July 1, 2024
Aviagen: Arbor Acres held series of broiler farmer visits in South Africa
Aviagen's Arbor Acres® distributor, Arbor Acres South Africa, held a series of broiler farmer visits for customers across South Africa, in collaboration with broiler consultant Henry van Dungen on April 15-24, Aviagen revealed this month.
The events saw 256 attendees, with visits centered on a number of key broiler topics including:
- Brooding
- Winter brooding
- Targeting seven-day weights for better processing weights
- An update on avian influenza (AI)
- How to save energy
Arbor Acres South Africa's local customer support team, which includes technical manager Marlie Saunders, was in attendance.
Two guest speakers were also present, namely, Dr. Greg Celliers, veterinarian at Eagles Pride, who gave an update on the AI situation in South Africa, and broiler farmer Dr. Chris Travers, who discussed his experience with new technologies that are installed in his own broiler houses.
"The broiler farmers days were a great success," said Saunders. "All attendees found the events to be insightful, and they gained valuable knowledge and practical insights to assist in enhancing their farming practices. The topics discussed during the visits were not new to our participants; however, they provided them with a fresh perspective, inspiring them to reconsider their approach to poultry farming and the design of their poultry houses. It summoned ideas on how they can make positive changes to optimise their operations and enhance the well[1]being of their flocks."
"Aviagen is committed to strengthening Arbor Acres South Africa's customer success by helping maximise the performance and efficiency of Arbor Acres flocks,' said Aviagen regional technical manager (SSA) Florian Blevin. "Events such as this assist local producers with continuously progressing the performance of their broiler flocks. The transfer of knowledge and awareness of the genetic improvements are key to managing Arbor Acres birds."
Gerrie Venter, strategic accounts and marketing manager at Eagles Pride, said: "The Arbor Acres Broiler Day was highly informative, featuring three expert speakers who provided valuable insights on important topics for broiler farming.
"Henry van Dungen's presentation on winter brooding provided clear explanations on complex concepts, making them easy to understand and apply in the field. Dr. Greg Celliers' update on avian influenza in South Africa highlighted the importance of being vigilant and proactive in managing the disease.
"The seminar concluded with a presentation from Dr. Chris Travers on farming efficiency where he gave advice on how to manage the rising energy costs and environmental concerns. Overall, the seminar was a great success, and offered valuable knowledge and practical solutions to aid broiler farmers in improving their operations."
- Aviagen
