Chickens are being processed at lower weights in response to cost-of-living challenges, according to Murray Brown, ABN’s new feed advisor and broiler account manager.
“If we look back at 2019 and predicted then, what would have had the biggest impacts on the sector over the next five years, I don’t think many of us would have had the foresight to see the challenges ahead,” said Brown.
According to Brown, while huge changes such as the global pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis sent shockwaves through the industry, and dramatically altered processor requirements, there has remained some consistency throughout these and other challenges.
“The industry is now producing smaller and younger birds, in part to meet those changing demands, and we have developed our ranges to help producers meet these processor requirements,” he said.
“What has not changed through this time, has been the demand for the consistent, quality and safe supply of poultry feed, while offering value to our producer customers,” he said.
By focusing on this approach, Brown said ABN is well positioned to adapt to a changing environment and different influences, no matter the size of impact they might bring.
“It is impossible to predict where we might be in the next five to ten years, with the introduction of AI, new technologies and new government policy, but by focusing on the fundamentals this puts us in a good place to be both proactive and reactive to those changes,” he added.
The pace of change over the last five years, with a focus on changing genotypes, meeting new broiler targets and nutritional recommendations, has been reflected in the rebranding of the broiler range, now being marketed as ABN Compass.
“The focus has been on driving performance with optimising Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR) and increasing European Performance Efficiency Factor (EPEF) scores to meet current and future challenges,” said Brown.
“Our research and product development is constantly evolving. While the ABN Compass range reflects the significant changes over the last five years, it will continue to develop, as the range always has, to meet industry demands,” he said.
Alongside this, ABN has also been looking at new and more sustainable raw materials, such as UK-grown pulses to reduce or remove reliance on imported soya, as it looks at ways to help reduce the carbon footprint of broiler production.
Murray joined the ABN broiler team in September 2024, having finished the game season with another AB Agri business, Sportsman Game Feeds, where he had been working since May 2021.