Optimising Hatchery Performance Focus for Aviagen’s 3rd EMEA School
NETHERLANDS - The third Aviagen Production Management School for customers based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) recently took place in Amsterdam. The five-day Hatchery and Incubation Management module was designed to develop the knowledge and skills required to optimise hatchery performance.
12 March 2013
4 minute read
The module follows the successful broiler and breeder modules which were organised in 2012. The first module of 2013 gave poultry professionals the opportunity to learn from experts through a mixture of lectures, presentations and interactive, problem-solving workshops.
The module follows the successful broiler and breeder modules which were organised in 2012. The first module of 2013 gave poultry professionals the opportunity to learn from experts through a mixture of lectures, presentations and interactive, problem-solving workshops.
The highly-interactive module encouraged high levels of student participation and included various workshop sessions involving: embryo staging, identifying infertile eggs, chick quality assessments and hatch debris breakout. Heering, day-old chick transport vehicles specialists, provided one of its transportation trucks for students to see first-hand, with Gerrit van der Linde from the firm also one of the module’s guest presenters.
14 specialists from Aviagen and industry experts covered topics such as the science of incubation, optimising egg handling, hatchery design, health and hygiene, with students encouraged to share their own experiences and learn from each other as well as the speakers.
Dr Dinah Nicholson, Global Manager of Hatchery Development and Support, led the module and said: “We were delighted to welcome our attendees to Amsterdam for the inaugural Aviagen Hatchery and Incubation Management Module. The module provided an opportunity for delegates from 19 countries within Europe, Asia and Africa to meet and exchange views with the Aviagen team of speakers as well as world leading specialists in poultry incubation.
“Our Aviagen Hatchery Support Team was assisted by a number of international experts in their field, with the focus on improving the output of quality day old chicks at the most competitive cost. We aimed to strike a balance between classroom learning and practical opportunities, working individually or in teams during the week.
“We’d also like to thank the various allied trade companies such as Petersime, Heering, and Pas Reform for helping make the module as realistic and accurate as possible.”
Students were also given the opportunity to visit Aviagen’s new R&D facility at Spelderholt, renowned for both broiler and broiler breeder research. Aviagen made significant investments at the facility based in Lelystad recently and the complex now boasts two trials houses for Parent Stock as well as a broiler trials house and a brand new hatchery equipped with Pas Reform incubators.
Students were tested throughout the programme and the winning overall student was Dan Ashmore from Moy Park Ltd (UK), with Stephen Deemess, Vion UK finishing second and finishing joint third were John McGrellis, Vion UK, and George Mihai Pirvulet from S.C. Avicola Tartasesti SA (Romania) as close runners-up.
Winning student Dan Ashmore said of the module: “I was thrilled to finish first against such talented and hardworking competition. It was a great week overall, with some hugely valuable exercises and insights. It was great to have the opportunity to interact and take part in the various workshops.”
In addition to learning some key practices, students were able to network with other professionals, bringing the international poultry community closer together. Aviagen also arranged for a programme of social activities, including a visit to the Barneveld Poultry Museum and a graduation ceremony that rounded off the week.
