Successful DPC Conference at VIV MEA 2016
The first edition of VIV MEA, from 15 - 17 February 2016 in Abu Dhabi, proved to be a great success. Dutch Poultry Centre organized the very well-attended Conference “Dutch approach for better performance of your poultry business”
Why are Dutch companies always at the forefront in the export of agricultural commodities. What makes them so successful? What is their approach?
During a symposium held at VIV MEA 2016 a couple of Dutch company representatives explained to the many attendees what is important to do well in producing high quality and healthy poultry products in an efficient manner. They don’t keep their do’s and don’ts for themselves, but share them to mutual advantage.
Dr. Piet Simons, Ambassador of DPC, explained the aims of DPC and introduced the speakers. Ron de Zwarte of Jansen Poultry Equipment highlighted the importance of high quality broilers and focussed on hatching egg quality, egg collection and broiler housing. He made clear that a perfect hatching egg is needed to get quality day-old chicks and that the first seven days in the life of these chicks is of utmost importance for their later performance. He stressed that you have to make sure that clean water, high quality feed and sufficient light is available during the first week of their life.
Marc Spackler of Intracare highlighted the importance of optimum water hygiene for bird performance. Clean water will reduce the incidence of bacterial and algae growth in drinking water and prevent consequential gut problems in birds. It therefore is a helpful tool in reducing antibiotic use in poultry.
Josje Hakker, doctor of veterinary medicine at Kepro, revealed that the egg shell can tell a lot about the health status of the layer. Early recognition of abnormalities, and knowing the meaning of malformations, allows the producer to start early treatment and limit the damage or loss. She strongly pointed at the importance of correct flock management and continued monitoring eggshell quality and performance figures.
Ir. André Meeusen, animal nutritionist-consultant at Framelco, started his presentation by saying that antibiotic use is one of the major causes of intestinal problems in young animals. To prevent this we have to start building a healthy intestinal micro-flora and managing it during the rest of their life. We have to follow nature and provide compound feed that can be broken down to single nutrients that can easily be taken up and stimulate a healthy balance of the gastro intestinal micro-flora.
Finally Ernst Kah of Marel Stork told the audience that maximizing meat output remains the task of any poultry processor and challenges equipment manufacturers to further improve their systems. There is much attention for animal welfare, reducing water use and environmental issues. In addition to increasing capacity the focus is on automatic evisceration of birds of varying weights and improving intelligent cutting without changing the setting of machines.
Following these presentations, Dr. Piet Simons concluded that due to the many regulations and international competitiveness the Dutch poultry industry fights for its existence trough developing new strategies and technologies. It is their entrepreneurship that keeps them going and leads the way to success in business and that is an element of the Dutch approach.
(Report: Wiebe van der Sluis)
BELOW YOU WILL FIND LINKS TO DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATIONS OF THE SPEAKERS:
- Key facts for maximum broiler performance. Changing broiler requires a change of approach.
Ron de Zwarte, Jansen Poultry Equipment.
- Guarantee optimum water hygiene to reduce antibiotics in poultry.
Marc Spackler, Master in Science, Intracare.
What do eggs tell us about diseases?
Mw. Josje Hakker, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kepro.
- Feed for the best results: latest trends in broiler nutrition. Eubiotic nutrition.
Ir. André Meeusen, Animal Nutritionist-Consultant, Framelco.
- Latest developments in poultry meat processing. A global outlook.
Ernst Kah, Bachelor of Science, Marel Stork.
