Zambia: Ross Breeders plans $17m expansion

FMCG SUPPLIER NEWS

PostZambia.com - May 22nd, 11:27

Rosss Breeders Africa plans to invest US$17 million this year to expand its operations in Zambia, the company stated yesterday. 

The firm, which has operations in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, stated that it would inject the funds in building a new broiler hatchery near Chongwe, additional breeder houses, a new "Grand Parent" farm in Mazabuka, staff housing and ancillary buildings.

"The project will be completed in stages with the commercial hatchery planned for completion by October 2013 and the GP farm and parent breeder houses by the end of 2014," the company stated yesterday. "The entire project is budgeted to cost US$17 million and should provide extra 200 jobs in the poultry sector, together with significant increases in export revenues."

It stated that the broiler hatchery, once completed, would hatch one million day old broiler chicks per week.

"This investment shows our faith in Zambia both as an expanding economy and a hub for our Grand Parent project which exports parents all over southern and central Africa as well as providing the local industry with Ross 308 broilers and parents," said Ross Breeders Zambia managing director Colin Lindsay.

"We have been producing the Ross 308 bird in Zambia for 14 years now and it has come to be the benchmark in the industry. The bird is very adaptable to Zambian and other African market conditions and shows superb growth rate, with an excellent feed conversion and great liveability even under adverse conditions. We believe it is the bird for Africa and are expanding to meet the ever growing demand for this excellent genetic stock."

Ross Breeders is part of the CBH Ltd group which is listed on the JSE.