POULTRY

Aviagen Anadolu Achieves a First for the Turkish Poultry Industry with Compartment Status

Turkey becomes Aviagen’s fourth production base to achieve compartment status worldwide

As a result of excellent biosecurity standards, Aviagen® Anadolu officially obtained compartmentalization status from the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on October 27, 2020. This allows the company to continue to deliver birds to customers all over Turkey and the Middle East and to countries who of Compartments Free From Mandatory-to-report Avian Influenza” prepared under the “Regulation on DiseaseFree Compartmentalization”, as a result of which Aviagen Anadolu received the compartment certificate approved by the Ministry on October 27, 2020 following the United Kingdom, US and Brazil,

have formally recognized and accepted compartment status, when an Avian Influenza (AI) outbreak has occurred in other parts of the country.

Aviagen Anadolu production facilities were inspected by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry within the scope of the “Directive on the Definition and Declaration

thanks to its efforts towards biosecurity.

Compartmentalization ensures that a company with compartment status can export from its establishments located in the defined compartments when the Avian Influenza disease occurs in a country or region.

Compartmentalization takes a proactive approach to prevent the disease from penetrating into the establishments located in a compartment and guarantees that the necessary high-level biosecurity measures are taken; all activities are recorded and traceable in a transparent manner; and management and production systems are constantly inspected and controlled through internal or Ministry inspections. It is possible for such companies to prevent not only Avian Influenza, but also other infectious agents from penetrating into their establishments thanks to the high-level biosecurity measures put in place.

The capacity of a company with compartment status to export depends on countries’ bilateral agreements through which they recognize each other’s status. Aviagen Anadolu will continue to successfully represent Turkey in exporting markets with the support of the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as the public authority, and of sectoral associations and organizations for a sustainable compartment status and its recognition by other countries.

This compartment status will also enable sustainable production within the Turkish poultry industry and the continuous supply of high generation stock (Grand Parent and Parent Stock) without any problems, so that consumers can have access to healthy, sustainable and affordable poultry meat. The approval of compartments in various countries through bilateral agreements between public authorities to guarantee the supply of parent stock is strategically important for the Turkish poultry industry in order to continue to meet the domestic demand and to maintain, and further improve if necessary, its strong position in the international arena.

John McGrellis, General Manager for Aviagen Anadolu, expressed the hard work and dedication that contributed to this achievement. “I am delighted that the Turkish government assessed our facilities and procedures, found them compatible with chapter 4.4 of the OIE health standards for zoning and compartmentalization, and granted Aviagen Anadolu enhanced compartment status. This process began over 2 years ago and required intensive and challenging work by Aviagen and official veterinary services staff, especially recently during very difficult pandemic restrictions. The recognition of our very high biosecurity standards and disease monitoring protocols should give confidence to all our customers; domestic and international that Aviagen Anadolu will continue to invest in protecting our stock and thereby ensuring security of supply. Although the compartmentalization status was awarded in October, the process is ongoing, and regular surveillance and auditing will be required by the official veterinary authorities to ensure continued compliance Unrestricted to the regulations. I hope in the upcoming months and years the Turkish Government will be able to develop bilateral agreements between other importing countries, accepting compartmentalization and providing options for trade in the unfortunate event of an Avian Influenza disease outbreak.”

For more information, visit www.aviagen.com

When an unexpected storm shuts down the power grid people are lucky. We can put a comfy fleece jacket over long johns and snuggle under a toasty quilt. Baby chicks can’t. In the old days their broody mom would welcome them into her fluffed up feathers, where they’d be warmed and comforted by her. Today, most chicks rely on brooder heat that usually comes from electricity.

If they get too cold, they’ll perish. So, how do you keep them warm when the power fails? Fortunately, there are several ways to do it.

Move the Brooder to the

Warmest Place: On even the coldest days sunshine can warm a house or brooder. When the power fails, if possible, move the brooder to the warmest place in the house. That often might be inside a south facing sunny window.

Grandma’s Secret: In the old days before modern central heat grandma stayed warm by filling a bottle with hot water and tucking it under her bed’s quilts. Although called a “bottle” most were actually rubber bladders that gradually released heat from the water inside. It works as well today as yesterday, but there’s a problem. Many people have an electric stove, so how do they heat water when there’s no power? An inexpensive camping stove is the answer. Even folks who never go camping benefit by keeping a stove and fuel at the ready to cook their own meals and keep the chicks warm. Fill a glass or metal bottle with hot water and put it in the brooder. Replace it as soon as the water cools.

