September 17, 2020

Aviagen: 2019 Ross UK Flock Award winners surpass excellence

Aviagen UK has announced its 2019 Flock Award winners who have brought the company's Ross 308 breeder performance to new heights.

According to Aviagen UK's head of UK sales and technical, Stuart Thomson, this year's recipients represent a "story of success".

"We congratulate our stellar performers and are delighted by their remarkable achievements, which have again exceeded our Ross Parent Stock performance standards. This level of success is possible only through hard work, coupled with great dedication and expert stockmanship," Thomson said. 

Due to the effort of these farmers and hatchery teams, last year saw across-the-board improvement in UK Ross 308 breeder's performance. 

Originally scheduled for April, the award ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, the 2019 winners were invited to join in next year's event, and will receive their individual awards from the UK commercial and technical manager of Aviagen.

The 27 performance stars include breeder (rear and lay) and hatchery managers, of which eight were first-time achievers. One producer reached a notable landmark: an eighth flock award. The winners had an average of 26 years' poultry experience and a range of two to 44 years of service to the industry.

PD Hook's Andy Whiting, Mark Potter, Stephen Deerness and their team earned the Top 2019 Flock Award with an impressive 167.79 chicks per hen housed.

Blake Williamson, general manager of Aviagen UK Limited, said that his team and their customers share the mission to put #FoodOnEveryTable of families in the United Kingdom and beyond.

"Our customers have been incredibly resilient in the currently challenging situation, yet they continue exceeding excellence. We applaud these #FoodHeroes for their dedication and amazing results, and look forward to being part of their continued success, " Willamson added.

This year's recipients share in a special milestone – the 20th anniversary of the annual recognition, marking two decades of year-on-year improvement for Ross customers.

- Aviagen