Day-old parent stock, males and females originating from Ross 308 or Cobb 500 lines, are supplied to our rearing farms according to a well-planned schedule. Placement is planned at least 18 months in advance.
These birds are reared strictly according to a bodyweight profile supplied to us by the different suppliers of parent stock. Birds are fed according to their bodyweight and weekly weights are taken and feed levels are adjusted to ensure that the bodyweight for the age profile is being followed. In rear, birds are kept in controlled environment houses simulating shorter winter days although temperatures are regulated in order to maintain optimum conditions in the rearing houses. The day length will only be 9 hours.
Once the birds are transferred to open-sided laying houses, they are stimulated by increasing the day length to 15 hours and the light intensity to simulate spring. Feed levels are also increased in order to get these birds to reach sexual maturity.
The first eggs are produced at 23 weeks of age. The breeder flock will be in production for 42 weeks. In this period the female will produce 150 settable eggs from which 130 chicks will be hatched.
Rearing for point of lay birds is done by Jura Poultry, Redrock Broiler Breeders and Rooykop Farm and these ready to lay hens are then distributed to the different laying farms.
The supplying laying farms include the following entries:
Eagle's Pride Breeders:
Koster Breeders
Uitzicht Poultry Farm
Contract Breeders:
A&J Breeders
African Ranchers
Kroon Henne
Namajaca Breeders
Red Rock Breeders
Westwood Poultry Farm
Animal Welfare Statement
Kuipers Group and Associated Companies August 2009
The Kuipers Group has an appreciation of the fact that the financial return on their investment depends on the welfare status of the various types of animals that are kept for production purposes.
The Kuipers Group undertakes to adhere to the Minimum Welfare Standards which are required for the care of livestock by providing the following resources at all times:
Water will be provided to livestock in the correct quantities, will be readily available and the quality of the water will be regularly analysed.
Feed will be supplied according to acceptable livestock industry standards for quality and quantity.
Ventilation will be sufficient to remove waste products from the atmosphere in the chicken housing, provide sufficient oxygen and temperature control.
Floor space and grazing area will be allocated per livestock industry standards.
Bedding will be provided according to poultry industry standards for poultry houses.
Health status of all livestock will be maintained through bio-security, appropriate vaccination, parasite control and medication.
All livestock will be treated in a humane manner and any activity involving livestock will be pre planned and performed in a way that result in minimum anxiety, stress, discomfort and pain to the livestock.
The Kuipers Group shareholders and management will ensure a culture of responsible welfare of all animals under their care and will maintain an animal awareness program in which all employees are informed of their responsibilities toward the well being of the livestock under their supervision. We undertake to communicate our welfare statement to our suppliers, contractors and customers in an endeavor to promote the importance of animal welfare.
