Ukrainian vodka producers take a shot at poultry production

A group of Ukrainian visitors, two of whom are the owners of a company who manufacture approximately 30 percent of all vodka sold in the Ukraine, visited Hy-Line UK recently on a fact-finding tour to support their diversification into large scale poultry production.

Having purchased two large laying facilities in the Ukraine housing two million commercial laying hens, they were keen to draw on Hy-Line's expertise as the largest producer of commercial chicks in the UK. Restricted from visiting UK poultry farms due to the risk of Avian Influenza, the visitors toured the Hy-Line Centre of Excellence in Studley, Warwickshire where they were given an insight into Hy-Line UK, which currently exports parent stock to 45 countries including the Ukraine. The visitors also received a presentation on the rapid advance of the Hy-Line brown bird in the UK market before engaging in an informal discussion on nutrition and other industry matters with Andrew Hignett (Managing Director of Hy-Line), Louise Butler (Marketing Manager of Hy-Line), Andrew Joret (Agricultural Director of Deans Foods Ltd), Ann Joret (Formulations Manager of Deans Foods Ltd) and Steve Pritchard (Director of Poultry Nutrition at Premier Nutrition). The following day the group visited Deans Foods Ltd, finishing their tour looking at egg displays in major supermarkets.