Saliou Farm is turning ideas into better poultry farming

France - The Saliou farm, a third-generation family business based in Brittany, is a well-established player in the poultry industry. The company, which has been in existence since the 1950s, is now run by Nicolas & Sébastien Saliou.

Over the years, the Saliou family have adopted a number of innovations to improve their business, including moving from cage systems to aviary systems in line with new industry standards. The Saliou farm works closely with a network of 45 farmers across Brittany, supplying 90% of their eggs to French retailers and the remainder to restaurateurs and wholesalers, and has a significant 30% market share in their region.

Visit and training session

A visit and training session was arranged at Saliou Farm were a collaborative effort between Vencomatic Group, HATO Lighting , Hyline, Laboratoire Chêne Vert, and other local farmers. The event was attended by key stakeholders, including Pierre Saliou and his son Sébastien, Emmanuel Petibon from Hyline, veterinary experts from Laboratoire Chêne Vert, and Arnaud Premel, an installer from Prémel Cabic who works with Vencomatic. Together, they explored innovative poultry farming solutions, focusing on optimizing bird welfare and operational efficiency.

Decision to work with other lighting

Previously, Saliou Farm had worked with traditional Classic LEDs and light bulbs but found these systems lacked the desired effect on bird health and behavior. During a visit to farms using Vencomatic Group's aviary systems and after a detailed presentation by Hyline’s Emmanuel Petibon, the Saliou family decided to explore HATO lighting solutions. The switch to HATO's PULSA with red lighting system marked a key turning point in their approach to poultry farming. Bolegg Gallery was chosen as the aviary system. This multi-tier system provides maximum living area, with feed, water and nesting areas on one level. The smart design and construction optimize labour efficiency and easy management. 

The Saliou farm has faced a number of challenges, including anaemia due to lice, pecking and the need for debeaking of the birds. These problems are particularly costly for breeders and detrimental to the welfare of the birds. The farm's aim with the new aviary and lighting system is to improve the welfare of the hens by reducing stress and aggressive behaviour such as pecking.

Results and Future Perspective

The Saliou family is optimistic about the results of their new project and plans to conduct a case study in a few months to assess the full impact of lights on bird health and behavior. Pierre and Sébastien Saliou are excited about the future of their business. The training session and visit allowed them to further solidify their commitment to innovation and sustainability in poultry farming.