The first was the Shandong Liuhe Group and the second was the Beijing Huadu Group as well as Beijing Arbor Acres Poultry Breeding Co., Ltd. Both these companies have a long and solid history in the poultry industry and have been customers to Aviagen for many years. Huadu Group has been with Aviagen for over 18 years and Shandong Liuhe for 10 years.

As chicken consumption and trade in China grow, domestic and international competition has also increased. The visits gave the delegates an opportunity to learn more about the methods of production outside China and for Aviagen presenters to share information and news about the latest genetic offerings from the company.

Aviagen enjoys a very good market presence in China having seven Grand Parent operations throughout the country. The Arbor Acres and Ross birds are currently being used and enjoy a strong percentage of placements with several prospects for the LIR product to also be imported.

Aviagen has an office in Beijing which is headed by Mr. Han Feng, Assistant Vice President/China. That office provides on the ground commercial and technical support to Chinese customers - this is supplemented by the wider international Aviagen staff and service as needed.

Bill Souther, Aviagen Vice President-Asia, commented: "With a population of over 1.3 billion people and a per capita consumption of 8 kilos of poultry meat, China provides an excellent opportunity for expansion. Aviagen has been at the forefront of providing quality genetics to the Chinese market for over 20 years and our company was the first international poultry breeding company to enter the market. That commitment to provide quality breeding stock for protein production is at the core of our mission statement."

ThePoultrySite News Desk