GoldenNest Poultry Farms (Pty) Ltd Business Plan › Operations Plan

8.1 Production Facility

The GoldenNest production facility will comprise a 50-hectare farm with the following infrastructure:

• Four climate-controlled layer houses, each housing 25,000 birds in enriched colony or barn systems

• Automated feeding and watering systems with computerised feed management

• Automated egg collection belts transporting eggs to a centralised grading and packing hall

• Modern egg grading machine capable of processing 30,000 eggs per hour

• Cold storage facilities for eggs awaiting dispatch (4–10°C)

• Dedicated free-range paddocks for premium egg production

• Waste management system including composting facility and effluent treatment

• Water recycling and rainwater harvesting systems

• Backup power generation (diesel generator and solar PV system)

• Biosecurity infrastructure: perimeter fencing, vehicle wash bays, footbaths, and visitor control

8.2 Production Process

The production cycle follows industry-standard practices:

1. Pullet Rearing (0–18 weeks): Day-old chicks sourced from certified hatcheries and reared in dedicated pullet houses with vaccination and nutrition programmes

2. Transfer to Layer Houses (18–20 weeks): Mature pullets transferred to production houses at point of lay

3. Peak Production (22–40 weeks): Hens achieve peak laying rates of 92–95%, gradually declining to 78–82% by end of lay cycle

4. Egg Collection and Grading: Eggs collected daily via automated belts, graded by weight, candled for defects, and packed

5. Storage and Dispatch: Packed eggs stored in temperature-controlled rooms and dispatched to customers within 24–48 hours of production

6. End of Lay (72–80 weeks): Spent hens sold; houses cleaned, disinfected, and prepared for next flock cycle

8.3 Staffing Plan

GoldenNest will employ 33 full-time staff members across the following functional areas:

Note: Annual staff cost includes salaries, UIF contributions, PAYE, and employee benefits. The total staff cost of R4.8 million inclusive of statutory contributions exceeds the base salary figure of R3.8 million.

8.4 Supply Chain Management

8.4.1 Feed Procurement

Poultry feed constitutes approximately 55–65% of total operating costs. GoldenNest will secure competitive pricing through long-term supply contracts with at least two major feed manufacturers (e.g., Meadow Feeds, Nutri Feeds, Epol). The Company will maintain a minimum 14-day feed buffer stock on-farm to mitigate supply disruption risks.

8.4.2 Chick and Pullet Sourcing

Day-old chicks will be procured from registered hatcheries certified by the South African Poultry Association (SAPA). Target breeds include Lohmann Brown and Hy-Line Brown, selected for high laying rates, feed conversion efficiency, and adaptability to local conditions.

8.4.3 Packaging and Materials

Egg cartons, trays, and labels will be sourced from certified packaging manufacturers with food-grade certification. Packaging contracts will be negotiated on a six-month rolling basis to manage cost fluctuations.

8.4.4 Distribution and Logistics

The Company will operate a fleet of three refrigerated delivery vehicles for direct-to-customer distribution within Gauteng. For deliveries beyond Gauteng, the Company will partner with third-party cold chain logistics providers.

8.5 Technology and Systems

• Farm Management Software: Cloud-based system for flock management, production tracking, feed consumption monitoring, and mortality recording

• ERP System: Integrated enterprise resource planning system for accounting, inventory management, procurement, and sales order processing

• Environmental Monitoring: Automated sensors for temperature, humidity, ventilation, and lighting in layer houses

• Traceability System: Batch-level traceability from flock to consumer, enabling rapid recall capability if required

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