Cobb Focus Four 2012 (English) - Cobb

focus
W O R L D W I D E
BREEDING FOR LOCAL MARKET
Bright prospects for
growth of chicken
industry in India
FOUR 2012
in this issue
Investing in European research.....................................3
Breeding affordable welfare-friendly chicken........4
New Cobb-Vantress feed mill in Kentucky ...............5
New demand for CobbSasso breed..............................5
Praise for Polish industry.................................................6
Brazilian visitors look into future.................................6
New Breed4Food initiative..............................................7
Our new appointments.....................................................7
Cobb’s Indian partner Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group
is unique in developing its own breeds which have
achieved great success in the Indian market. Cobb Focus
asked Dr Genda Lal Jain, managing director of Venco
Research and Breeding Farms, about the breeding
program and how this has met the challenge of local
market.
What are your targets in breeding broilers for the Indian
market?
Dr Jain: The main objective of our breeding program is
to develop our product in the same environment and
husbandry conditions in which the farmers and breeders
are keeping their birds.
All the pedigree birds are reared in open-sided houses
exposed to vagaries of nature and on similar husbandry
practices, feed and feeding practices as adopted by Indian
broiler farmers. Almost 98 percent of the broilers and
about 85 percent of the breeders are kept in open-sided
houses in India. Major emphasis in the breeding program
is given to feed efficiency, livability and growth rate.
Dr Genda Lal Jain was elected
to the International Poultry
Hall of Fame by the World’s
Poultry Science Association at
its congress at Salvador Brazil.
The WPSA said that Dr Jain
(pictured with its president
Dr R A E Pym) had developed
Vencobb broilers and also
BV-300 layers ‘with
productivity levels matching,
and often surpassing, the best
in the world.
‘In the process it brought great
prosperity to poultry farmers
across India and facilitated the growth of the Indian poultry industry as the
second largest egg producer and fourth largest broiler producer in the world.’
How important is breeder performance?
Dr Jain: India has been traditionally a chick selling market
for several years. However, now the things are changing.
Almost half the broilers are reared by the breeders in an
integrated setup using contract farming. This makes both
breeder and broiler performance equally important.
How important is broiler growth and feed efficiency, and
using what type of feed?
Dr Jain: Typically in India the broilers are marketed at the
weight of 1.8 to 2.2 kg (4 to 4.9 lb) in different parts of the
country. This growth is generally achieved in 35-40 days of
age. With the rise in the feed prices, the feed efficiency has
become the most important trait for the customers.
continued on page 2
BREEDING FOR LOCAL MARKET
‘Total support’ for Indian
poultry industry
Venco is a joint venture between Cobb and Venkateshwara
Hatcheries Group, the largest poultry conglomerate in Asia
involved in all activities of the industry. Venco was established
in 1980 and imported pure lines the following year to start
a breeding program with the help of Cobb.
The VH group has activities ranging from broiler and layer
breeding, production and processing to vaccine production,
feed manufacturing, soya extraction, incubator and poultry
equipment manufacturing, vitamin and mineral supplements,
and SPF Egg production. The VH group’s motto is
‘Total Poultry Support.’
The group has grown several fold in recent years
to become leader in most of the poultry sectors in
India. Vencobb products enjoy more than 75 percent
of the broiler market share and the BV300-layer
breed more than 85 per cent of the layer market in
India - despite competition in both sectors from all
major international breeds through grandparent
distributors.
The VH group has benefited from a breeding
program developing products specifically for the
Indian market by adopting the latest technology and
from creating state-of-the-art facilities in all fields,
with highly qualified, technically sound people.
Currently Venco is marketing three products.
Vencobb100 is known for its high chick numbers and
reasonably good feed efficiency. Vencobb400 has
reasonably good breast meat yield and feed conversion
besides excellent breeder performance. Vencobb400Y
has highest breast meat yield and better feed
conversion along with excellent breeder performance.
Currently Vencobb400Y is the most popular product
in India due to its all-round performance.
