HatchTech, a global provider of incubation technology, and Pas Reform, a global supplier of integrated hatchery solutions, announced today that they have entered into a long-term global strategic patent agreement covering post-hatch early feeding for day-old chicks.
Significant academic research has been undertaken worldwide into the digestion and feed absorption processes of young chicks, and the role of post-hatch feeding. Building on the outcome of these studies, the HatchTech R&D team initiated research and testing around early feeding, becoming a patent holder for early-feeding solutions for day-old chicks. Based on this knowhow and its commitment to finding innovations beyond the tried and tested, HatchTech launched HatchCare in 2014. The hatcher provides newly hatched chicks with the basic necessities of life – feed, fresh water, light and fresh air – right from birth.
In 2018, Pas Reform launched SmartStart™, a post-hatch feeding solution which provides newly hatched chicks with nutrition and hydration in a single formulation. SmartStart™ helps customers to implement post-hatch feeding easily and flexibly. It comprises two key elements – which can be applied individually, or together: precision feeding and intelligent lighting.
“After years of innovating and a successful market adoption of HatchCare, it is great to see other incubation technology providers acknowledging the benefits of early feeding,” says Tjitze Meter, Founder and CEO of HatchTech. “We firmly believe that early feeding can be a key driver of animal-friendly and antibiotic-free poultry production, and this patent licence agreement will help the poultry industry going forward.”
“This is a clear win-win agreement, which will benefit our customers”, says Harm Langen, CEO of Pas Reform. “It underlines the importance of early feeding for the production of robust day-old chicks, and promotes the worldwide growth potential of this innovative concept. The agreement gives both companies the freedom to further develop and market their post-hatch feeding solutions.”
The agreement is with immediate effect.
About HatchTech:
HatchTech is a leading food technology company, which enables poultry companies worldwide to maximise the genetic potential of their birds. Drawing on our unrivalled expertise in early-stage chicks, we create research-based products for incubation, chick transportation and brooding, and deliver and service our customers’ projects worldwide. Headquartered in the Netherlands, and with offices in China and Ukraine, HatchTech supports customers in over 40 countries. www.hatchtech.com
About Pas Reform:
Pas Reform has specialised in the development of integrated hatchery solutions for the poultry sector since 1919. Our mission is to support our customers with smart, sustainable hatchery solutions that consistently achieve the highest percentage hatch of fertiles and deliver uniform, healthy day-old chicks. Pas Reform has earned its position as one of the world’s leading hatchery equipment manufacturers through decades of research into the biological and physiological aspects of embryo development, combined with a thorough understanding of all aspects of the poultry production chain – and a dedicated focus on the future. www.pasreform.com
