Russia pumps extra money into a new crossbreed complex

14-07-2023 | Genetics | News

The new Smena-9 breeding centre in the Moscow Oblast is reportedly scheduled to begin operations by the end of the year. Photo: Canva

The Russian government has approved an additional 1.5 billion roubles (US$20 million) in funding the construction of the Smena-9 breeding centre in the Moscow Oblast, which is reportedly scheduled to begin operations by the end of the year.

The government believes that building the breeding centre would help Russia to lower its dependence on imported breeding material, and contribute to the country’s food security, according to an explanatory note to the decree signed by Russian Prime Minister Alexey Mishustin.

In 2022, the Russian budget allocated 4.5 billion roubles (US$60 million) for constructing the Smena 9 centre. With the new tranche, the project’s total cost is set to climb to 6 billion roubles (US$80 million). The government didn’t specify why the extra money was needed.

Russia hopes the Smena-9 crossbreed will account for 15% of the Russian breeding material market in the poultry industry by 2025. In the next 5 years, this figure is expected to climb to 50%.

Promising figures

The average daily gain of Smena-9 broilers during field trials was estimated to be close to 75 grammes, which is considered to be a reasonable rate, Vladimir Fisinin, president of the Russian Union of poultry producers, told local news outlet Veterinary and Life. He also disclosed that the construction of the complex was proceeding apace.

“At the territory of the complex, 22 facilities are being built, including 2 sites with 4 poultry houses for growing young animals, 2 sites with 6 poultry houses for adult birds, the latest hatchery of 5,600 square metres with 3 isolated compartments to comply with biosecurity requirements, as well as the latest indoor manure processing complex, covering about 6,000 square metres,” said Fisinin.

The Russian Education and Science Ministry said that Smena 9 is superior compared with the most popular foreign crossbreeds. Against Ross 308, for example, the live weight of broiler chickens at 35 days of age is higher by 4.7%, while the average daily gain is by 2.1%. Smena 9 is also said to have a lower mortality rate and higher productivity index.

It is not clear when the complex is scheduled to become operational. In 2022, the authorities reported that it should start working by May 2023. The Russian poultry union stated that guidance for poultry farms for the proper maintenance of the Smena 9 broilers has already been prepared.