Fausto Ferraz, Cobb business manager in Brazil, said: "This event was a great success in providing information and perspectives that will help our customers and distributors adopt the best strategies for the coming year.

“Apart from being an excellent opportunity to bring the group together for a corporate event, it was an important occasion to evaluate the current situation and future market prospects.”

The participants were welcomed by Jairo Arenazio, Cobb general manager for South America, who highlighted the company's optimistic outlook for the year ahead.

Jerry Moye, president of Cobb-Vantress, spoke about Cobb's values and philosophy, which, in his opinion, are fortunately shared by people in all units of the company and acknowledged by its customers.

He analysed trends and production costs in different regions as well as market movements over the last five years in the United States, Brazil, Europe and China.

Mr Moye said: "Our main focus - and where we spend most of our energy - is to create stronger, more resistant and naturally healthy birds, aimed at connecting genetics and environment."

The speakers included Safras & Mercados' technical director, Paulo Molinari, on grain market trends, BeefPoint's Miguel Cavalcanti on the increase in cattle production costs and prospects for the export market to the US, and Michael Donohue, vice-president of AgriStats, on the US poultry market.

Craig Irvine, owner of Irvine's, a Cobb distributor in Africa for over 50 years, spoke about the poultry market in the region, highlighting the increasing population in the continent expected to reach two billion people by 2050.

The economist and former president of the Brazilian Central Bank, Gustavo Franco, outlined prospects for the Brazilian economy. Besides evaluating the positive aspects of the current economic policies and those needing improvement, he also addressed wage inflation, hiring costs and the increasing buying power of the Brazilian population.