Select Genetics Holds Official Groundbreaking for New Hatchery

February 29, 2024

Select Genetics held its official groundbreaking ceremony for the new 128,000 square foot hatchery being built in Goldsboro, North Carolina. When completed in the spring of 2026, this hatchery will supply poults to our customers on the East Coast. Local officials, the Economic Development Corporation, Butterball Senior Executives and members of the community joined Aviagen Turkeys and Select Genetics in celebrating breaking ground on this latest investment in the turkey industry. 

Jihad Douglas, CEO of Select Genetics said, “We are proud to be a part of the North Carolina turkey industry and are fortunate to have owners that are committed to investing in infrastructure and the future. This facility will complement similar hatcheries that were completed in Iowa in 2011, Indiana in 2018, and the company’s three other hatcheries around the U.S.” 

Dwin Dunkin, COO of Select Genetics said, “When looking for a hatchery site, we obviously wanted a location that was convenient to our customer base in North Carolina and the East Coast. Goldsboro was in the right place as we already have the resources and skilled employees from the current hatcheries, as well as a welcoming community and infrastructure to support the operation of a hatchery this size. We look forward to being a part of the community for years to come.” 

"The hatchery was designed using the experience Larry B. Smith, Jr. (JR) of L. B. Smith & Associate, Shawn Peltier, and Rick Huisinga. The design work was completed to accommodate Next Nest technology which provides feed, water, and light to the poults as they hatch. The total site is 20 acres and the hatchery will have the equivalent of 2.95 acres under roof. It will be equipped with the most advanced Jamesway single-stage incubation and Hatch Tech Hatchers and will have the potential capacity to set 61 million eggs per year.” 

Douglas concluded, “Thank you to all that joined us in this groundbreaking ceremony. We are pleased to be a part of this community and look forward to hosting an open house in 2026.”