Nov. 25, 2024 – BANGKOK, Thailand – Aviagen® recently hosted its first-ever simultaneous Training Association meetings for its three iconic brands—Arbor Acres®, Indian River® and Ross®—in Bangkok. Over 200 participants from 50 customer companies came together for this landmark event, all united by their shared commitment to advancing poultry management and production across the region. Over the course of three days, attendees took part in 56 sessions led by 25 regional specialists and managers, supported by global experts and external speakers.
Innovative genetics and advancements
Aviagen’s genetic programs and Global Technical Operations play a vital role in driving progress and sharing expertise across its three brands. This commitment to innovation was highlighted on the first day of the meeting, which was dedicated to showcasing new genetic innovations and technologies designed to benefit customers. Notable developments included the introduction of Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy for on-site feed testing, Aviagen Remote Communication (ARC) for virtual service visits, and rapid mycotoxin testing of feed, among other advancements.
One attendee, Duminda Welagedara, from Pussalla Meat Producers (Pvt) Ltd., remarked, “The volume of new initiatives from Aviagen is truly impressive. These technologies have the potential to transform our farm and hatchery operations.”
Programs tailored for each brand
The next two days were dedicated to brand-specific seminars, designed to meet the unique needs and priorities of Arbor Acres, Indian River, and Ross customers.
Ross Asia Technical Seminar
The Ross Asia Technical Seminar (RATS) focused on optimizing broiler performance from hatchery to depletion, with sessions on chick quality, biosecurity, disease control, ventilation and maximizing dressed bird quality.
Larry Blackstone, Brand Manager for Ross in Asia-Pacific, stated, “Broiler management often gets the least resources despite being critical to customer’s profitability. We’re equipping farmers to maximize the full potential of our birds.”
Indian River Training Association
The Indian River Training Association (IRTA) addressed topics identified as important to regional clients, including alternative broiler growing methods, gut health, and cost-effective nutrition strategies.
Lee Yeh Meng, Director of Yithai Breeding Company, said, “The practical strategies shared during IRTA have real potential to enhance our bottom line and efficiency.”
Arbor Acres Training Seminar Asia
Themed “Leading the way by elevating performance,” the Arbor Acres Training Seminar Asia (AATSA) blended practical workshops and classroom learning. Discussions focused on brooding, lighting for broilers and breeders, grading, and health control.
Stan Keimer, Senior Technical Service Manager for Arbor Acres in Asia-Pacific, explained, “Hands-on training combined with presentations improves knowledge retention and ensures participants take away actionable insights to implement at their home operations.”
Strengthening collaboration across the poultry industry
Greg Hitt, Regional Technical Manager for Aviagen Asia, expressed his gratitude to all involved: “These events are the result of months of careful planning and the hard work of our customer service teams, global experts, and third-party contributors. They’re an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with our customers, sharing knowledge while fostering connections across the industry. We are fortunate to have such a strong local support network in Asia, backed by Aviagen’s global expertise. Our birds, no matter the brand, are capable of delivering exceptional performance. However, that success is possible because of the dedication of our customers who manage them daily.”
He added that events like these not only provide access to the latest in poultry management practices, but also foster invaluable opportunities to network, sharing experiences and learning from each other.
“They are a testament to our shared commitment to ‘Breeding Success Together’,”
Hitt concluded.