Decades of breeding for welfare and sustainability
Welfare and sustainability form the foundation of Aviagen’s breeding programme. For years, we’ve introduced innovations that enhance bird health, protect the environment, and help our customers provide quality, affordable chicken meat globally.
SUSTAINABILITY & WELFARE SPECIAL 2024 – read all articles
Aviagen is dedicated to “Breeding Success Together” with our customers and industry associates. We all play an essential role in feeding the world and preserving our planet for future generations.
Balanced breeding – A holistic approach
Balanced breeding means selecting birds with the best traits in a range of characteristics, including welfare and sustainability. We focus on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health, livability, and overall fitness, ensuring bird well-being. At the same time, we select birds that use feed more efficiently, benefiting the environment.
Good bird welfare is beneficial for the birds and makes good business sense. Healthy, robust birds are more productive, have better livability, and are more disease-resistant.
Innovative selection techniques elevate bird welfare
Aviagen is committed to advancing bird welfare through steady genetic advancements. By using modern technologies, we have increased the accuracy of our genetic selection. For example, pulse oximeters and X-ray techniques help monitor and reduce the risk of heart and skeletal issues, significantly strengthening leg health and cardiovascular function, leading to better overall livability.
Computed tomography (CT) enables thorough, whole-body assessments, allowing precise measurement of welfare-related traits. Genomic selection helps us fine-tune our breeding choices, always aiming for the best outcomes for our birds.
Our Lifetime Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) method, which uses transponders and electronically monitored feed stations, has greatly boosted feed efficiency. This focus on FCR has resulted in an annual advancement of 1.5 to 2 points, reducing the carbon footprint of poultry production. Thus, we have seen a 1% annual reduction in global poultry industry carbon emissions. The improvement has also served to advance economic sustainability by saving feed costs for our customers.
Biodiversity – Breeding choice
Biodiversity is central to our breeding strategy, meeting the diverse needs of markets worldwide. By maintaining a rich pool of genetic lines, we offer breeds that perform well in various climates and conditions, including slower-growing options.
Biodiversity is crucial for meeting current market demands and anticipating future trends. We work closely with customers to stay aligned with market changes, ensuring they have the right birds for the right market at the right time. This diversity provides the flexibility and choice our customers need for success.
Balanced breeding for a sustainable future
Our commitment to balanced breeding has led to continuous advancements in bird health, performance, and sustainability. This approach helps poultry producers consistently supply nutritious poultry meat to their communities. By focusing on breeding practices that boost bird welfare and support sustainability, we strive to create a better future, meeting present needs while preparing for future challenges.
Advancing leg and foot health
Leg and foot health are essential to the overall welfare of birds. Since the 1970s, our breeding programme has focused on selecting birds with strong leg and foot health to reduce the risk of defects in future generations. We use several methods to support this goal. One proven technique is gait assessment, evaluating a bird’s ability to move and walk to identify any weaknesses. Another is CT scanning, which helps identify birds at risk for Tibial Dyschondroplasia (TD) – a leg defect relating to bone development. Birds are also carefully checked for footpad dermatitis and other foot-related issues.Thanks to these efforts, the number of birds with leg and foot problems has decreased, while gait scores have improved over the years.
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