How much are genomics featuring today and in near
future?
Dr Jain: Currently we are not working on genomics. In
future we may take this up with the help from Cobb.
How are chickens mainly sold - whole, parts, processed, fresh or
frozen?
Dr Jain: Almost 96 percent of broilers produced in India are sold
as live and fresh dressed as whole. About 2 percent is sold as
frozen either as whole chicken or parts as cut-ups. Another 2
percent is further processed as deboned meat
for QSR’s like McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut,
Dominos and Subway.
continued from page 1
In fact, the breed decision is largely based on the feed efficiency
of the product and Vencobb has the best feed efficiency compared
to Ross 308, AA Plus and Hubbard, which are sold in the Indian
market. The broiler diets typically used in India
would have energy levels of about 3000 Kcal
with about 20-22% protein depending on the
prices of the ingredients.
How important is chicken in typical Indian
diet?
Dr Jain: India is a country with multiple
languages and culture with different food
habits across the nation. Chicken is not an
integral part of the typical Indian diet.
Approximately 25 percent of the population
is strictly vegetarian not consuming any type
of meat or eggs. Those who are nonvegetarian also don’t eat meat every day.
Depending on their purchasing power, some
would eat once or twice a week and others
may eat once or twice a month.
Beef is not normally marketed in India
except the buffalo meat. Mutton has become
very expensive due to paucity of grazing land.
Pork is not normally consumed in India.
Therefore, chicken is the only and cheap
alternative for meat eaters. In fact, QSRs like McDonald’s, KFC,
Pizza Hut, Dominos and Subway primarily use only chicken in
their products, which will help to give chicken very bright
prospects for growth in the Indian market.
How important is meat yield?
Dr Jain: With the vast majority of chickens
marketed live, there is no concept of white
meat and dark meat. Birds are sold on live
weight basis and freshly dressed at the shop.
Consumers in India choose birds with a
blooming breast rather for meat yield. Meat
yield is just perception of the consumer
based on the bird’s appearance. However, in
processing sector where chicken meat is sold to
institutions and fast food outlets, meat yield is
important.
What is the extent of your research activities?
Dr Jain: Venco has a full-fledged pedigree
program with certain product lines and other
experimental lines. All major product lines are
on fast-track program feeding the pipeline every eight weeks.
All major traits of economic importance for the Indian market are
measured and evaluated, with the emphasis placed on different
traits in the selection program according to market requirements.
2
INVESTING IN EUROPEAN RESEARCH
Dutch pedigree unit to double capacity
Cobb-Vantress, Inc. is to invest €12 million
“Over the past two years we’ve spent almost
($15 million) in doubling the capacity of its
€4.5 million ($5.5 million) in rebuilding and
Herveld pedigree farm in the Netherlands
re-equipping two of our great grandparent
over the next 12 months.
farms in Norfolk, UK, reflecting our confidence
Expansion of the farm, which came to
in the increasing market for Cobb products in
Cobb from Hendrix Genetics as part of the
this part of the world.”
acquisition of the Hybro breed, is the latest
move in increasing the company’s global
 The start of the new investment at Herveld
research and development programme.
comes within six months of the opening of
Work will begin early November to
Cobb’s fifth US research complex built at a cost
construct 13 new houses which are expected
of €17 million ($22 million) in Tennessee, stated
to be completed within 12 months, then
as playing an important role in developing
refurbishment of the existing buildings will begin. The expansion broiler breeding stock to sustain the company’s position as a global
will result in an estimated 35 additional jobs at the farm.
leader in broiler genetics.
Last year the on-farm hatchery was renovated at a cost of
€1.0 million ($1.25 million), increasing the hatch capacity
and becoming the company’s first pedigree single-stage
hatchery.
“The Herveld farm investment reflects our commitment to
the importance of the European market sector to our
business,” said Jerry Moye, president of Cobb. “Europe
remains a key focus for Cobb’s long-term growth, and so this
investment is part of our overall strategy for the future.”
