Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 8/20/14


Perdue Farms has sold the intellectual property and several supporting assets of Heritage Breeders, its genetics and primary breeder program, to Tyson Foods-owned Cobb-Vantress, a company spokeswoman confirmed to Meatingplace.

Heritage Breeders conducts genetic research and development for chicken breeds.  Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
The sale includes such assets as company-owned primary breeder farms that directly support the primary breeder operations. Associates at facilities involved in the sale will become Cobb-Vantress employees.

“Our business and customer and consumer needs have changed dramatically since we started our own genetics program four decades ago,” said Perdue spokeswoman Julie DeYoung. “There are no longer significant advantages to having our own breed. Also, no single breed is ideal for all situations, so it is important that we have the flexibility to select the breed or breed combination that works best for each specific customer or production requirement.”

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