Aviagen’s Latin American reach continues, with $12 million investment planned for Peru

In 2019, Peru became Aviagen^®’s first direct presence in Latin America outside of Brazil. At that time Aviagen Peru became an important and strategic supply base for Latin America, producing 1.5 million Parent Stock (PS) chicks per year, and securing the supply of quality Ross^® 308 AP breeding stock to producers throughout Peru, South America and beyond.

However, the need for premium Ross 308 AP keeps growing, as more and more poultry producers come to benefit from the bird’s reproductive performance, robustness, feed efficiency and environmental hardiness. To increase production, the company has just announced that construction is now underway to update the Malvinas 2 complex. The $4.7 million investment will entail adding  12 new Grandparent (GP) houses with modern environmental controls, while increasing the production capacity of the 8 existing rearing houses in an area of 385 hectares (~951 acres). Scheduled for completion in February, the newly upgraded production farm will double Aviagen Peru’s capacity to 3 million PS per year when in full operation.

Poultry facilities built with biosecurity, security of supply in mind

The new and upgraded buildings of Malvinas 2 are all designed for ultimate bird welfare and biosecurity, including a feed distribution system and automated ventilation control and lighting. The location in the desert on the north coast of Peru with limited access was strategically chosen for the highest biosecurity possible, with isolation from other bird populations and other sources of potential pathogens.

Also in response to a thriving market for quality PS chicks in Peru and South America, the company has announced the start of a new hatchery in Peru, with 24 single-stage machines that will have a capacity of 3 million PS per year. The hatchery will represent an investment of $5.4 million. Furthermore, plans are underway for a new health monitoring and diagnostics laboratory that applies leading-edge immunology, molecular technology and bacteriological culture techniques. The total investment with the new and refurbished houses, as well as the new hatchery and laboratory, will add up to $12 million.

“We are excited to announce the expansion of our operations in Peru, which is a clear sign that the success of our customers and popularity of the Ross 308 AP – a bird that is ideally suited for our local markets — continues to flourish,” commented Cesar Muro, General Manager of Aviagen Peru.

Ivan Lauandos, President of Aviagen Latin America, added that the new facility is one way the company is putting into practice #1 of its Top 5 commitments — “Health, food safety and food security” — into action. This commitment is important to the economic sustainability of Latin American producers and the people they serve. “With operations in Brazil, Colombia and Peru, and plans for Aviagen Argentina underway, we have four strong bases for supporting our markets, both domestic and abroad. These will help secure the supply to our valued customers in Latin America and beyond, as they work hard each day to feed their local families with healthy, affordable and sustainable chicken meat.”