A feature of the new houses will be the innovative system
for environmental control using ground source heat in winter
and deep water from a nearby lake for pre-cooling incoming
air in summer — believed to be the first such combined system
in the Dutch poultry industry.
Roy Mutimer, general manager of Cobb Europe, has
welcomed the new investment. “This expansion of our
research capacity complements the investment in our
facilities for producing grandparent stock to meet growing
demand from our franchise distributors across Europe, the
View across the Herveld farm where the expansion will take place.
Middle East and Africa,” he stated.
Research and development partnership extended
Cobb-Vantress Inc and Hendrix Genetics BV have signed an
agreement to continue their research and development
partnership begun in 2008 for a further four years.
The joint development agreement involves research into
livestock genetics, and will enable the two companies to further
explore business opportunities together. The partnership will
strengthen Cobb’s leading position in the broiler breeding industry
and Hendrix Genetics’ leading positions in layer, turkey, swine
and aquaculture genetics.
Jerry Moye, president of Cobb-Vantress, stated: “The joint
efforts of the Hendrix and Cobb R&D teams have provided
valuable knowledge for both of our companies. Cobb is excited
to continue our partnership with Hendrix Genetics, and we
look forward to discovering what opportunities may be in our
future.”
The first four-year agreement involved a $US10 million largescale field evaluation of DNA selection technology in chicken
breeding, partly funded through a $US2.5 million grant from the
US Department of Agriculture and also involving a consortium of
leading universities and institutes in a number of countries.
This research built on previous in-house and collaborative DNA
research performed at Hendrix Genetics and Cobb-Vantress,
identifying the best traits through use of 60,000 genetic markers
(called Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms or SNPs) and with the
assistance of DNA chip technology.
Hendrix Genetics has carried out large-scale field evaluation
of this technology for layers, and Cobb-Vantress for broilers.
The universities and institutes supported the project with their
knowledge of quantitative genetics and DNA technology to assist
efficient implementation of the project.
With DNA technology, a small drop of blood from a bird will
yield data for predicting the performance of offspring. Besides
improvement in speed and accuracy, product quality and
consistency, the technology is providing a much better
understanding of health and welfare traits important to the future
of the global poultry industry.
3
B R E E D I N G A F F O R D A B L E W E L F A R E - F R I E N D LY C H I C K E N
How Cobb is meeting changing market demand
by PELAYO CASANOVAS, sales and technical director of Cobb Europe
Broiler mortality vs body weight trends in the United States
(Agristats, 2010)
Cobb places well over two million pedigree
birds every year of which only about 1.1%
are selected for breeding purposes. This
enormous number allows us to make
predictable progress in many traits at the
same time even if some, such as egg
production and body weight, have a degree
of negative correlation.
We’ve long been using a combination of
observable welfare traits by highly skilled
selectors who remove inferior birds together with technology
to measure accurately certain welfare traits that are not
easily observable. These include removing birds with tibial
dyschondroplasia using a Lixiscope and verification of the
oxygen-carrying capacity of each bird with a blood oximeter.
We support research worldwide to develop new technology and
improve the breeding program. A lot of this research is focused on
animal welfare and disease resistance (kinematic variables linked
to walking ability, innate immunity and genetic resistance to
infection).
selection process of all traits.
Of particular importance will be those traits with low heritability
(fertility, certain leg disorders) or traits that are not easy to
measure on pedigree populations such as disease resistance.
At the moment disease resistance can only be selected by
challenging the birds to a particular disease, which cannot be
practiced on the pedigree birds. While we can simulate disease
challenge studies via the use of pedigree relatives, it is risky to
select against a single disease/disorder as this change may increase
the bird’s sensitivity to another disease.
Breeding companies have also a responsibility to maintain
genetic diversity and control inbreeding within the chicken
populations. At Cobb we maintain over 40 different pure lines,
including very slow growing, hardy colored lines.
In 2007 Cobb established a partnership with Sasso, a leading
French company in the selection of traditional slow growing
colored breeds to develop jointly speciality products.
