WorldPoultry: Avangard closes facilities in Ukraine

LAYERS
Ukraine's largest producer of eggs, agricultural holding Avangard, decided to close half of its production facilities in the east of Ukraine, in the territory of Lugansk and Donetsk Oblasts.

This was reported by local media RBC-Ukraine, with reference to the press service of the company. According to the company, Avangard decided to close poultry farms including Chervonyi Prapor in Lugansk Oblast and Interbusiness in Donetsk Oblast due to the "inability to work in conditions of constant risks associated with the activities of pro-Russian separatists of LPR and DPR [self-proclaimed republics]".

These poultry farms are among the largest of the company. Each farm contains up to 1.5 million livestock chickens, which constitute 10% of all company's livestock.

It is still unclear how exactly the closing of these poultry farms will affect the financial results and operation activity of the holding. The representatives of the company also added that the farms permanently were at risk of raw materials and livestock being stolen, as well as equipment.

Avangard stated: "In such circumstances, the holding can not guarantee the security of the staff, as well as to ensure the continuity of the technological process."
by VLADISLAV VOROTNIKOV Dec 3, 2014