Advancing sustainable poultry farming, bird welfare and customer success in Brazil and beyond
CAMPINAS, Brazil – Aviagen® was proud to support the 15th ACAV Symposium on Incubation, Broiler Breeding Stock, and Nutrition, held Aug. 5-7 at Centrosul in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Organized by the Santa Catarina Poultry Association (ACAV), the annual event is a key meeting point for poultry professionals across Brazil and the world.
Bringing together leading voices in poultry production, the symposium offered a rich program of in-person discussions and knowledge-sharing focused on incubation, broiler breeding and nutrition – cornerstones of efficiency, sustainability and animal welfare in modern poultry farming.
Sharing proven strategies
Aviagen contributed with a dedicated team and a special panel on Aug. 6, which explored strategies for improving the productivity and welfare of breeder flocks. The session opened the floor for meaningful dialogue between researchers, poultry professionals and producers.
Cidimar Trevisan, Aviagen Regional Technical Services Supervisor in Brazil, presented proven approaches for maintaining persistent fertility in male breeders, highlighting the importance of early weight control, flock uniformity and optimal male-to-female ratios.
“Success in fertility starts with careful management in the rearing and production phases. Key milestones such as maintaining a coefficient of variation (CV – a measure of flock weight and uniformity) under 6% from week five help secure consistent, high-quality chick output,” said Trevisan.
The people behind the metrics
Naldo Luiz Dalmazo, Management and Rural Extension Consultant, focused on the role of leadership in reproductive efficiency.
Rodrigo Tedesco Guimarães, Aviagen Technical Services Manager added that, behind every performance metric is a person making decisions and performing critical tasks. “When we invest in skilled, empowered supervisors, we build stronger teams that understand their impact on animal welfare and overall results.”
Sustainable outcomes through nutrition and management
On the main stage, Marcelo Silva, Aviagen’s Global Director of Nutrition Services, spoke on the role of feed strategies in extending reproductive longevity and health of roosters. He emphasized the importance of early development on skeletal integrity, along with the potential of functional nutrition to support long-term performance.
“Understanding the link between nutrition, genetics and environment helps us shape feeding programs that benefit both chickens and producers,” explained Silva.
In another main-stage session for Ceva Sante Animale, Marcus Briganó, Technical Services Manager for South America (excluding Brazil), Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, explored the performance benefits of managing sexed broiler batches. “Sexing opens the door to more targeted nutrition and management strategies. When done correctly, it can bring meaningful gains in efficiency and sustainability,” he explained.
Sustainable progress in Brazil’s poultry sector
Throughout the event, Aviagen’s team was available to listen, exchange insights, and support attendees with their flock management goals.
Rodrigo Tedesco reflected on the value of the event: “The ACAV Symposium is an opportunity for all links in the poultry chain to learn and grow together. It’s all about working alongside our customers, sharing knowledge, and promoting best practices that strengthen Brazil’s role as a global leader in sustainable poultry production. Through our ‘Breeding Success Together’ approach, we remain focused on helping producers thrive – supporting animal welfare, protecting the environment, and contributing to the future of the poultry industry in Brazil and beyond.”