Building a future-proof egg production

Italy - Torresan brothers is a family-owned poultry farm located in Italy, established in 1980. What began as a conventional caged layer operation has transformed into a modern, sustainable egg production business.

Challenges of enriched cages

In 2003, the farm invested €1.50 per bird solely to upgrade the existing cages to meet the standards of enriched housing. However, the results were far from satisfactory. The enriched cages brought several problems. Francesco Torresan explains:” Eggs often failed to roll onto the egg belt, causing soiling and spoilage. Cleaning and maintaining cage hygiene proved more difficult than we initially thought. Recurring incidents of birds getting trapped led to welfare issues, including injuries and increased mortality.”

Despite moving 5,000 out of 7,000 birds to this new system, the farm faced a significant drop in flock performance. It was clear that enriched cages were not a solution for their vision.

“For us Vencomatic is a dependable partner and a true companion on the path to sustainable egg farming.”

Looking beyond: Why not hybrid?

Torresan brothers chose not to pursue hybrid systems for several strategic reasons. A hybrid system offers more freedom of movement and enrichment than conventional cages, but without the full openness of aviaries or free range.

Francesco "Our investment approach is long-term — typically 20 to 25 years. That’s why we did not opt for hybrid. In such systems, the birds remain restricted (code 3), and if they are let out, returning them is difficult. Catching them causes stress, reduces egg production, and increases injuries and mortality. Another major concern is rearing. For code 3 production, it’s possible to buy 17-week-old pullets from cage-rearing systems. But for code 2, birds must be reared in an aviary environment to develop the necessary navigation skills. Without proper rearing, the risk of floor eggs and second-grade eggs increases significantly.”

High standards

As egg buyers frequently visited the farm, Torresan brothers became a reference point in the industry. The owners were determined to produce higher-welfare eggs under code 2 and, later, code 0 (organic), responding to growing consumer demand. In 2010, they began their partnership with Vencomatic Group, purchasing their first aviary system.

Francesco: “Vencomatic had years of experience in free-range and aviary systems, going back to 1983. The company had never manufactured cage systems, making it a pioneer in alternative housing. The decision was clear.”

Today, the farm is equipped with several Vencomatic systems; Jump Start for rearing, Bolegg Terrace and Bolegg Gallery (10,000 birds each) and Vencomatic Nest (1,800 birds for organic, free-range production – code 0). Soon, an additional 8,500 birds will be housed in Vencomatic Nest to meet the rising demand for organic eggs. The farm’s own brand Becco d'oro is well-known and trusted in the market.

Thanks these systems, Torresan brothers successfully eliminated second-grade eggs, simplified flock management, and secured reliable support. The rearing system has proven crucial to success — enabling the farm to reduce floor eggs to under 1%.

A lasting partnership

As their systems continue to serve them reliably, the Torresan family views Vencomatic Group as more than just a supplier. Franceso: “For us Vencomatic is a dependable partner and a true companion on the path to sustainable egg farming.”