Starting in the late 1960s as the Arbor Acres School in Connecticut, the Aviagen Production Management School, now held in Huntsville, Alabama, has grown dramatically in size and scope over the years. Since its inception, more than 1,000 men and women from over 100 countries have successfully completed the Aviagen School.

This year the 48th Production Management School welcomed a record number of participants – 34 customers from 21 countries – for the intensive four-week course. The School, held from 6 June to 2 July, featured more than 41 speakers from academia and industry in a rigorous pace of 53 classroom sessions, eight hands-on practical workshops and labs, and 10 live production facility visits. The breadth of topics covered during the month long course included poultry nutrition, veterinary, hatchery operations, production and farm management best practices for managing successful breeder and broiler operations. Participants received weekly written exams that culminated in a formal graduation dinner and ceremony.

Each year Aviagen recognises the top achievers in the School based on an average of weekly test scores. This year's graduation ceremony honoured four students:

• Roy Sutherland, Baiada Poultry, Australia received highest honours
• Rodrigo Almada, Rasic Hnos SA, Argentina received second highest honours
• Michael Mugo (Kenchic, Kenya) and Marcial Molina (Cargill Meats Central America, Honduras) tied for third place.

Mario Padron, director of the Aviagen School, said: "The vision of the Aviagen School remains focused on helping the next generation of production managers prepare for success in the global poultry industry. And because so many countries are represented, the School provides a wonderful opportunity to learn not only from the instructors but also from each other's experiences.”

Annual enrolment to the Aviagen Production Management School is limited to Aviagen customers and qualified applicants are chosen from eligible applications. To learn more about the School, click here.