Cobb-Vantress Inc., a subsidiary of Tyson Foods Inc., will begin construction early in 2016 on a new feed mill in Laurens County, S.C., with completion planned towards the middle of 2017.

The $22 million investment is expected to create about 12 new jobs in Joanna, S.C., according to information from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

The state-of-the-art mill will supply feed to Cobb's grandparent breeder farms in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, as well as a great-grandparent farm in Georgia. Based on current needs, the mill will produce around 1,200 tons per week using the latest technology for pathogen reduction, including a "hygieniser" for heat-treating the feed ingredients before pelleting. Additionally, environmental controls will regulate airflow to prevent cross-contamination.

Another important feature will be a dedicated rail spur so supplies may be transported from other production regions in the U.S. Grain may also be used from the local market for delivery by truck.

"We want to ensure that we have a long-term internal feed supply that will give us complete control over the consistency and quality of the end product. This is Cobb’s third feed mill in the U.S., the others being in Siloam Springs, Ark., and in Albany, Ky. With the completion of the Joanna feed mill, we will internally produce all of our feed supply for pedigree operations through to grandparents," Cobb-Vantress director of world technical services Dr. Steve Bolden said.

Cobb-Vantress is a poultry research and development company engaged in the production improvement and sale of broiler breeding stock. Cobb is the world's oldest pedigree broiler breeding company. Founded in 1916, Cobb has grown into one of the world's leading suppliers of broiler breeding stock with distribution into more than 120 countries.