Reykjagarður inaugurates new broiler house
Guests discussing equipment and livestock production in the new broiler house; sacks and drinks have been prepared
With a view of the Hekla volcano and located some 75 kilometres south-east of Reykjavík, Icelandic poultry producer Reykjagarður hf recently inaugurated a new broiler house in Ásmundarstaðir, near Hella. Around 200 guests were on site for the grand opening of the new building, which by now houses 14,000 broilers. The visitors’ conclusion: “The house looks really great!” The broiler house is one of 24 houses in Ásmundarstaðir. Broilers are kept in sixteen of them, and broiler breeders in the remaining eight. Nearly all houses have been equipped by Big Dutchman.
Big Dutchman agency Lífland, which has been cooperating with Big Dutchman for years, managed the project. Lífland sales consultant Gunnar Már Gunnarsson and Big Dutchman area sales manager Werner Meckelnborg supported the project’s implementation.
Precise feeding for uniform growth
The house is equipped with the Vista 360 feed pan without grille and the FlexVey conveying system. This combination ensures even feed distribution, which is key for healthy bird development.
Heat from below and above, and in emergencies
Iceland is well-known for its low temperatures and changeable weather, even in the summer. This makes stable temperatures inside the house all the more important. A floor heating system creates a uniform general warmth. Additionally, three hot-water heaters of the HeatMaster type allow flexible reactions to specific needs, for example the chicks’ first days in the house or a sudden temperature drop. For emergencies, the JetMaster hot air blower, which is powered by fuel oil, is available as a heat source.
Controlling the house climate
Five Fumus fresh air chimneys bring fresh air into the house. The ventilation system also includes powerful circulation fans, which ensure that the inside air keeps moving. This prevents air stratification – for a climate that remains optimal, despite the changeable Icelandic weather.
Everything at a glance – with digital control
The ViperTouch production and climate computer controls the house. The computer’s 10-inch touchscreen makes operation of all systems absolutely intuitive, from feeding to ventilation to lighting.
Particularly clever: the cloud-based BFN Fusion management software, which bundles all farm data, analyses them and makes them available at a central location. The Reykjagarður team can thus check at any time and from any place what is happening in the house. And the support teams in Iceland and at Big Dutchman can provide remote help whenever necessary.
Digital control in real time
Reykjagarður hf
Reykjagarður hf was founded in 1971 and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the slaughterhouse and marketing company Sláturfélag Suðurlands since 2007. With around 50,000 broilers slaughtered every week and a market share of approx. 40 %, Reykjagarður hf is one of Iceland’s leading poultry producers.
Conclusion
The new broiler house emphasises Reykjagarður’s leading position in Iceland’s poultry industry – and shows their continued trust in the technical solutions from Big Dutchman.
