WorldPoultry: Avangardco increases flock population by 18%

LAYERS

Ukrainian egg producer, Avangardco has increased its total flock population by 18% year-on-year to 32.5 million heads as of 31 December 2013, and the population of laying hens increased by 18% year-on-year to 27.0 million heads from 22.8 million heads.

In 2013, the increase in poultry flock followed the launch of new capacities and the placement of poultry flock at poultry complexes Avis and Chornobaivske. The growth rate of the poultry flock was in line with the operational plans of the company. At year end 2013, 38% of the total poultry flock and 34% of the total population of laying hens were housed in the new poultry complexes Avis and Chornobaivske.

Production and sales 
In 2013, the production volume of shell eggs increased by 12% year-on-year to 7,019 million units due to the increase in the population of laying hens. In 2013, sales to external customers decreased by 2% year-on-year to 5,093 million units. The decrease in sales to third parties was due to the increase in intergroup sales of shell eggs for further processing into dry egg products which was in line with the company's strategy.

Exports of shell eggs decreased by 3% year-on-year to 499 million units in 2013. The main shell eggs export markets were the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, Central and West Africa and the CIS countries, with the company being one of the main exporters of shell eggs to these regions.

New poultry houses 
By the end of 2013 the company, according to its stated plans, completed in full the construction of two poultry complexes for egg production Avis and Chornobaivske in Khmelnytsky and Kherson regions. At the moment, the commissioning works are taking place at both complexes ahead of the launch.

The company has also finished the first stage of a capacity expansion at its egg processing plant, Imperovo Foods, increasing the processing capacity from 3 million to 6 million eggs per day. The implementation of the second stage of capacity expansion to increase the processing capacity up to 10 million eggs per day is underway.

by WORLD POULTRY Feb 18, 2014