Hy-Line International

{{Infobox company

| name = Hy-Line International

| logo =

| type = Private | parent = EW Group

| foundation = West Des Moines, Iowa (1936)

| location = West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.

| key_people = Jonathan Cade, President

| industry = Hatchery

| num_employees =

| homepage = [http://www.hy-line.com Hy-Line.com]

}}

Hy-Line International or Hy-Line is a multi-national genetics company that raises and sells commercial/industrial laying chickens. It is a subsidiary of the German EW Group.{{cite web |url=https://www.poultryworld.net/home/ter-heerdt-sells-shares-to-ew-group/ |title=Ter Heerdt sells shares to EW Group |website=poultryworld.net |access-date=2022-12-18}} The firm has subsidiaries in multiple countries including Brazil, Japan, and the United Kingdom and has 60 distributors in more than 50 countries worldwide.http://www.hy-line.com/aspx/links/links.aspx?navid=9 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712233157/http://www.hy-line.com/aspx/links/links.aspx?navid=9 |date=2011-07-12 }} Hy-Line website, links

Corporate

The firm is a subsidiary of the privately owned German livestock breeding company EW Group. Its president is Jonathan Cade; Thomas Dixon serves as the firm's director of international sales and marketinghttp://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/17068/leadership-changes-at-hyline-international Poultry Site, leadership changes at Hy-Line

Operations

Hy-Line directly operates subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa.{{cite web|title=Hy-Line's South African success story|url=http://www.positiveaction.info/pdfs/articles/hp19.3p7.pdf|website=PositiveAction Magazines|publisher=PositiveAction Magazines|accessdate=8 July 2014}} Many of its subsidiaries were formerly distributors bought out by Hy-Line, including Hy-Line Italia (formerly Valversa) and Hy-Line South Africa (formerly Hy-Line Chicks).{{cite news|title=Hy-Line Acquires Italian Egg Layer Distributor Valversa|url=http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/26071/hyline-acquires-italian-egg-layer-distributor-valversa|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=PoultrySite|date=21 June 2012}} In several countries it has instead signed exclusivity deals with distributors. In India, Amrit Group has distributed Hy-Line chickens since July 2014 when a new 'poultry hub' was established as part of plans to capture 30% of the Indian egg-laying market by 2017–2018.{{cite news|title=Amrit Group to foray into 'Hy-line' layer breed chicken|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-06-30/news/50974682_1_layer-breed-eggs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705005919/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-06-30/news/50974682_1_layer-breed-eggs|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2014|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=India Times|date=30 June 2014}}{{cite news|title=Amrit Group to set up poultry hub in Bengal|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/amrit-group-to-set-up-poultry-hub-in-bengal/article6177962.ece|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=Hindu Businessline|date=4 July 2014}} Sales in Vietnam are exclusively licensed to the Ba Haun Company since 2013.{{cite news|title=Ba Huan to supply US quality chicken|url=http://vietnamnews.vn/society/243012/ba-huan-to-supply-us-quality-chicken.html|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=VietnamNews|date=3 August 2013}}

Products

Products of the company include the Hy-Line W-36, Brown, and Silver Brown lines.[http://www.hyline.com/aspx/products/productinformation.aspx Product Information]. Hyline 2014. (self-published source). Accessed August 2014.

Criticism

Hy-Line International has been subject to criticism from animal rights group Mercy for Animals following the release of a video alleged to have been filmed inside of a Hy-Line hatchery, showing the process of chick culling. The video went viral and received widespread media attention across the English-speaking world.{{cite news|title=Baby Chickens 'Cooked Alive' At Hatchery, Animal Rights Group Contends|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/15/baby-chickens-cooked-alive-maple-leaf_n_5151230.html|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=Huffingtonpost Canada|date=15 April 2014}}{{cite news|title=Chicks 'ground alive' by poultry producer|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/chicks-ground-alive-by-poultry-producer/story-e6frf7jo-1225769179445|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=Herald Sun|date=3 September 2009}}{{cite news|title=Chicks Being Ground Up Alive Video|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/01/chicks-being-ground-up-al_n_273652.html|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=Huffington Post|date=17 September 2009}}{{cite news|title=Baby chicks ground up alive: animal rights video goes viral|url=http://boingboing.net/2009/09/01/baby-chicks-ground-u.html|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=BoingBoing|date=1 September 2009}}

Hy-Line Australia was sued in 2013 for unsafe practices at its chicken hatchery at Huntly near Bendigo, after a fire in one of its sheds in April 2009 left an employee trapped due to a lack of fire exits. The man escaped by breaking through floorboards. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.{{cite news|title=Trapped worker sues Hy-Line chicken farm|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/264484/trapped-worker-sues-hy-line-chicken-farm/|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=Bendigo Advertiser|date=29 August 2012}}{{cite news|title=Trapped man's case over as Hy-Line settles out of court|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/284825/trapped-mans-case-over-as-hy-line-settles-out-of-court/|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=Bendigo Advertiser|date=31 August 2012}}

Sponsorships

Hy-Line Australia is the name-sponsor of the Hy-Line Australia Oval, which is a home ground of the Heathcote District Football League.{{cite web|title=Hy-Line Australia Oval, Huntly|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/comp_info.cgi?action=VENUE&venueid=16180657&client=0-6168-80611-244363-18446579|website=FoxSportsPulse|publisher=FoxSports|accessdate=8 July 2014}} It also sponsors the Hy-Line International Research Award of the Poultry Science Association.{{cite news|title=Poultry Science Association Announces Award Winners|url=http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/32636/poultry-science-association-announces-award-winners|accessdate=8 July 2014|publisher=PoultrySite|date=3 July 2014}}