"Creating platforms such as this to share experiences in hatchery vaccination is vital if we are to successfully meet the needs of future generations for safe poultry protein,” said Mr Ruud Aerdts, Director of Ceva Animal Health Asia Pacific, when opening the conference. “Ceva is committed to continue investing in developing innovative hatchery solutions that will make poultry production easier and more effective,” he insisted.

Mr Gordon Butland, from G&S Agriconsultants analyzed the “Effects of the current financial crisis on the global poultry industry” and stressed the challenges that the Asian poultry industry will face to remain competitive in the coming years.

Today 60 per cent of all broilers are vaccinated in the hatchery; a figure that Ceva expects will reach 80 per cent to 90 per cent over the next 5 years. This trend will be driven both by innovation in vaccine technology and through improved methods and services surrounding vaccination.

The summit focused both on the practical aspects of hatchery management, as well as highlighting the changes that new vaccines will bring to current programmes. Mr. Pramote Rutavepol, Vice-President of Broiler Operation – Charoen Pokphand Foods emphasized the benefits that hatchery vaccination brings to their operations over traditional farm vaccination: “We get more uniform titres and therefore better protection. At the same time, there is less stress on the birds helping us to reduce antibiotic use, save on labour costs and perhaps most importantly reduced condemnation rates.” Mr Pramote stressed that with advances in the technology of production units, one person was now able to manage up to 200,000 broilers meaning that onfarm vaccination will no longer fit with this model.