Serfontein Poultry Paves The Way In The Layer Industry

The Serfontein Group is a family driven farming enterprise, founded in 1947 by Piet and Teuntje Serfontein, currently in its third generation. Their son, Jan Snr, and his two sons, Jannie and Petrus, are building on this legacy, which originated with poultry farming.

- Christal-Lize Muller

Serfontein Poultry remains a leader in the layer industry by supplying superior, high-quality, disease free day-old chicks bred with the best genetics in the world. The operation contributes a large number of birds to the local layer market, which consists of some 28 to 29 million layer birds.

Serfontein Poultry complies with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards and South African export regulations. It also excels through its continuing investment in modern technology and infrastructure, world-class genetics, good health control and a solid biosecurity plan. Biosecurity, says Jannie, remains a key factor on all their farms to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases. Clear procedures are in place that are followed by staff, caretakers, visitors and suppliers.

Stockfarm visited their Boskop office outside Potchefstroom in North West, which is at the heart of their poultry operation.

Only the best grandparent stock

Serfontein Poultry have been importing genetically improved grandparent (GP) stock from Hendrix Genetics, a leading global multi-species genetics company, since 2004. These genetic lines are available across the world from the main breeding stations situated in, among others, France, Brazil, America, Singapore and Canada. Hendrix Genetics maintains its status as market leader by utilising state-of-the-art technologies as well as genomics and trait selection.