The abattoir should be fully operational in April and the first birds for slaughter is expected on 18 April, reports TheNamibian.

“Production should peak towards the middle of May 2012 with NPI being able to supply the whole Namibian market towards the end of May,” the company said. The chicken industry expects to receive infant industry protection as from the beginning of June.

“The mammoth task has started to interview the more than 1 000 qualified applications from Windhoek and Okahandja of which close to 300 will be employed in the abattoir. In total close to 75 people are already permanently employed at NPI,” the company said.

Close to 400 skilled and unskilled are still employed until all construction at the fully integrated poultry farm on the Farm Klein Okapuka 30 km north of Windhoek ends towards June.

NPI said construction of most of the close to 120,000 m3 of structures is already completed and the final installation and commissioning of equipment are scheduled for March and April. On the operational side all three rearing complexes of the breeder farm has been placed with parent stock in November, December and February. Of this, the first placement will be transferred to the first of six laying farms in the week of 16 March. NPI should have their first own fertile eggs available to its hatchery in April. The hatchery is also very close to being fully commissioned and the first eggs were placed for setting last Sunday. The first day-old chicks are expected on 19 March.

NPI is in the process to import fertile eggs until its own laying farm would be in full production and able to supply the full demand of its hatchery. Very good progress has also been made with the construction of the broiler houses with the first farms ready to receive day-old broiler chicks on 19 March. The day-old chicks will be grown for up to five weeks to supply the abattoir with its first birds for slaughtering in the week starting 16 April.

The construction of the abattoir is also drawing to a close with the buildings almost 100 per cent complete and commissioning of equipment starting in March. The abattoir should be fully operational in April to receive the first birds for slaughter on 18 April.