The team at an award-winning Middleton on the Wolds chicken business is celebrating after three of its employees joined an exclusive club that places them in the top 1% of the UK poultry industry.
Clive Soanes Broilers’ farm managers, Graham Bell, Gabriel Lenghel and Andrew Tyler were presented with the Aviagen Ross 420 Club award at a celebration lunch recently. The award rewards the achievements of Ross broiler flock poultry farmers who have reached a European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) of 420 or more.
EPEF is an internationally recognised measure of recording flock results. It takes into account the feed conversion ratio of the birds (i.e. how much they have grown in comparison to what they have eaten), overall weight compared to age and other factors.
Of the achievement, Aviagen’s UK technical service manager, Kieron Daniels said: “Aspiring to be part of the 420 Club is what inspires growers to work so hard to achieve their scores.
“It’s great to welcome Graham, Gabriel and Andrew to the Club. Membership has grown from just three to over 650 members in the last 13 years, and the high-scoring individuals in the 420 Club represent an exclusive top 1% of the UK poultry industry.”
Claire Wright, managing director of Clive Soanes Broilers’, added: “We’re delighted that three of our farming team have become members of the Ross 420 Club. It’s a great achievement by Graham, Gabriel and Andrew that puts them up there alongside other distinguished growers in the 420 Club’s elite of British growers.
“The team have worked incredibly hard, paying attention to every detail of rearing to achieve this level of performance and high levels of animal welfare.”