By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
Ross Breeders Africa has commissioned its US$17 million newly constructed broiler hatchery in Lusaka with production capacity of 500,000 chicks per week.
Company sales manager George Ncube said in an interview that the hatchery includes a new broiler hatchery, additional breeder houses, a new grand parent farm and staff housing and ancillary buildings.
The broiler hatchery is situated on its main breeding farm about 20 kilometres from Lusaka torwards Chongwe.
“The newly established broiler hatchery worth about $17 million has been completed and has since been commissioned. This investment shows our faith in Zambia both as an expanding economy and a hub for our grand parent project which exports broilers and pullets,” Mr Ncube said.
The building is a state-of-the-art designed to incorporate many new features and was made to hatch six times a week compared to the conventional four times.
Mr Ncube said the hatchery would contribute significantly to the development of the country in terms of job creation in the poultry sector with significant increase in export revenue.
Last year, company managing director Colin Lindsayn said the system had been chosen to provide the flexibility required to accommodate the improving performance of the Ross 308 genetics and the impact on the critical factor of days to slaughter, meaning that customers would have more choice in the week days in which to place broiler orders.
Mr Lindsay said the incubators and air-handing system were being provided by Pas Reform of Holland and that includes latest Vortex hatchers which Ross Breeders Zambia were among the first in the world to receive.