Cargill announced plans to start operating one of China's biggest broiler production facilities by the middle of next year. The $250 million investment in Anhui province will include a feed mill, farms, hatchery and processing plants, reports Reuters.

"We are doing the construction right now and hope to start by June or July next year," he said. "We will raise 65 million birds a year and it will be one of the biggest integrated plants in China," said Christopher Langholz, business unit leader for Cargill Animal Protein.

China's poultry industry is rapidly expanding with annual growth at 5 to 6 percent, drawing investment in production facilities.

"There is a big trend going on," said Langholz. "Just as 20 years ago you had in pork with modern technology and corporate people getting involved in production, now all that has started happening in chicken."

Source: Reuters