SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. – Two years and $15 million was time and money well spent for broiler breeder Cobb-Vantress, Inc. The company said a major expansion of the company’s two great grandparent farms in Paulo de Faria in São Paulo and Itapagipe in Minas Gerais will expand the company’s production capacity by 23 percent and hatchery capacity by 10 percent.
The project included expanding and remodeling the farms. The housing capacity has been expanded to allow for the introduction of the male MX line, while associated hatcheries have additional rooms to allow hatching dates and quantities to enhance flexibility.
“This investment in expanding and improving our facilities will also enhance the welfare of our birds, which is one of our core policies,” Idir Savoldi, production manager at Cobb-Vantress Brasil, said in a news release. “With the latest advances in technology and automated controls, we can look forward to continuing increases in performance on the farm and at the hatchery.”
Cobb-Vantress Brasil grandparent farms in Itapagipe (Minas Gerais), Guapiaçu (São Paulo), Palestina (São Paulo) and Água Clara (MatoGrosso do Sol) also have undergone major renovations, the company reported. The Itapagipe farm has doubled production capacity to accommodate an increase of two million breeders per year.
The Guapiaçu hatchery added more than 1,200 sq. m. of floor space, and the hatching facilities have been replaced by Petersime machinery. Additionally, the environment control system was replaced to bring the facility in line with the other Cobb hatcheries operating state-of-the-art technology and equipment, the company said.
