Exclusive insights into how to maximize efficiency across the broiler production value chain

28 January 2026

1 minute read

By: TARGAN

The conversation around efficiency is changing. Improving performance isn’t just about looking at one stage of production. It requires evaluating how the entire value chain  –  from the hatchery through to the farm and the processing plant – can work together more effectively for long‑term success. This is because labour availability, environmental constraints and volatile costs are putting pressure on producers to extract more value from existing capacity, rather than simply expanding it.

Against this backdrop, this roundtable explores how automated feather sexing, and the subsequent rearing of male and female birds separately, can support more consistent, predictable and profitable production across the entire production value chain.

The discussion features Vincent Fevrier VP of Sales & Marketing EMEA, Asia, and Oceania of TARGAN, Stuart Thomson Head of Technical of Aviagen, Roger Davin Poultry Consultant and Product Manager from Schothorst Feed Research, and Jaap Brokking, representing the Polish broiler integration IKO. Drawing on experience from genetics, nutrition, farming and processing, the panel examine how decisions made early in the chain can influence outcomes all the way through to the processing line.

While the discussion acknowledged that integrated systems are often best placed to capture the full benefits of sex-separate rearing, the overarching message was clear: real gains are made when the entire value chain is aligned. With clear objectives, good planning and open communication, automated feather sexing can act as a catalyst for efficiency improvements from hatchery to processing plant.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 

02:58 Ross 308 and 708 genetic potential 

03:52 Sex-separate rearing at the farm 

04:58 Processing plant expectations 

06:10 European cases 

07:56 Global market preferences 

09:08 Integrated vs independent value chains

11:15 Incentives of automated sexing 

13:12 Hatchery, farm and the feed mill alignment 

14:07 Tailored nutrition for males and females 

17:50 Preventing myopathies 

19:55 Sexing benefits at the processing plant 

23:49 Optimizing slaughterhouse technology 

25:10 Emissions considerations 

25:53 Navigating sexing in client conversations 

26:47 Changing end-customer demands 

28:45 The value of AI-powered chick sexing 

30:15 Barn size considerations 

31:23 It’s all in the data 

33:55 IKO Poland WingScan case study 

36:16 Maximising sex-separate rearing 

38:58 Closing remarks