Having a broad spectrum of genetic lines will allow us to
develop products that meet regional requirements either because
of the specific environmental conditions or because the market
demands differentiated products.
Rather than progressive trait improvement within the lines of
already specialized existing products such as Cobb500, Cobb700,
CobbAvian48, we are developing new ones by line replacement for
example with CobbSasso150 and CobbSasso175, or by selecting
pedigree lines in specific environments (Cobb400Y in India).
Evolution of poultry breeding
Consolidation of major primary
breeders as sophistication
increases
Complexity and sophistication
Development
‘Broiler’
breeds
introduced
to market
‘Chicken of
Tomorrow’
contest
Identification of
useful genetic
markers
Global
expansion of
breeding
companies
Massive expansion of traits
(yield/health/skeleton/physiology/pr
ocessing suitability)
Development of
BLUP programmes
Selection for
conformation
Pedigree
Independent
recording of
selection for
Mass selection reproductive
feed efficiency
for growth
traits
Dual purpose
breeds
1920
1940
1960
1980
Technology
2000
2010
Year
Our geneticists believe it will still be possible to continue to
increase efficiency and improve welfare outcomes, using the
current technology. However, the increasing use of genomics will
make this task easier and more accurate.
This science focuses on tracking multiple parts of genome
within pedigree populations using SNPs (single nucleotide
polymorphisms) to select for complex polygenic traits (unlike
markers that were developed for single genes).
From 2006 to 2009, the first unique 60,000 SNP microarray chip
was developed by Cobb to analyze the genomes of our pedigree
birds. Thousands of informative SNP markers were identified as
research tools in each Cobb pedigree line and placed on this chip.
We’ve now begun the process of associating SNP’s markers with
desirable traits in each pedigree line. This technology will allow us
to select birds based on DNA (blood) testing and presence of the
desired SNPs and not just their phenotypic expression which is
influenced by the environment.
Genomic selection will not replace the current selection methods
- but it will complement them to increase the accuracy in the
Female mortality vs egg production in the United States
4
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Equipment progress impresses Cobb technical team
The progress being made in developing
improved poultry equipment impressed Cobb
Europe’s technical team when they visited
five suppliers in the Netherlands.
During a week-long study tour the team
went to Jansen, Fancom, VDL, Vencomatic
and Ciemmecalabria who each provided
an update on their products and latest
innovations.
“Our business as a breeding company is to
deliver genetic progress to our customers
year-on-year,” said Euan Meldrum, marketing
manager of Cobb Europe. “It has been very
valuable for us to see that this progress is
being matched by new technologies and
techniques in the poultry equipment sector.”
Matthew Wilson, technical manager of
Cobb Europe, added: “Staying at the forefront on technical matters
is one of the most important attributes of our team. But it’s also
a two-way process. A week like this not only helps keep our team
up to speed, it also allows the equipment suppliers to tap into our
extensive Cobb technical knowledge.
“Our technical team has over 400 years’ combined technical
New Cobb-Vantress feed
mill planned in Kentucky
Cobb-Vantress is to construct a new feed mill at
Glasgow in south central Kentucky, United States, to
supply its expanding operations in both Kentucky and
Tennessee.
The mill, projected to cost $US15 million, is the latest
investment in this region where Cobb has spent over the
past two years more than $36 million in a new hatchery
at Lafayette and a new research complex at Deer Lodge.
Its location is close to a major area of corn production
from where Cobb plans to source most of its grain needs.
Design of the new mill will give Cobb complete
control over feed formulation and quality, and help
contain the cost of the finished products.
One special feature will be a state-of-the-art pathogen
control system affecting the equipment and processes.
Use of a specialized equipment, designated clean areas
controlled by airflow and other quality measures will
help ensure salmonella-free feed.
The plans are for site works to begin this autumn, with
completion scheduled for December 2013. The mill will
employ around 16 people including feed delivery
drivers.
