Magazin "Agrotechnika i technologii" / September 2013

Hatchery quality by Hartmann
Over the last eight years, the Hartmann Company supplied hatchery equipment with a total performance of 780 m eggs per annum to over 25 Russian poultry factories. When extending their range of production, almost all customers opt for Hartmann's equipment again. The CEO and founder of the company, Mr Michael Hartmann, talks about the special characteristics of his company.

- Which kind of hatchery equipment do your company supply and why is it different from other technologies?
- The Hartmann Company is the only distributor of equipment from Petersime on the Russian market. Basically, it's the patented BioStreamer System making the last generation equipment different, enabling a constant control of the embryo development and maintaining an ideal temperature, humidity and CO2 content of the air. The chick's hatching is completely automated, which ensures a high hatching rate and stock conservation. Naturally, hatching the eggs would be possible in every hatchery, but healthy young are really important. Therefore, BioStreamers are especially efficient, because they enable getting strong and lively chicks. Furthermore, the system is characterised by decreased current consumption, resulting in decreased production costs. The demand for that kind of equipment rises constantly: After having compared all aspects, experts for poultry breeding tend to choose BioStreamer.

Additionally, we supply E-Cat-equipment for the automation of several processes: sorting of bad eggs, turning the eggs from the brood frames to the hatching frames and chick sorting. And there are machines for vaccinating the eggs, as well.
The third component of hatcheries is the cooling device by the Harig Company. It allows saving water by using circulating water. Lately, compact cooling systems have become more popular. They are quick and easy to install and take up little space. However, we can also supply the classic cooling systems, of course.

- Why is it profitable to invest in hatchery technology?
- In recent years, poultry breeding in Russia actively developed, but the companies concentrated on producing broiler meat. They preferred importing the eggs and still worked with old hatcheries. Today, poultry breeding companies have started to invest more and more into modern hatchery technology and to build parent flock plants - we have seen the growing demand over the last three years. For example, the company for poultry breeding "Akaschewskaja Ptitsefabrika" has been collaborating with us since 2009. After putting all hatcheries into operation, the total performance will be around 150 m eggs per annum.
It's more profitable to work with own eggs; furthermore, it allows reducing the risk of importing all sorts of diseases. The chick yield of the companies in which we replaced old equipment with new Petersime technology rose about 7-10% on average. Moreover, you can get 3-5% more chicks by using fresh eggs.

- Are Petersime hatcheries construed for chicken eggs only or is it also possible to produce duck and turkey hen eggs with them as well?
- They are construed for chicken, duck and turkey hen eggs, but of course, there are some technical specialities for each case, such as different constructions of the egg frames and system requirements. However, the hatching quality itself remains constantly on the same high level. Only recently, the first step of the hatchery "Donstar" of the Eurodon Company, with a total performance of 11.5 m duck eggs per year, was successfully put into action. The company develops a project in order to extend the existing hatchery by 5.8 m turkey hen eggs per annum and intends to build another hatchery for about 13.2 m eggs.

- How difficult is modernising an old hatchery?
- When required, the Hartmann Company provides the development concept and the engineering. We develop the project for reconstructing an existing hatchery or building a completely new site, deliver, assemble and adjust the ordered equipment while considering the amount of space available and requirements of our clients.

- How is it possible to further enhance work efficiency by using the equipment?
- We can supply a facility for automated vaccination of the eggs from the company E-Cat. This facility is rather cost intensive and qualified experts are needed in order to operate it properly. But then, after hatching, the chick is already vaccinated against Marek's Disease and other diseases. Furthermore, it is possible to add vitamin products for growth promotion. The company "Tschelny Broiler" was the first company in Russia to buy such a system. The second hatchery has purchased a similar system by E-Cat.

- What's the Hartmann's Company solution concerning service?
- We have five engineers for hatchery technology in Russia, who provide leading assembly, start-up, setup of the systems and training for employees. Furthermore, experts from Petersime also visit the site. Each machine is connected with Petersime's service department via the Internet. The employees are able to monitor every moment of the plant's operations and can quickly solve problems caused by software bugs. In case of malfunctions, we guarantee supplying the needed parts within 24 hours. Each plant works independently from every other plant. If one plant is closed down, that would not affect other plants. Nevertheless, naturally, we try to solve problems as fast as possible.