The major one-day seminar in Tehran attracted over 70 Parent Stock customers from across the country amongst the 180 plus delegates which included many hatchery owners and managers.

This seminar was immediately followed up with another two days of practical workshops for the Zarbal Customer Focus Team and hatchery personnel at the new Rasht hatchery near the Caspian coast.

Both sessions were led by international hatchery expert Dr Steve Tullett. In order to ensure the seminar focused on the key areas most pertinent to the audience, Dr Tullett spent a week visiting a variety of customer hatcheries all across the country.

His primary objective was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the standard of facilities they have together with the challenges they face on a day to day basis.

This also allowed Dr Tullett to provide “on the spot “advice about potential solutions.

The seminar covered all aspects of hatchery management and other contributors included senior managers from Zarbal, John Maguire, Ross Sales Manager for the Middle East and Africa, and David Butler, Technical Consultant.

Mr. E. Ghorbani, Managing Director of Zarbal, said: “We are delighted to have been able to welcome such a world renowned guest as Dr Tullett to Iran. Thanks to these events, we now have the most complete picture of hatchery techniques in Iran and we will use that information to continue to grow, strengthening our offering to the market through best practice, excellent genetics with the Ross bird and our own, significant investment.”

After the Seminar, Dr Tullett conducted tutorial and instructive sessions at the new Zarbal hatchery.

John Maguire said: “The workshops covered a wide range of incubation topics and provided the Zarbal team with the perfect opportunity to discuss both technical and practical issues. We were particularly focused on measuring and monitoring.”

He added: “Iran is a country that has really developed in terms of poultry breeding in the last few years. Demand for Ross 308 has continued to strengthen year on year and it is great to see so many people from so many diverse parts of Iran attending these events, all are extremely keen to learn how they can improve their business through improving techniques and a commitment to welfare, efficiency and biosecurity.

“The desire to learn and share information is one which serves the industry in Iran well. We expect continued growth within the sector, especially as the new facilities are able to compete with anywhere in the world.”