The new plant is the result of an initial investment of $120 million and expected further $35 million is expected to be invested in a second production line.

The plant will slaughter 420,000 birds per day, or 10 million birds per month by 2014 when it is expected to be operating at full capacity, according to a report in Brasil Economica.

Currently Paraná has 27 per cent of the birds produced in Brazil, with a monthly average of 115 million head, according to the Union of Industries Poultry Products of Parana State (Sindiaviapar).

The president of BR Chicken, Reinaldo Morales said that the company will focus on international markets, especially Middle East, European Union and Asia.

The plant is expected to start exports in 90 days.

As well as the poultry slaughterhouse, the complex also has a flour mill.

BR Frango has five meat and poultry meat production units in the country and the group predicts sales of $3.5 billion by 2017.