Royal Pas Reform has completed the installation of a new combined duck and geese hatchery–the first of its kind in Europe–for Warsaw-based waterfowl processing specialist, NaturAgra.
NaturAgra–part of one of Poland’s leading poultry groups, Grupa Drosed, which is wholly owned by one of Europe’s largest fresh poultry producers, French-owned LDC France, wanted to have the newest hatchery with highest standards on the market. In phase one of this greenfield hatchery project, Royal Pas Reform installed 16 SmartSetPro 4 setters, 24 SmartSetPro 2 setters, and 28 SmartHatchPro automated hatchers. The specification included a SmartCare contract for ongoing incubation advice. The installation of this equipment and the climate control system and project management were by Jarmax, Royal Pas Reform’s trade agent in Poland.
The hatchery has a capacity of 1.5 million goslings and 12 million ducklings per year.
Sustainability and animal welfare were a central focus in the project’s design. Important factors included a closed vacuum-waste system and sustainable HVAC operation, with heat recovery and energy saving options.
In the duck hatchery, NaturAgra has adopted the welfare friendly SmartCount duck counting system, which includes take-off and spray vaccination capability. In addition, the hatchery features new technology in the form of an egg-washing machine, which removes the cuticle from the duck eggs, to achieve better hatchability. Roldrob chose this after reference visits to Royal Pas Reform’s duck customers, ‘Duck-To farm’ in the Netherlands and ‘Bangkok Ranch’ in Thailand.
Adam Sojka, CEO of Drosed, comments: “I am very confident that we have made the right decision in going with Royal Pas Reform’s SmartPro single stage technology. These incubators will help us to deliver excellent quality ducklings and goslings.”
Niels Stam, sales director Eastern Europe, says: “We are delighted that NaturAgra chose Royal Pas Reform in the light of very strong competition from sector specialists. It demonstrates that the attraction of our solutions, service and focus on innovation is as strong in the waterfowl sector as it is in the poultry sector. We look forward to working closely with the team at NaturAgra in the future and also to building our reputation in this increasingly important market, worldwide.”