Aviagen opens its 9th and largest hatchery in US

To meet a growing demand for quality broiler breeding stock around the world, Aviagen has built a new parent stock (PS) hatchery in Quitman, Georgia.

Aviagen held a grand opening for its new parent stock hatchery in Quitman, Georgia. (Aviagen)
Aviagen held a grand opening for its new parent stock hatchery in Quitman, Georgia. (Aviagen)

To meet a growing demand for quality broiler breeding stock around the world, Aviagen has built a new parent stock (PS) hatchery in Quitman, Georgia. The grand opening ceremony was held on August 22, where Aviagen CEO Jan Henriksen welcomed and extended his appreciation to Quitman Mayor Nancy Dennard, other state and local government officials, and many who played a significant role in establishing the new facility.

Aviagen’s largest U.S. hatchery

The 78,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility becomes the ninth and largest in Aviagen’s U.S. fleet, with the ability to set 1.1 million eggs per week. The company has invested $28 million in the Quitman hatchery, which will result in the creation of up to 100 new jobs for the local workforce.

With construction taking just under a year, the new hatchery became fully operational at the end of May, with a first shipment including an export and a domestic order in mid-June.

High capacity and biosecurity features

The hatchery’s significant production capacity is made possible using 80 Jamesway Platinum 2.0 next-generation incubators and 56 Jamesway Platinum next-generation hatchers. Modern environmental and hygiene-control features ensure the maximum health, welfare and biosecurity for the hatching eggs and chicks, the company stated in a press release.

Another highlight that represents the latest in hatchery innovation are chick storage rooms by HatchTech. While chicks wait in these rooms before transport, they are kept comfortable with the ideal temperature, humidity, airflow and other environmental conditions – another measure to optimize chick health and welfare. Aviagen’s Sallisaw, Oklahoma, hatchery also uses this technology.

Greater service to valued customers

Aviagen believes the Quitman GP hatchery will enable the company to better serve the needs of customers in the U.S. and abroad, while meeting an ever-increasing demand for quality breeding stock. While the Quitman hatchery will supply domestic customers, it is also strategically located near major interstate corridors, allowing easy access to Miami and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airports for easy export to more than 80 countries around the world. We anticipate that the majority of international shipments from the Quitman hatchery will be destined for customers in Latin America.

Henriksen explained, “Aviagen is very much about our people in local communities, and shares with our customers a mission to provide a nutritious and affordable protein source that they can depend on. Through continuous improvements in our breeding program and strategic investments such as the Quitman hatchery, we strengthen our ability to secure a consistent supply of healthy, robust breeding chicks to our customers on a global scale.”

Expanding its footprint in the U.S., in addition to the Quitman hatchery, Aviagen also invested in a new feed processing facility in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, last year.

Please see a video tour for an inside look at the workings of the Quitman hatchery.

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