HatchTech partners with Norsk Kylling to drive animal welfare

 HatchTech is supporting one of Norway’s leading broiler producers with a new, large-scale hatchery project that is raising the bar for chick quality and welfare. The Hugaas Rugeri hatchery, which is owned by Norsk Kylling (Norwegian Chicken), one of Norway’s biggest chicken producers, is one of the first major hatcheries to implement the recently launched new HatchCare system.

Both Norsk Kylling and Hugaas Rugeri are frontrunners when it comes to sustainability and animal welfare. It was this focus that saw Norsk Kylling seek HatchTech’s support in developing a new hatchery. Specifically, Hugaas Rugeri is one of the first large-scale hatcheries in the world to implement the new, upgraded HatchCare system – which offers customers Ultimate performance and Ultimate welfare.

Advancing animal welfare, with the new HatchCare system

Launched at the VIV Europe poultry and egg trade show in June this year, the new HatchCare system provides better climate conditions, improved uniformity, and a more user-friendly process – resulting in even stronger and healthier day-old chicks. This latest upgrade to HatchCare’s advanced hatching technology also introduces reversed-fan technology, meaning more fresh air for better ventilation and improved well-being.

Merete Forseth, Head of Animal Welfare at Norsk Kylling: “To give our chicks the best start we possibly can, is fundamental for good animal health and welfare later in life. Building a new hatchery with the latest technology and providing feed and water from the beginning of life is a natural step on our way of continual improvement of animal welfare.”

Thanks to the new HatchCare, the Hugaas Rugeri hatchery will be supplied with:

• MicroClimer laminar airflow technology for higher hatchability and superior chick quality
• Excellent biosecurity and hygiene control
• Easy-to-integrate storage and transport options
• Egg Sanitation Room
• Microclimer Setters

See the tour through the new premises:

These key features will help Norsk Kylling live up to its promise of superior chicken quality and remain top for animal welfare. The HatchCare system installed at the Hugaas Rugeri hatchery will offer an initial capacity of 19 million day-old chicks per year, maintaining its status as one of the leading broiler suppliers In the Nordics region.

Hilde Talseth, Director Sustainable Innovation and CEO Hugaas Rugeri: “We are always working for further improvements, whether it concerns animal welfare or how to reduce our impact on the environment. Good animal welfare is always our top priority, and by implementing new technology we believe that the welfare of our chickens is taken care of in the best way possible. We are very pleased with our collaboration with HatchTech and look forward to completing our hatchery in 2023 with world leading technology.”

About Norsk Kylling and Hugaas Rugeri

Established in 1991, Norsk Kylling is committed to setting new standards for more sustainable and humane food production. Good animal welfare for its chickens is key to this ambition. In recognition of the company’s status as a leader in animal welfare, it was recently awarded The Good Chicken Award, presented by Compassion in World Farming. Norsk Kylling’s head of animal welfare, Merete Forseth, has also been appointed to sit on an international council to oversee animal welfare in the development of international agriculture.

Norsk Kylling was the first industrial poultry operation in Norway to sign up to the European Chicken Commitment (ECC). Signatories agree to abide by strict welfare regulations. Measures include using slower-growing breeds of chicken, providing more barn space and natural light, and submitting to regular audits. The company is committed to meeting all requirements – for better animal welfare, lower animal density and environmental enrichment – by the end of 2022.

As Norway’s only privately owned chicken hatchery, Hugaas Rugeri delivers 13 million day-old-chicks annually to Norsk Kylling’s broiler producers. In 2016, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Norsk Kylling. This gave Norsk Kylling control of the entire value chain for chicken – from edible and hatching egg production to hatcheries, broiler production and processing. Hugaas Rugeri is located in the Midtre Gauldal municipality in Trøndelag county.