The Kentucky Economic Development Bureau has been
keen to attract this investment, with Denton Childs of
Tyson Foods, who worked on tax incentives with the state,
and Dan Iacconi, executive director of the Glasgow/
Barren County Industrial Development Economic
Authority, involved in negotiating incentives.
knowledge and the interaction between them and all equipment
suppliers was greatly appreciated by all.”
The day-to-day interaction that the regional technical team has
with customers is backed up by the Cobb World Technical Support
Team which provides high-level specialist expertise on all aspects
of the poultry industry.
CobbSasso meeting German and
Dutch demand for higher welfare
Growing interest in free range chicken in Germany and the Netherlands has led
to the introduction of the CobbSasso breed into these markets.
The demand for slower growing chickens reared more extensively represents
a niche market that is becoming more significant in both countries where animal
welfare is influencing consumer choice.
The introduction of the CobbSasso 175 follows the move into Hungary two
years ago where the product is aimed at the ‘certified' and ‘intermediate' sectors
of the market.
Last year one of Germany’s leading producers, Wiesenhof-Privathof, launched
a new brand based on the breed for chickens reared on free range, organic and
other higher welfare systems.
The CobbSasso 175 is a coloured chicken bred from a rustic brown female and
a white male, with around ten per cent of the broilers having brown feathers and
providing distinctive colour markings. It is a slower growing breed that offers
producers a wider choice for supplying the market with chickens reared to
higher welfare standards using either indoor and free range systems.
5
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Poland ‘good among European countries for performance’
More than 180 breeder and broiler farmers,
veterinarians and nutrition specialists took
part in the symposium organized by Cobb
Germany at Dzwirzyno, one of the leading
seaside resorts in Poland.
Leo von Drechsel, general manager of Cobb
Germany and Wimex, said that Polish people
should be proud living in a country that is
becoming each year more important in the
European poultry business.
James Truscott, director of Cobb Germany,
spoke about importance of a ‘tailor made’
approach to poultry management, especially
with significant shortage of feed raw materials
and dramatic increases in commodity prices.
“Poland looks good among European
countries for its
breeder and broiler
performance,” he said.
“Yet there is always
room for fine tuning
with all our speakers pointing to important
details in hatching eggs, breeder and
broiler management and nutrition to
achieve higher profitability.”
The guest speakers - hatchery specialist
Dr Ron Meijerhof (left), veterinarian
Dr Matthias Todte, and broiler and breeder
specialist Paul Welten - focused on
effective management in each segment of poultry production. Dr
Tony Marangos, nutrition expert, spoke about feeding strategies
for Cobb 500.
James Truscott thanked the Cobb Polish team - Aldona van
Krevel, Ireneusz Rosada, Piotr Czaplicki and Tomasz Torgowski –
for their part in making such a success of the event.
During the ceremonial dinner Ireneusz Rosada, technical services
manager, announced awards for the best performing Cobb flocks
in 2011 with the winners receiving cockerel award statues.
Brazilian visitors look into the future at Cobb-Vantress
Cobb-Vantress hosted Brazilian veterinarians to give them an
insight into the development of new chicken products during a
visit to Arkansas, USA.
The Brazilians visited the Cobb headquarters at Siloam Springs
where they learned about multiple aspects of the company’s
research program and meat yield evaluation, and heard what they
can expect in the near future in
response to changing trends in the
market place.
At the Tyson Foods Discovery
Center at Springdale they toured
the state-of-the-art research and
development facility where future
food products are created and tested
to meet ever-changing customer
needs.
“They were impressed by all the
technology that goes into developing
novel products, and very pleased for
being given the time to visit Cobb
world headquarters,” said Alberto
Torres, export manager for Cobb.
The visitors also had time to glimpse into
the past at the Tyson Museum.
6
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Cobb-Vantress joins Dutch research initiative
Cobb-Vantress, Inc. is one of four international companies in a new
Dr Mitch Abrahamsen, Cobb vice president of research and
initiative, known as Breed4Food, aimed at reinforcing the position development, said he and his colleagues were excited to be
of the Netherlands as an innovative livestock breeding country.
involved in this innovative project.
