Devenish Nutrition has partnered with Jamaican sustainable agriculture company CB Group to commission the first commercial partnership research and development (R&D) facility for growing broiler chickens in a tropical climate in the Americas.
The state-of-the-art facility is based at The Nest, CB Group’s eco-industrial park in Jamaica, which is also home to its CB chicken air chill processing plant.
The new house has 48 pens and has been designed in a way that allows for up to six different dietary treatments to be evaluated during each trial.
The facility will be utilised to scientifically test variables such as feed formulations, housing conditions, and breeds to determine the best combination for the region.
Devenish
Devenish is a global animal nutrition specialist business which is headquarted in Northern Ireland.
Employing over 350 people globally and trading in over 40 countries, Devenish carries out research and development in nutrition and sustainability throughout the food chain, in response to the growing consumer demand for safe, nutritious, and sustainably produced food.
Tony McEntee, chief executive of Devenish, explained that the company has been working with the CB Group for 15 years and the development of this new facility will serve to strengthen the partnership further.
“The science-based approach in our performance house model supports the development and introduction of new feed and management solutions that can maximise animal performance and producer profitability by optimising cost/kg gain.
“By conducting the research in tropical conditions, the research developed will not only be relevant for Caribbean broilers, but our other customers in the region and beyond,” he said.
Poultry
CB Group has over 40 years of expertise in animal genetics and nutrition, integrated poultry production, meat processing, food distribution and plant production.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, CB Group chief executive Matthew Lyn explained that the facility is aimed at pioneering research and development in order to improve local efficiency, productivity and competitiveness within a global industry.
“Poultry is an extremely competitive industry worldwide, and we must do everything we can to be as efficient as possible and do what’s best for our country.
“We’re really excited about this partnership because of the significant potential to enhance performance not only for Jamaica, but for all farmers operating in similar environmental conditions,” he said.
The opening of the research facility was also endorsed by the Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green.
“It’s critical because if we are going to continue growing, and if we are going to be sustainable, then it has to be based on research. I really want to commend the approach that’s being taken by the Caribbean Broilers and Devenish teams,” the minister said.