Broiler Producer in Central Luzon renews contract with day-old chicks supplier | In pursuit of greater efficiency and specialization within the value chain, RDF Feed, Livestock & Foods, Inc. (RDF) has partnered with Highridge Breeding Farms, Inc. to meet its requirements for day-old chicks.
RDF is an agri-food enterprise that owns and operates broiler farms in many areas of Pampanga. On the other hand, Highridge is the broiler-breeder operation of Rizal Poultry Livestock Association, Inc., which is based in Alaminos, Laguna.
Day-old chicks — specifically broiler chicks are just a day old when they are delivered to farms. They are raised for meat, serving as the starting point of the poultry production chain. The quality of these chicks matters greatly because it affects how well they grow, how healthy they remain, and ultimately, the kind of product that reaches the consumer.
Highridge has been RDF’s supplier of day-old chicks for the past three years.
According to Dr Fabienne Luz S. Balucas, Poultry Operations Manager of RDF: “We’ve always seen Rizal Poultry as a strong potential partner. We share the same values — producing safe, quality poultry and doing things the right way. Over the years, they have consistently managed their breeder farms and delivered healthy chicks. It finally made sense to make the partnership official.”
Outsourcing day-old chicks can present several risks for RDF, including biosecurity breaches and disease transmission, among others, which may lead to increased mortality rates, poor growth performance, and reduced profitability.
Dr. Balucas adds, “Biosecurity is something we take seriously. We work closely with our partners, including Rizal Poultry, to make sure protocols are in place, from the breeder farms to the hatchery and during delivery. Vaccinations, proper chick handling, and regular health checks are all standard practices for raising healthy chickens. And because we’ve built a good relationship with our suppliers, we can communicate quickly and solve problems efficiently if anything unexpected arises.”
RDF is continuously exploring opportunities to strengthen its value chain — hatchery production is undoubtedly one of the areas under consideration. Having a company-owned hatchery can offer better control over quality, genetic sourcing, and biosecurity. However, strategic investments must be prioritized and aligned with timing, market demand, and operational readiness. For now, partnering with reliable hatchery providers like Rizal Poultry enables RDF to focus on its core strengths in grow-out, processing, and retail, while ensuring that capable and trusted partners meet its day-old chicks supply.
The contract signing took place on July 9, 2025, at Balanghai Filipino Buffet, located in Clark Cityfront Mall, Angeles City, Philippines.