Aviagen has welcomed customers to Chester for the 25th annual Ross Flock Awards. The event recognized the achievements of UK producers whose flocks, depleted in 2024, ranked among the top 5–7% of Ross 308 breeder flocks worldwide.
Technical service managers Toby Arkell and Charles Ramsey presented the awards, including the Top Flock Award, which went to Pilgrim’s Europe for achieving an impressive 173.4 chicks per hen housed (chicks/hh) — a clear reflection of thoughtful management and consistent effort.
The UK average reached 156.1 chicks/hh — an increase of 3.5 chicks from the previous year — showing steady progress and the continued strength of Ross 308 broiler breeders across the country.
“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the efforts of our customers, who continue to raise the bar,” said Stuart Thomson, head of UK sales & technical. “Behind every award is a team that has faced challenges head-on and stayed focused on both performance and welfare.”
James Padley, agricultural director of GW Padley Poultry, contract farmers for Pilgrim’s and the winner of the top flock award, said: “We are incredibly proud of the winning team for the outstanding result they achieved. The dedication and effort that is required throughout the entire lifespan of a flock to get these plaudits cannot be overstated. It can take years of experience, combined with learnings from previous flocks, and, importantly, a desire to learn and adapt to factors outside our control, such as warm weather.”