Business Update September: What’s new in the world of poultry?

Novogen bolsters production with new hatchery

Novogen’s new hatchery at Gare d’Uzel in Brittany will house grandparent stock production, which is distributed worldwide, and parent stock, which is distributed throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

This new production facility supplements Novogen’s current installations in the US and Brazil, which allow it to cover North and South America.

“[This investment] immediately increases production capacity to nearly 4 million layers, with room for more,” said Mickaël Le Helloco, MD of Novogen.

Evonik launches ScreenFloX to monitor microbial status of flocks

Evonik releases ScreenFloX to enable poultry producers to improve livestock production by monitoring the microbial status of entire flocks. According to the company, ScreenFloX is the only environmental screening system that non-invasively quantifies the levels of certain pathogens, including Clostridium perfringens, from an entire flock with over 90% confidence.

Dr Christoph Kobler, head of product line sustainable healthy nutrition, said, “ScreenFloX is an environmental screening system that enables poultry producers to detect levels of different pathogens for the entire flock using an unbiased, non-invasive method. The goal of using ScreenFloX is to optimise overall livestock production through an ‘early warning system’.

Pirbright partners with ECO Animal Health to combat poultry diseases

The Pirbright Institute has entered into a worldwide partnership with ECO Animal Health on 2 new projects to combat significant poultry diseases.

The first project on the development of a novel vaccine for chickens will use a Marek’s disease virus vaccine to protect against multiple economically important poultry viruses – such as Infectious Bursal Disease Virus and Newcastle Disease Virus – using innovative technologies developed at Pirbright.

The second project is to develop a novel biological product using a viral vector system expressing proteins that will aid in the protection of chickens against infectious bronchitis.

It is estimated that every 10% reduction in infectious bronchitis incidence would be worth approximately £654 million to the global poultry industry.

Boehringer Ingelheim invests in vaccine production centre

Boehringer Ingelheim is developing one of the largest biotechnology production sites for veterinary vaccines in Europe. The first brick was symbolically laid for this complex on 20 September at the 15,000 m² facility in Lyon, France. The investment of over €200 million is said to significantly increase production capacities for antigens and vaccines against highly contagious diseases.

Cobb-Vantress offers virtual reality tour of farms and hatcheries

At the International Poultry and Pork Show (SIAVS 2019), Cobb-Vantress unveiled a virtual reality tour of Cobb’s grandparent farms and hatcheries. The 360-degree experience allowed current and potential Cobb customers an opportunity to visit the company’s brick-and-mortar properties in Brazil – including a grandparent farm in Campina Verde, Minas Gerais, and a hatchery in Guapiaçú, São Paulo – without the cost of airfares or biosecurity risks to the flocks.

Additional booth components included access to one of Cobb’s innovative climate-controlled trucks used to transport chicks in Brazil.

An attendee views the Cobb virtual reality experience. Photo: Cobb

New award categories added to Global Animal Welfare Awards

The World Veterinary Association and Ceva Santé Animale are preparing for the 4^thGlobal Animal Welfare Awards to recognise people and entities who are contributing to the protection and welfare of animals and who have provided outstanding and exemplary welfare-related services to animals, animal owners, and the public. The scope of the Awards has been enlarged to recognise veterinary technicians/nurses and veterinary schools in addition to veterinarians and veterinary students for their exemplary work.

DuPont’s Axtra PHY launched in Japan

DuPont Animal Nutrition has launched Axtra PHY in Japan. This product is a fast-acting phytase enzyme designed to improve animal performance and reduce phosphorus waste in poultry and swine. The phytase enzyme works quickly in the digestive tract to break down phytate, the main storage form of phosphorus contained in plants and a key anti-nutrient. By lowering the impact of phytate, Axtra PHY increases the availability of phosphorus, energy and amino acids naturally present in the feed.

DSM becomes first value chain partner to the IEC

DSM has become the first value chain partner to the International Egg Commission (IEC), which was founded with the goal of fostering international co-operation among all sectors of the egg industry to their mutual benefit.

Designed to promote sustainable production and drive positive developments in the egg industry, the new partnerships will see the IEC form close strategic relationships with global organisations to deliver on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals across the global egg value chain.

The partnership will see the 2 organisations work together to tackle environmental sustainability of feed nutrition; human nutrition and poverty alleviation; anti-microbial resistance; and, animal welfare. Photo:DSM

Agrifirm launches product group brand Agrimprove

The Royal Agrifirm Group has launched its new functional feed ingredients brand called Agrimprove. Within this brand Agrifirm develops new ideas in animal health and nutrition.

“In support of farmers and industry all over the world, we are constantly working on innovative functional feed ingredient concepts in the field of animal health and nutrition, that add sustainable value throughout the agri-food chain,” said Johan de Schepper, MD of Agrifirm International, adding, “With Agrimprove we have one clear and global functional feed ingredients brand under the Agrifirm umbrella.” Agrimprove is based on the functional feed ingredients line that was formerly known as Nuscience’s Health4U portfolio.

Lubing celebrates 70 years in business

In the first week of September, 70 years after the company was founded, representatives of the worldwide subsidiaries and agencies met to exchange ideas with Lubing, Germany, at the 5^th international agent meeting.

Almost 60 guests from 30 countries came to learn about new product developments and to discuss the worldwide development processes in agricultural animal husbandry. Photo: Lubing

SPACE 2019 was a great success

SPACE 2019 took place from 10 to 13 September at the Rennes Exhibition Centre in France. This 33^rd edition boasted a positive atmosphere as participants came to partake in 4 days of “Planet Livestock”. The event brought together 1,400 exhibitors from 42 countries, and 105,318 visitors, including 14,706 international visitors from 122 countries, with international attendance up 2%. The next SPACE will be held at the same venue from 15 to 18 September 2020.

VIV Asia selects IMPACT for 2021 event

IMPACT in Bangkok will be the new home base for VIV Asia 2021. The move to this larger venue anticipates ongoing growth of the international exhibition for animal protein production and processing. With around 1,200 international exhibitors and more than 45,000 professional visits from all over the world registered in 2019, VIV Asia presents all animal species.

Dr Ellie Virtue appointed CEO at Anizome

Anizome, a company dedicated to the commercial application of microbiome science in animal health, has appointed Dr. Ellie Virtue as its CEO.

Dr Virtue brings extensive scientific and commercial experience in start-up human and veterinary biotech companies to her position. She has provided consulting and business services to early-stage human and veterinary companies where her roles have included a wide range of functions including operations, commercialisation, R&D, project management and alliance management.

Dr Virtue has a Master of Applied Finance as well as a PhD. Her PhD research on zoonotic viruses was conducted at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Photo: Anizome.

BioSafe Systems adds to their poultry team

BioSafe Systems is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Dooley as Technical Sales Representative for their meat, poultry, and seafood sales team. Based in Georgia, Tom will use his expertise to cultivate sales opportunities within the poultry industry and support the company through representation at events.

Tom has achieved a BS degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, and has gained vast experience working as QA/Food Safety Management. He has also owned and operated a commercial breeder pullet farm for Pilgrim’s since 2003.

Zinpro welcomes Graham M. Webster as regional marketing manager

Zinpro has announced that Graham M. Webster, Ph.D., has joined the company as regional marketing manager, Europe and South Africa. An experienced marketing manager in animal nutrition and health, Dr Webster will develop and lead marketing-team strategies, initiatives and messaging across multiple international markets.

Dr Webster most recently served as global branding and communications manager for a multi-national animal nutrition company. He has earned his doctorate in animal science. Photo: Zinpro