The road show was supported by the Aviagen customer focus team and featured Aviagen speakers Technical Service Manager Lindsay Broadbent and Poultry Health Scientist Richard Bailey to cover relevant and topical subjects relating to both breeder and broiler management.

Breeder topics included the new body-weight recommendations for the Ross 308 and factors which affect the physiological development of the bird as well as improvements in male fertility and hatchability. Broiler presentations covered the critical period of chick start, ventilation and enteric health.

Stephen Bamford, Moy Park’s GP production manager, commented: “Our Irish road shows take place every 18 months and are extremely important for communication and contact with our customers by creating a platform to share experiences and raise any questions. This year’s events were really well attended and lively with great interaction with the speakers. Lindsay Broadbent, a very familiar face to our customers, was well received while Richard Bailey’s presentation on gut health provided an understanding of the enormous work that is being undertaken by Aviagen to solve the very practical aspects of broiler growing in relation to litter quality.”

John McEneaney of Carton Bros thanked Aviagen for their open and honest approach during their technical discussions while Nicky O’Doherty, breeder manager with Western Brand, was enthusiastic in his support for the performance improvements they have seen and the technical input that can be called upon.

Alan Thomson, Aviagen’s commercial and technical manager for Western Europe, said: “I was delighted to be able to attend some of the sessions during the road shows. Events like these provide us with a great opportunity to get closer to our customers and, in turn, their customers and to get a closer appreciation and understanding of the topics which affect them.”