Aviagen recently held the annual Russian Technical Seminar in Moscow, and the theme 'Maximising Breeder and Broiler Performance' was a great success with customers. The event included a series of presentations and demonstrations which covered different useful broiler and breeder management techniques. In response to customer demand, the main focus of the event was maintaining male and female fertility.

The seminar provided a great opportunity for customers in the world's fastest-growing poultry market to meet the Aviagen Russian Team and supporting specialists and was an ideal platform to share ideas and best practice amongst attendees.

One of the highlights of the event was the inclusion of interactive demonstrations which allowed customers to get first-hand, practical experience of the advice presented.

The event included a range of Aviagen speakers discussing topics that really matter to the industry in Russia, such as light stimulation and pin bone development, identifying true fertility and managing parent stock flocks in hot climates. The speakers, Danny Rotherham, Neil Clark, Olga Myasnikova and Pavel Shkarlat are all members of Aviagen's Technical Service Team for Russia.

In addition to the main presentations, delegates also heard Leonardo Linares, Aviagen's nutritionist for the region, speak about nutrition, feed form and its effects. He also provided a practical demonstration on how to ensure that the birds get the nutrition they need to achieve their growth potential. Veterinarian Akos Klausz discussed the benefits and use of live vaccines to combat disease.

To underline how Ross products are particularly suited to the many different geographical areas and climates within the Russian Federation, Eduard Taktarov, Sales Manager, demonstrated the competitive advantage of the Ross bird with an analysis of actual performance information from Russian customers.

Importantly, all the presentations worked together to support the idea of persistency in fertility for male and female birds. The presentations were specifically designed to give customers useful tools and advice to constantly increase the economic benefits and the realisation of the genetic potential of the Ross bird.

Jonny Harrison, Aviagen's Regional Technical Director, commented: "The presentations ranged from practical demonstrations, where attendees were given the option to participate, to talks on the economic effect on farming. All the speakers have a wide range of experience which enriches the advice we can give to our customers. Russia is the fastest-growing market for poultry in the world and Aviagen is committed to ensure the technical support increases in line with market demand.

"Maintaining the fertility of the birds is a key part of consistent improvement in flock performance, so we want to make sure we are able to share valuable insight with all our customers. Ross products are performing superbly in the Russian market and these sessions are designed to make sure that this continues."

Flock Award winners Stavropolski Broilers (left) and Permskaya (right)

The event also included the presentation of the Russian flock awards: Stavropolski Broilers received the award for best overall annual production, achieving an average of over 135 chicks per hen-housed, and Permskaya, part of the Prodo Group, won the overall best flock award.

Mikhail Vodolazsky, Director of Animal Production, Stavropolsky Broiler, said: "For the Russian poultry producers each meeting with the Aviagen team becomes the instrument for the fine tuning of our operations and for achieving the genetic potential of our Ross birds. At this seminar, we have learned of new approaches and new concepts for our production both for parent stock and broilers.

"We really appreciate that all information we received has been put together as a complex of technical measures to improve our hatchability. The ideas presented covered everything from the production floor to the management level that will help us in making the right strategic decisions. I am personally looking forward to implementing the techniques presented to make my work more effective."

Attendees at the Russian Technical Seminar