and rosé, orange, minty, vanilla, lilac and powder blue pastel shades and hues. The fascination of the object as it breaks the light when we move it or move with it while wearing jewelry – or if we cannot touch it at all ourselves because the diamond is kept in a glass cabinet, as we move around it. A couple of famous diamonds can only be seen through safety glass, or on rear occasions on TV:

Famous Diamonds

The Great Star of Africa aka Cullinan I (530,20 Carats) in the British sovereign’s sceptre

The Orloff (189,62 Carats) in the Russian Zar’s imperial sceptre

Koh-i-Noor (108,9360 Carats) in the British Imperial State Crown

Compare to eggs …

Nick Chick Avg EW: 61.6 g would equal 308 carats

Brown Nick Avg EW 64,2 g would equaling 321 carats

Super Nick Avg EW 63,5 g would equaling 317.5 carats

CLike Carbon, Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut

Color, clarity, carat weight, and cut make up a grading system that determines the quality and price of a diamond. The measurement carat indicates the mass of gemstones: 1 metric carat = 0,2 gr or 200 mg.

The rarest color in natural diamonds is red. Only very few small red ones are currently known, they are so scarce that it is estimated that one gram or half a carat could cost around five million US-Dollar!

Of the nine or ten or more fancy cuts the classical round brilliant cut is the most popular – all lines unite in one point, the culet, and from there seem to blossom out, unfolding into a firework of lines and shines!

Let’s not forget, it’s only carbon! The fourth most abundant in the observable universe and part of what humans are made of, on average by 12 to 18 percent, some 14 kg in the average grown up human! How can such an everyday-everywhere element be so special? What’s that dazzling more then the sum of all parts? And why does the fascination of diamonds, their concept, even affect us when they are not real and only made from glass – or if we see them just as digital visual like Marchello Barenghis amazing speed drawing

It’s because of their concept and their anatomy

Diamond-Anatomy in round brilliant cut

Upper part – crown, with the table, Star, bezel and upper girdle facets

The girdle

Lower part – pavilion with lower girdle facet, pavilion facets and culet

Through centuries diamonds have been associated with value, wealth, power and beauty. Not just because they cost money, because they display perfection, ideal aesthetics of coordinated parts – the beauty of coordination! It is that concept of coordinated traits in H&N birds that allows you to produce edible gems that gain you hard profits!

6

H&N UK, UK

7

Carlos

James John Wignall Farooq Sarwar

Industria Genetica Avicola De Guatemala SA, Guatemala

Zimbabwe

Cassie Jackson

Saurav Manandhar Minnich Poultry, USA

Adhunik Poultry

Breeding Farm, Nepal

11

Chenouf Houssam

Tiago Marques

Jaynel Pelayo

Sarl Sidra Bovins, Algeria

H&N Peninsular, Spain

Aviabest Farms Inc., Philippines

OVERVIEW OF STICKERS

Imprint

Editor

Marketing Department H&N International GmbH, Am Seedeich 9, 27472 Cuxhaven, Germany, Phone: +49(0)4721 564-0

E-Mail: info@hn-int.com Internet: www. hn-int.com

AgriNews, Pasaje Antoni Macia i Fonoll, 23, Puerta C Planta 2 Oficina 2.11 A-2, 08302 - Mataró - Barcelona (España)

Phone: +34 93 115 44 15

E-Mail: info@grupoagrinews.com www.agrinews.es

Photo Credits ©H&N International