Hand warmers to the

rescue: During the past decade warmers of many brands have entered the market and are sold where farmers, construction workers, and ice anglers buy supplies. Inside a plastic bag is a mixture of iron powder, charcoal, and a catalyst in a cloth-like paper bag. All the mixture needs is oxygen to begin emitting gentle heat. Rip open the sealed, plastic outer covering. Shake the inner pouch to activate the warmth. Many warmers last upwards of ten hours. They are inexpensive and handy.

Whether using a hot water bottle or hand warmer to keep the chicks snug it’s best to not let them directly touch either device. Otherwise, they could get burned or peck the chemicals from a hand warmer. Fabricating a barrier in the brooder to physically keep the chicks away from the heat source ensures safety while letting them enjoy warmth. Wrap them in a towel is one option.

Safety, Thermometer, and Insulation

Some people keep their chicks

KEEPING CHICKS WARM WHEN THE POWER GOES OFF

warm using candles. They work but present fire danger. The tips listed above don’t require flames so are safer but can be overdone and put the chick’s health in jeopardy.

Cold is lethal to baby chicks. So is heat. Newly hatched chickens love being in a brooder about the temperature of the human body, or just below 100 degrees. Putting too many hot water bottles or hand warmers in the brooder could raise its temperature into the lethal zone. To make sure they are comfortable, look and listen. Chicks communicate. If they are too cold, they’ll huddle together and usually peep loudly. If too hot they’ll scatter away from the heat source and also peep. Remove or add heat sources to keep the brooder the right temperature.

A thermometer also helps ensure that the temperature is just right. Insulation helps ensure that any emergency heat sources are most effective. An old blanket surrounding the brooder holds in heat. Just make sure enough air gets in for comfortable breathing.

Hopefully a power failure is short and welcoming electricity soon warms the house and brooder. Having a backup heat plan in case the power go out makes sense.

For more information, visit www.hoovershatchery.com

Hubbard celebrates 100 years commitment to poultry breeding

In 1921 Mr Ira Hubbard officially created the Hubbard Farms company in Walpole, New Hampshire, USA. This was the very beginning of what finally became one of the leading primary broiler breeding companies in the world.

From the early start onwards the Hubbard family members quickly built up their reputation and business through smart and hard work, paying respect to their employees and customers, and continuously improving the quality of their chicks. The evolution of markets’ and consumers’ demands engaged Hubbard Farms in keeping on the move despite the several economic and conjunctures we know. They adapted their breeding, keeping their traditional New Hampshire barred feather bird, to diversify and offer a white feather breed to meet a new market segment. In the 50’s Hubbard Farms strengthened its portfolio, offering various breeds to the US operators. Gradually, moving to a fully integrated system allowing for an even better control on the breeding process and product quality, and starting up the sales of Parent Stock and Grandparent stock day-old chicks.

International expansion started in the 1960’s in Europe and then towards the rest of the world. At that time Research & Development became the core business to ensure to keep on moving forward and continuously listening to market trends, customer needs and consumer demands. During the following decades, business has been made with great successes and some setbacks.

The start of the new century highlights a turning point in market trends and consumer demand especially in North America and Europe for higher welfare values, better animal health and meat quality. Through its long experience and large Hubbard Premium portfolio, Hubbard has been able to continue to be the undisputed preferred supplier in this growing market segment.

Since 2018, becoming an independent member of the world leading Aviagen Group, a new era has begun. Substantial additional investments in the Hubbard Premium and Conventional R&D programs in France and the USA, as well as in the production facilities in France, USA, Brazil, and Poland have further strengthened Hubbard’s future.

The Hubbard teams are even more than ever committed to deliver quality chicks with good customer support, meeting or exceeding expectations, should it be with the outstandingly performant Hubbard Efficiency Plus breeder female or with the well-known Hubbard Premium range. Hubbard’s genetic programs remain designed and dedicated to providing efficient, healthy, high-quality and tasty chicken meat for the world’s growing population.

The original company values have remained intact: knowledge and passion, commitment and respect to its customers and values. Hubbard has a rich history of longstanding breeding experience, continuous product and process improvements, implementation of state-of-theart selection tools, managed by dedicated teams duly trained and always committed to deliver high quality products.

For more information, visit www.hubbardbreeders.com