La Ferme du Grand Orme’s story
NEVER LOOKING BACK
Stéphane Forest is a broiler chicken producer located at Sainte-Mélanie, QC. With three chicken barns and 80 000 birds per fleet, his ESA-1000 heat exchangers allow him to reduce his heating costs, improve the birds health and provide a healthy work environment for his son and himself.
« The annual heating costs associated to barn temperature are significant. Chicken are sensible to air flow variation, it affects their growth, says M. Forest. With a proper heat exchanging system, I noticed a good improvement of their food conversion. With less feed, I get the same kilos.”
At La Ferme du Grand Orme, the heating costs are approximately 50% less expensive than they were. The producer claims to have an excellent return on investment, since beyond these savings, the benefits of his ESA-1000 heat exchangers are felt on the entire farm. « With the savings made, we’ve been able to also afford to invest in a ventilation system. Ammonia and dust finally disappeared. By spending more than 4 hours a day in chicken barns, you realize that you breathe much better. Before, we sometimes ended the day experiencing physical discomfort. Today, we breathe well, it makes a big difference in our comfort and productivity,” he adds.
The performance promised by other brands of heat exchangers he installed in the early 2000s was not quite there. « Birds received large air drafts and they had to be cleaned at least 3 times per breeding. The air flow of the ESA-1000 is gentle and I only need to dust them one time per fleet. In less than a minute it’s done.” Mr. Forest’s three chicken coops have 24 ESA-1000 heat exchangers in total, which he says is a significant time saver.
Breaking the old perceptions
Before settling on ESA-1000 heat exchangers, the Sainte-Mélanie producer went more than once around the market. « I analyzed and compared the different models of heat exchangers that were made on the market. None could beat what ESA was offering. Their heat exchangers are really the best I know of. The team knows its products well, we feel that we are not dealing with simple resellers. They know what they talk about and have real competence in the matter. It weighed heavily in the balance at the time of the decision, “he said.
Installed for almost 5 years, the producer says he is still very satisfied with his choice. “If I went back in time, I would make the same decision,” he says. Only if you consider the savings in heating costs, it’s a worthwhile investment, but the other benefits are quickly felt. “
La Ferme du Grand Orme is a family and improvements story since the early 1920s. Today, Stéphane Forest works with his son – soon to be partner. Always on the lookout for innovations, they don’t hesitate to turn to research and development to think the future of the farm. Their next investment? Modernize their old heat exchangers from the 2000s with new products from the ESA-SERIES range.
Since the 1970s, poultry from La Ferme du Grand Orme has been raised with high quality standards. However, today it’s no longer obtained at the expense of the producers health who are working for their good care.
“Since installing my ESA-1000s, I have had my best breeding results.”
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