Genetics and intact breeders in Poultry World 9
The latest edition of Poultry World is available online. We visit a broiler farm in São Paulo, Brazil, which delivers around 3 million broilers each year to a Seara processing unit, and speak to Dr Gaetano Blanda about his new challenge at the helm of Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business line. We consider what the future might look like for male breeders and highlight how to mitigate the effect of mycotoxins in layer diets. Meanwhile, AVEC is focused on the increasing global trade complexities faced by the European poultry sector. This and more in the latest online edition.
Interview with Dr Gaetano Blanda, Evonik: One plus one is two, also in animal nutrition
Animal nutrition may be a different business than coating additives, but they both follow the universal laws of chemistry and economics. Describing himself as a “data guy”, chemist Dr Gaetano Blanda quickly learnt about his new challenge at the helm of Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business line.
Small cog in a huge operation
In Q2 of 2025, the largest meat company in the world reported a net income of US$20.3 billion. JBS, with its poultry meat brand Seara, relies on thousands of primary producers to keep the business performing. One small cog in this huge operation is the Fazenda Alta Conquista broiler farm in São Paulo, Brazil, run by Luciana Dalmagro. Annually, the farm delivers around 3 million broilers to a Seara processing unit.
Emphasising the strategic role of food production
Against the backdrop of Ukraine’s accession talks with the EU and the controversial Mercosur deal, this year’s conference of the Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU (AVEC) focused on the increasing global trade complexities faced by the European poultry sector. AVEC’s message is clear: the EU must prioritise the strategic role of food production and safeguard the European poultry sector against unfair competition.
Mitigating the effect of trichothecene mycotoxins in layer diets
Trichothecenes is a major class of mycotoxin. The presence of trichothecenes in the diets of laying hens poses significant adverse effects on health, performance and food safety. This article takes a closer look at the impact on health and performance, and mitigation strategies.
Knowledge is king
Poultry World hosted 2 seminars at EuroTier in Hanover, Germany, in November. The seminars focused on how to enable the bird’s gut to perform optimally, and how to strive towards sustainability and enhance welfare.
Intact breeders are the future
While the number of mutilations in breeders has decreased considerably in recent years, more research is necessary to phase out the remaining treatment: hind toe clipping in males. With appropriate management, it is expected that this should be possible in the near future.
Halal certification presents vast market opportunities
Indonesia announced mandatory halal certification for food, beverages and services starting 17 October 2024. The detailed and intricate certification presents vast market opportunities, but suppliers will need to overcome time-consuming inspections.
Testing a foundational piece of any strategy to combat AI
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been wreaking havoc on poultry populations worldwide. The H5N1 variant has affected more than 100 million birds since 2022. There is urgent demand for new testing model, but promising technologies are on the horizon.
Spain’s slow but steady recovery after cage ban
The Spanish egg industry has witnessed some turbulent years. Production was hit hard with the banning of conventional cages in 2012, which made up 95% of housing systems. Enriched cages were initially favoured, but became less important while new barn and free-range systems were increasingly adopted. Recovery was slow but steady, with current production at an all-time high.
The effect of lice on cage-free birds
A study has found that free-range birds were being infected by lice at a much higher level than caged flocks. Study lead author and entomologist Amy Murillo said: “We didn’t expect to find skin lesions associated with chicken body lice, but we did. This has not, to my knowledge, been documented before.”
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