EDINBURGH, Scotland. – Aviagen® launched its first-ever TMEA Grandparent (GP) School, marking an important milestone in the company’s commitment to advancing GP production standards across Türkiye, the Middle East and Africa. Held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 9–13 February, the program brought together 26 attendees from nine countries across the region for in-depth hands-on training, interactive discussions and the sharing of practical insights designed to support sustainable performance and long-term success.
During the five-day program, participants engaged in a comprehensive series of sessions covering key aspects of Grandparent production, from genetic progress and breeding strategy through to brooding, grading, laying management and post-peak performance. Expert-led presentations addressed critical topics including uniformity management, ventilation strategies, nutrition, disease prevention, vaccination, biosecurity and data monitoring. Practical case studies and interactive discussions encouraged collaboration and knowledge sharing, enabling attendees to apply best-practice principles within their own operations across the region.
Sharing his perspective on the School, Ragab Shoeib, General Manager, Poultry Production, Wadi Poultry, Egypt, commented: “The first Aviagen GP School has been a long-standing aspiration, and I am delighted to see it become a reality. The program provided comprehensive coverage of all critical aspects of GP farm management, from an introduction to Aviagen and the breeding structure through to rearing, production, vaccination programs, biosecurity and hatchery operations. I would like to sincerely thank the Aviagen team for the valuable knowledge shared, the warm hospitality and the excellent organization throughout the week.”
Echoing these sentiments, Lawrence Moselakgomo, Farm Manager, Rainbow Chicken, South Africa, added: “The Aviagen GP School was an excellent initiative that strengthened my knowledge of Aviagen genetics and Grandparent management. The program covered the full production cycle, providing practical guidance on how to maximize performance and achieve stronger results. It was particularly valuable to exchange experiences with participants from different countries and environments, and to learn from the Aviagen technical team’s expertise. The practical elements of the sessions made the learning clear, relevant and directly applicable to my day-to-day work.”
“Almost every session was highly engaging and professionally delivered, covering all the fundamental aspects of GP production. The presence of experienced specialists in the room was reflected in the quality of the discussions, allowing us not only to review our current practices, but also to identify improvements to implement on our farms. The School was extremely well organized, and I would like to thank the Aviagen team for their warm hospitality and dedicated customer-focused support,” said Resat Tutuncu, GP Operation Manager, Cairo Poultry Company, Egypt.
Commenting on the success of the School, Levent Öztürk, Regional GP Specialist, TMEA, added: “The TMEA GP School was designed to bring together practical experience, shared challenges and proven best practices from across the region. Our goal was to create an environment where participants could openly discuss their operations, learn from one another and leave with clear actions to enhance performance on their farms. The level of engagement throughout the week demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous improvement. By combining regional experience with Aviagen’s global knowledge, we are strengthening Grandparent production standards across TMEA and building a foundation for long-term success.”