Bangkok--5 Jul--CPF
Since Thailand announced to move toward digital transformation back in 2017, the most attention is being paid to cutting-edge industries such as internet banking, e-commerce and electric vehicles. Very few people realize that one of the biggest digitization is being made at in chicken complex in the suburban of Thailand.
Charoen Pokphands Foods (CPF)'s Nakhon Ratchasima broiler complex is located about 300 kilometers northeast from Bangkok. This colossal complex is among most innovative chicken complexes in the world, producing millions of broiler per week for consumers in Thailand and abroad.
What is inside the most advance broiler house?
The broiler complex in Nakhon Ratchasima is running with the most updated technologies in poultry business. These innovations are playing very important roles in giving the world class food safety, animal welfare and traceability.
The complex is designed in compartment model in line with the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE). The concept of compartmentalization is to separate all facilities within the complex from each other under common biosecurity to avoid contamination and epidemic.
The new born baby chicks are transported from hatchery facilities to broiler house by trucks with air ventilation designed specifically for preventing external contamination.
During their lifetimes, broilers are living in environmental control house with automatic system that feed them, comfort them and monitor them.
Dr. Payungsak Somyanontanakul, CPF's Vice President and animal welfare expert, explained that, besides enhancing strict biosecurity in farming area, these technologies can significantly improve the living environment within the complex.
"We believe the best quality products must come from the cleanest and healthiest environment. Farmers will no longer need antibiotics growth promoter for healthy and happy chickens," he added.
In order to provide the best living environment, Five Freedom of Animal Welfare principle is applied inside of the chicken house.
"It is company's policy that farm animals must be free from hungry and thirsty, discomfort, pain, injury and disease, fear and distress, and being able to express normal behavior," he said.
All broilers are farmed with Evaporative Cooling System (EVAP), a technology that control from temperature, moisture and even giving day and night proper environment within the chicken house are more comfortable in tropical country like Thailand.
Unlimited foods and water are given to the chicken through the automatic machine while weighing scales are installed inside the chicken house so that they can jump in and play.
These scales collect chicken weight and send the data out of chicken house to the office where chicken specialists are closely monitor broilers through real-time data and live broadcasting.
The future of digital farming
CPF has recently announced its partnership with JDA Software, Inc., a leading supply chain software developer, to accelerate its digital supply chain transformation.
Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, CPF's Chief Operating Officer, said the company is moving toward digitalization to improve the efficiency in the operation and provide better consumer satisfaction.
Big data and integrated analytics system are the keys of this transformation. With the right information and analysis, the company will be able to forecast the trend as well as conducting cross-functional planning and plant execution more effectively.
"The networking synergy will encourage the company marketing and inspection throughout supply chain," Prasit said.
The application will allow the company to closely monitor the operation throughout the integrated broiler chicken business more accurately than in the past. With accurate operation, the company will achieve in cost saving and quick respond to clients as well as market demand.
Mr. Prasit pointed that quick response service and cost saving are the company's key strategies to ensure business stability. Better information visibility enables the company to make decision swiftly and wisely in case of urgent orders or crisis such as epidemic happen.
"As one of the world's leading integrated agro-industrial and food business, it is of the utmost importance for CPF to attain the best supply chain visibility to ensure production strength, and demand and supply planning accuracy. Digitalization is allowing us to improve our consumer experience, reducing risk, rightsizing inventory and reducing wastes," stressed Mr.Prasit.