One small cog in a huge poultry operation
The largest meat company in the world recently reported a net income of US$20.3 billion in the second quarter of 2024 alone. 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 Fazenda Alta Conquista, which is run by Luciana Dalmagro.
Compared to the grand scheme of things within Seara, the Fazenda Alta Conquista broiler farm in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil, only delivers a small contribution. But everything is relative of course. The broiler operation consists of 14 houses totalling 500,000 broiler places. In 6 cycles it produces 3 million birds per year to the Seara processing unit in Nuporanga. At the helm is fifth-generation farmer Luciana Dalmagro, who says the story began in 1850 with Portuguese immigrants who went to Brazil and started working on coffee plantations. Today, Fazenda Alta Conquista cultivates sugarcane, maize and soybeans, while also raising beef cattle on its 267 hectares, but poultry farming is what “brings more life” to the farm.
Started in 2008 by Luciana’s father Paulo Portugal, the broiler chicken production unit has become the farm’s central activity. It is integrated with JBS, the largest animal protein producer and one of the largest food companies in the world.
Luciana, who inherited her ancestors’ entrepreneurial spirit, is responsible for an operation that goes far beyond traditional poultry production, employing advanced technologies and sustainable practices. Over the last couple of years she has become a prominent figure among the female leaders in Brazilian agribusiness, serving as an example of integrated management with JBS, the owner of the Seara brand.
Integration with JBS
More than 90% of Brazil’s poultry production operates under an integration system. This model provides a well-organised and efficient production chain – JBS supplies inputs and technical support, while the producers are responsible for labour and infrastructure. The system ensures standardisation and quality, serving as one of the pillars that underpin the success of Brazil’s poultry industry, which accounts for about 37% of total global poultry exports.
At Fazenda Alta Conquista, the integration model with JBS is the backbone of poultry production. JBS is responsible for the chicks, feed, and vaccines, while Luciana focuses on continually improving the operation. “We take care of all the management and ensure that production meets the required quality standards,” explains Luciana.
The remuneration in the integration system is performance-based, encouraging producers to seek efficiency and improve zootechnical indicators, such as feed conversion. The better the performance of the batch of chickens, the higher the remuneration received. “This system uses contracts and legislation, ensuring transparency and security for both parties,” Luciana adds. Moreover, JBS provides continuous technical support, new technologies and management decisions, reinforcing sustainability and productivity on the farm. “When we decided to become integrated producers, we understood that most points in this chain would be in the hands of the industry. This partnership allows us to focus on what we do best, with the peace of mind that we have the necessary support to grow and innovate,” Luciana emphasises.
Good feed conversion is one of the main goals. At Fazenda Alta Conquista, the feed conversion ratio is 1.5 kgs per kg of live animal, with chickens reaching an average weight of 2.8 kg in 41 days, with a mortality rate of less than 3%. Annually, the farm delivers around 3 million broiler chickens to the Seara unit in the town of Nuporanga, about 12 km from the property. Much of this production is exported to countries around the world.
Sustainability
A focus on sustainability is one of the cornerstones of Luciana’s management. She has a clear opinion when it comes to her on-farm sustainability measures: ‘’This is not about tree hugging. Sustainability and our environmental quality lead to financial sustainability too. If anything, the 4 generations before me prove that we are in it for the long run.’’
The farm was the second in São Paulo State to have a certified photovoltaic energy generation system. Since 2016, solar energy has been fully powering the farm’s operations, with a capacity of 51,000 kWh per month from a structure of over 1,000 solar panels. “Until 2016, about 30% of our cost of production consisted of electricity bills. This was a headache we just had to tackle. Today, we generate 100% of the energy we use on the farm, enough to supply 14 poultry houses, 10 employees’ homes, and other facilities on the farm,” says Luciana.
Water resource management also receives special attention. The farm has a system for capturing and re-using rainwater. In total, about 3 million litres are collected and used for cleaning and other activities, ensuring water security even during periods of drought. In addition, organic waste management through composting transforms chicken mortality into organic fertiliser, reducing the need for chemicals. “We generate more than 2,000 tonnes of organic compost per year, which is sufficient for our arable operation,” according to the producer.
Technology and innovation
Fazenda Alta Conquista stands out for its adoption of various technologies that boost efficiency and sustainability in poultry production.The poultry houses use fibreglass wool for thermal insulation, which reduces energy consumption by up to 20%, maintaining a stable and adequate temperature for the chickens. ‘’Heat is the problem in our part of the world. Insulation keeps our poultry houses up to 15°C cooler.’’
Thermal cameras are also used to monitor the internal temperature of the poultry houses, constantly ensuring the birds’ comfort and optimising resource use.
For monitoring the birds themselves, 3D cameras perform automatic weighing, using artificial intelligence to predict the weight of the chickens with high precision, practically eliminating human error. “This technology changes everything. It removes manual labour and reduces errors to almost zero. It facilitates not only the weighing process but also batch planning and logistics. Thus, our staff can focus on other activities,” explains Luciana. “We still have other technologies under validation. I am very keen on technology, but I am even more keen on getting good results for production and people,” she comments.
People
The focus on sustainability and efficiency is also reflected in the farm’s social practices. Luciana believes that “it’s people who change the world” and so invests in a work environment that values teams and promotes inclusion. “Having enough skilled staff on the farm is a problem everywhere in the world, Brazil included. We have 60% of the team made up of women, and the more diverse the teams, the better the results we achieve,” she explains.
The farm offers quality infrastructure for the 10 families that live on the property, with good homes, quality internet and other resources. Fazenda Alta Conquista also has training programmes, such as the Young Apprentice programme, aimed at training the employees’ children and young people from the local community. ‘’This promotes opportunities for a job in the countryside instead of looking for one in the city and it helps us to get employees in the future.’’
Luciana not only manages a productive and sustainable farm but also positions herself as a leader who turns challenges into opportunities. “The best way to change the world is to start at home,” she concludes.
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