Alltech poultry technical seminar held

Over 110 delegates attended Alltech’s poultry technical seminar where a panel
of six international industry experts presented their views and participated in
question and answer sessions with the attendees on current industry issues. Over
60 of the delegates and speakers participated in confidential electronic surveys
on the current situation and the future of the European poultry
industry.

Almost 50% of those survey estimated that feed prices will
decrease significantly over the next year, 10% believed that they would stay the
same, while 37% said that prices will increase further. Over half claimed that
broilers are more sensitive to disease as a result of genetic development, 39%
said that they are more resistant.

44% of respondents agreed that energy
use would become the biggest challenge to poultry producers in the future, 13%
said that it would be trace minerals, 12% said greenhouse gases, 13% ammonia and
8% phosphorous. 90% of respondents said that, in the future, a 2kg broiler will
be able to achieve between 1.2 – 1.4 FCR.

27% believed that the ban of
battery cages will reduce egg quality, 18% said that it would lead to increased
mortality and 10% concluded that the ban would result in reduced laying
performance. 29% of those surveyed said that consumers will be unaware of the
welfare improvement introduced by enriched cages with a further 46% stating that
consumers are mainly motivated by price.

Related
website:
Alltech