These values are calculated by totalling the goods and services produced in a market region divided by the number of people to give an indication of the per capita gross domestic product or the relative standard of living in a region.

The potential for poultry is enormous in Africa with per capita consumption currently just over 3.0 kilograms and while the growth in gross domestic product is around nine% annually, chicken consumption is only predicted to rise about half a kilogram over the next ten years. By comparison global consumption estimated at 12.5 kilograms per capita and predicted to increase to 14 kilograms over ten years, further highlighting the future untapped potential in Africa.

Young people are being encouraged back into agriculture with job opportunities and in some countries small loans to enable them to start local poultry and egg production businesses to generate income and food. Countries have also realised the importance of job creation in generating a healthy economy and agriculture, already a strong contributor provides an immediate opportunity to achieve both goals.

Arbor Acres® is well known to the African poultry industry and in several markets has established itself as the ‘integrators choice’ in the production of a healthy and affordable protein source for consumption in many key markets. A network of 6 grandparent distributors with experience ranging from five to 26 years supplying parent stock to the local industry are well positioned for future growth in Africa. Many are established and have experience exporting Arbor Acres parent stock to different countries. Arbor Acres is also sold directly into Western and Central African countries through dedicated commercial team that speaks and understands the region and works closely with the distributor network to maximise sales and market share.

Arbor Acres distributors have their own customer technical teams which are well supported by the Aviagen Arbor Acres regional technical team. Technical specialists in flock management, incubation, veterinary, nutrition and ventilation are available regionally and from the company’s European group when additional expertise is required by customers.

The regional Arbor Acres team not only assists and advises customers with hands-on on flock management techniques, they also have a strong commitment to the transfer of technical information and training for customer production teams at regional seminars and schools. The need was first recognized in the poultry industry by Arbor Acres who commenced a Production Management Course in 1963 which has now graduated over 1500 industry people from this well regarded, four-week event. Arbor Acres remains committed to the task and it has become a major regional support activity to improve the knowledge and management skills among the customer base.

The Arbor Acres is well supported by the industry’s leading R&D group where innovation and the utilization of new technologies, many of which are industry firsts, enhance the genetic progress available to customers from the breeding program. The successful introduction in 2005 and use of industry-like conditions in selection in addition to the normal pedigree facilities has helped to identify the most productive and robust birds capable and has positively impacted bird performance. The advantage of life-time feed conversion commenced in 2004, monitoring feed intake and performance over an extended period and taking into account flock behaviour has proven to be valuable contributor in accelerating performance compared to competitors.

Arbor Acres has maintained a level of genetic progress and support to be a leading product in the industry for many years. The long term commitment to regional technical service, sharing technical knowledge, investing in R&D and understanding its customers has proven successful over many years. Arbor Acres will continue to supply quality product and the technical support to be a part of the growing opportunity for poultry in Africa.