HY-LINE Italy entrusts the SKA Group with the realization of its new pullet rearing site

HY-LINE International is a historical and globally recognized genetic breeding company. Intensive researches and development programs have led the company to distribute worldwide one of the most appreciated specialized genetics production of eggs for consumption.

The HY-LINE Italia headquarters, located in Cocconato in the Province of Asti, Italy, has chosen SKA Group for the construction of its new pullet rearing site.

SKA has been operating in the field of poultry facilities for free-range rearing for more than sixty years. Such company stands out for the wide range of alternative systems it offers, which are entirely designed and manufactured in Italy, in line with animal welfare and able to meet market demands.

Thanks to the proved ability to customize systems, combined with turnkey services, SKA Group is able to deliver a complete, highly technological system to its clients, which is carefully sized to achieve the best breeding performance.

HY-LINE pullet rearing farming, consists of a big-sized SKA shed, 141×171, divided into two breeding facilities each of m 14×81, separated by a central service room where the technical, sanitary and dressing room are located.

Both farms are equipped with the ATHENA multilevel system. ATHENA has been purposely designed for rearing pullets destined for the aviary or floor production stage.
ATHENA consists of several levels and this helps to accustom the animal to move freely in the shed by encouraging the natural aptitude to move by flying to reach troughs or feeders located on different floors.

The self-supporting structure made entirely of galvanized steel, can be customized by adding a variety of feeding, drinking and perch systems. The main feature of the aviary is the movable platforms that, integrated into the structure, rotate from a horizontal to a vertical position, allowing the chicks to be contained within the aviary in the early stages of the cycle. The surface includes the ORION polypropylene slats, which is trample-resistant and easy to wash.

SKA’s ATHENA modular system was able to fulfill HY-LINE needs. Their main request was having the floor inside the aviary completed raised from the ground. In such way the chick would familiarize with suspended sleeping starting from day one.

A careful technical study on ventilation, taking into account HY-LINE standards for the pullets, made it possible to equip the flocks with a specific forced-air ventilation, heating and humidification misting system by NEMBO 70.

The Hy-Line managers explained why they chose SKA Group: “Our goal was to find a system that would provide maximum flexibility in the environmental management during the different stages of breeding stock growth. The final choice was to rely on SKA’s ATHENA system because of its ability to manage efficiently chick housing and ensuring the best possible separation from those areas of the sheds where it is more problematic ensuring proper housing temperature. In addition, SKA equipment enables to manage a simple access to the raised platforms from cycle to cycle, so as not to penalize the breeding male that is much less likely to jump”.