The resources of the Ross Group enabled Fairbairns to plan a profitable future for Northern Ireland egg producers, Lord Edward FitzRoy, sales director, declared at the opening of their new £140,000 hatchery at Portadown during this week in 1966, reported Farming Life.

The ceremony was performed by the Ulster Prime Minister, Captain Terence O'Neill, and among the 1,200 guests, mainly egg producers from all over Northern Ireland, was Mr Harry West, Minister of Agriculture, and his wife.

Rosa Group representatives included Mr A S Alexander, chairman of the Poultry Division.

WORLD BEATER

Faces pictured at a sheep sale which was held at Cairncastle, Co Antrim, in August 2007. Picture: Kevin McAuley

placeholder image — Faces pictured at a sheep sale which was held at Cairncastle, Co Antrim, in August 2007. Picture: Kevin McAuley

Describing the new Ross Rocket layer, which from March, 1967, would be available in steadily increasing numbers, as a world beater, Lord Fitz Roy said that the choice for Fairbairn customers was going to be the best in the world.

“Bob McCammond [director in charge of Fairbairns in Ulster] has a wealth of talent to offer you and his advice on the bird to suit your requirements will produce the right answer for you in every case,” Lord Edward told egg producers.

“In fact, the whole of the Fairbairn organisation is devoted to your interests. The new hatchery here epitomises the work being done.”

He said that the hen processing station at Armagh would complete the controlled cycle of, Fairbairn's service, from the supply of pullets placed with specialist rearers - supervised by their own staff and individually selected - through the laying life, and to the end of the production cycle by taking back old hens into their own processing station.

Pictured at the Cairncastle Sheep Sale in 2007 are Jimmy and Jason Mill, Stephen Kerr, John Murphy and Harold Dickey. Picture: Kevin McAuley

“Nothing has been or will be left to chance,” he said. “What more could you want?”

QUALITY CONTROL

He continued: “Indeed this new hatchery sets quality control standards for the production of day-old chicks, and similarly high standards exist throughout the Fairbairn organisation.

“It is not only the facilities and resources and birds offered by the company which are excellent. The service provided by the personnel selling Fairbairn birds to you completes a production and sales organisation second to none in Ireland, and geared to advance still further in the years ahead.”