The other partners are CRV in beef cattle, Hendrix Genetics in
“This has the potential to impact significantly on a global scale
poultry and pigs, TOPIGS in pigs joining with the globally the breeding programs of agriculturally important species,” he
renowned Wageningen University and Research Centre, who all said. “Collectively our partnership brings together an impressive
signed a declaration of intent at Wageningen in September.
collaboration of scientists and businesses that can help realize the
The ambition is to form a top-ranking institute to further vision of meeting the needs of a changing world.”
knowledge and growth through using DNA
technology, incorporating new characteristics
and adding value to the production chain.
Innovation in these fields is seen as crucial to
satisfy the globally increasing demand for high
quality animal protein.
The target is to develop breeding programs that
not only increase the efficiency of the food chain
but also reduce the ecological footprint, respond
to changing consumer demand and contribute to
improved welfare.
“The combination of companies and their
knowledge is essential to be able to achieve the
ambitions of the Dutch agrifood sector,” said Ate
Lindeboom, chairman of Breed4Food. “This way,
we can make a joint contribution to the creation
of added value in the production of milk, meat Clockwise from top left: Martin Scholten, Wageningen; Antoon Van den Berg, Hendrix Genetics;
and eggs.”
Martin Bijl, TOPIGS; Dr Mitch Abrahamsen and Ate Lindeboom, CRV.
Energy
recycling
on Dutch
broiler
farm
Welcome to Cobb Europe
A group of 15 Swedish broiler growers visited Dutch farms on a
study tour organised by Blenta, Cobb distributor in Sweden and
Scandinavia, to exchange technical information.
On a broiler farm in northern Holland they learned from the
experience of the Jukema family how to achieve top performance
with Cobb500 broilers. Indicators on this farm are low mortality,
high daily gain and efficient feed consumption.
“It was particularly Interesting for us to see heat exchange in
practice and how the farmer saves on the cost of gas by reusing
energy from the heat of the broiler house,” said Jan Pettersson,
general manager from Blenta.
The visitors also saw one of Cobb’s broiler trial facilities in Holland
where in 12 pens there are different Cobb lines for commercial
testing. Each pen has a separate feeding and drinking system, with
broilers measured on economic and technical performance.
“Our growers were very satisfied and enthusiastic about the Cobb
performance,” added Mr Pettersson. “We appreciate the openness and
hospitality of the Dutch broiler farmers. It was a good opportunity for
us to exchange information in this way.”
Pieter Oosthuysen obtained an
honors degree in nutrition and
reproduction at the university of
Free State and then began his career as a lecturer in animal
production at the Glen College of Agriculture and the
Mangosuthu Technicon. Then after managing a regional breeder
operation for Rainbow, he established Cobb South Africa in 2000
distributing the breed in South Africa and eventually Namibia.
Two new appointments have been
made by Cobb Europe – Pieter
Oosthuysen becoming key accounts
and regional technical manager for
southern Africa and Gabrielle Zeter
European human resources manager.
Gabrielle Zeter grew up in France
and Germany, studied European
management in universities at Reims
and Lancaster and obtained a master’s
degree in human resources. Fluent in
English, French and German, Gabrielle
has seven years’ experience working
as a human resources manager for
companies involved in DVD and air
conditioning manufacture.
7
PERFECTLY
BALANCED
- The Competitive Advantage
Efficient feed conversion and excellent
growth rate assist in the customer’s goal of
achieving a targeted weight with competitive
advantage of lowest cost. Cobb achieves
the lowest cost of producing a kilogram or
pound of meat in markets around the world.
The Cobb500 has the best uniformity in
the market. Higher uniformity gives the
processor more birds within a target weight
specified by the customer. The Cobb500 is
a competitive breeder providing excellent
egg and chick numbers.
The world’s most efficient broiler
cobb-vantress.com
Cobb500
TM
500