Animal welfare and sustainability

Code Efabar

Hendrix Genetics and its breeding divisions Hybrid, Hypor and ISA, have chosen to adopt the Efabar Code.

The 'Code of Good Practice for Farm Animal Breeding and Reproduction Organisations' addresses the issues of food safety and public health, product quality, genetic diversity, efficiency, environmental impact, animal health, animal welfare, and breeding and reproduction technologies. CODE-EFABAR is following the principles of sustainable breeding as they have been developed in the EU funded project SEFABAR by scientists and industry, animal welfare organisations, ethicists, economists for world trade aspects and sociology of cultural differences and public opinion.

The Code gives a transparent presentation of the principles of conduct of farm animal breeders and backs these priciples by practical rules of conduct. The European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders (EFFAB) has taken the initiative for the Code, and it was developed in the EU-Project Code-EFABAR.

SFPA is dedicated to support egg industry by supplying day old chicks hatched from its Parent-stocks flocks bred by ISA. ISA genetics plays an important role in feeding the fast growing world population with eggs. At SFPA we take animal welfare in a very serious way. We strictly adhere to animal welfare policies related to animal handling. The supervision of our birds is in the hands of dedicated and well trained contractors and employees.

Animal welfare and innovative technology

From July 2010, SFPA implemented the innovative technology of infrared for day old chick beak treatment.
SFPA is the first French layer hatchery to move to this technique

The infrared beak treatment is less traumatizing for the animal. A study at Glasgow University showed treatment does not result in chronic adverse consequences for sensory function nor does it result in chronic pain for the animal.

• Less mortality at start of rearing The day old chick can drink and eat freely after treatment. This reduces mortality at the start of rearing period and facilitates early growth.

• Homogeneity of the flocks The regularity of infrared beak treatment (all beak lengths identical) facilitates flock homogeneity.

• Improvement of health status This technique offers a real advantage by blocking access to the pathogenic bacteria, preventing sanitary risks associated with beak trimming in the rearing house.

• Growth and feathering improved Recent scientific studies (Dennis e al. 2009 – Henderson e Al., 2009) show a better body at 6 week old and significant improvement of feathering during the laying period.