February 15, 2021

Aviagen New Zealand's Ross 450 Club ends 2020 on high note

Aviagen New Zealand's customers has continued to impress with their excellent performance, Aviagen said this month in a recent press release.

During the first year (July 2019-July 2020) of Aviagen's new Ross 450 Club, a total of 89 farms achieved European Production Factor (EPEF) scores of 450 or higher - the benchmark required for Ross 308 SF producers throughout New Zealand and the Pacific to enter the club.

The top performers in the country were Mark Graham and Jan Powell of Cricklewood Farm, previous Ross 450 Club winners who achieved an outstanding 514.26 EPEF.

Due to the overwhelming number of farms exceeding the 450 EPEF target, beginning in July last year, the New Zealand team decided to lift the EPEF target to 490.

"On behalf of Aviagen, I would like to extend our hearty congratulations to these star performers on a job well done," said Abbey Mathew, Aviagen NZ's operations manager. "This level of excellence can be reached only through exceptional dedication, hard work and stockmanship, along with a passion for giving birds the best care."

Debbie Fisher, technical services manager at Aviagen Australia NZ (ANZ), said: "(The new members') careful attention to management of the chick's nutrition and environment has allowed the genetic potential of the Ross 308 to shine. I am pleased to see so many growers (knock) this target out of the park, and look forward to the commencement of the Ross 490 Club."

The Ross 308 is the breed of choice for poultry producers in the New Zealand/Pacific market, Aviagen said. Growers have benefited from the bird's excellent meat yield, growth rate and efficiency balanced with its robust health and welfare.

- Aviagen