Two-day program in Cali brings practical learning and open discussion to Cargill poultry producers from Colombia

CAMPINAS, Brazil – Aviagen^® Colombia brought its ‘Knowledge Without Borders’ seminar series to Cargill Aug. 24–25 in Cali, Colombia, welcoming approximately 80 members of Cargill poultry teams from Colombia.

Practical knowledge from breeder to broiler

The program followed the poultry production cycle, from the genetic potential of Ross^® 308 AP through breeder management, incubation, broiler management and processing. Sessions explored male and female breeder management, flock uniformity and feeding, automatic nest management, Salmonella control and feed quality.

Discussions then moved into incubation, including new developments in incubation, chick quality and the Five Domains approach to animal welfare, which considers nutrition, environment, health, behavior and mental state.

The broiler program addressed first-week management, water quality and environmental control, before concluding with processing topics including meat yield and quality.

Learning from one another

For Aviagen, the dedicated program was as much about listening to Cargill's teams as sharing knowledge with them.

“Knowledge Without Borders gives us the opportunity to spend meaningful time with our customers and focus on the subjects that matter to their operations,” said Jorge Amado, Regional Technical Manager, Aviagen Latin America. “Cargill's teams bring a wealth of experience from different production environments, so the learning goes both ways. By sharing questions, observations and ideas openly, we can continue finding practical ways to strengthen flock health, welfare and efficiency.”

“The seminar provided a comprehensive view of the poultry production chain, reinforcing how every stage – from breeders and incubation to farm management – influences the final outcome,” said Paola Ayram, Senior Director of Live Production, Cargill Colombia. “We gained practical knowledge on chick quality, environmental management, water, the first week and disease prevention that we can apply in our day-to-day operations to identify opportunities for improvement and strengthen decision-making.”

Looking beyond the seminar

The Cali seminar builds on the ongoing exchange between Cargill and Aviagen, with both companies continuing to explore ways to advance flock management, bird welfare and sustainable poultry production.

For Andrés Parra, Sales and Technical Services Manager for Aviagen Colombia, the program reflects the importance of staying close to customers over the long term. “Working closely with Cargill's teams gives us a deeper understanding of their operations and priorities,” said Parra. “That understanding helps us focus our efforts where they can bring the greatest value to the customer and their flocks. It is what Breeding Success Together means in practice.”