The Latin American Poultry Summit, held during the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), provided valuable insights into the efficient marketing of poultry farming in Latin America, as reported in a recent press release from USPOULTRY.
The event featured a diverse program organized into five sessions, covering important topics such as grain management, food safety, genetics, breeding, and health. The summit kicked off with an opening session featuring two distinguished speakers and a panel discussion, setting the stage for an informative and engaging day.
Carlos Campadabal, a professor of grain science and industry at Kansas State University, discussed the specific grain characteristics necessary for the intensification and efficiency of feed mills. His presentation laid the foundation for the day’s discussions and insights. Following him, Wilmer Pacheco, an associate professor and extension specialist at Auburn University, elaborated on particle size management in concentrated feeds.
The food safety session was led by Juanfra DeVillena, senior vice president of quality assurance and food safety at Wayne-Sanderson Farms. DeVillena focused on Salmonella regulations in the US and their impact on the national chicken supply. The genetics session featured experts such as Jorge Amado from Aviagen, Vitor Hugo Brandalize from Cobb Genetics, and Thomas Dixon from Hy-Line International. They discussed managing declining fertility in breeders, new developments in layer and broiler genetics, and their potential impact on production in the coming years. The session concluded with a panel discussion to further explore these topics.
The breeding session included insights from Mike Czarick, an agricultural extension specialist at the University of Georgia, who discussed improvements in ventilation management. Yari Lucerna, a consulting veterinarian, followed with a presentation on cage and cage-free production in the rearing of laying hens.
The health session was led by Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, a professor at the faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Montreal in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. Vaillancourt discussed practical biosecurity measures for all poultry sectors. James Karkashian Cordoba, a professor at the School of Biology and a researcher in Molecular Biology and Animal Nutrition at the University of Costa Rica, focused on the identification and molecular analysis of avian infectious bronchitis virus. He also discussed the implementation of aerobiological methodologies for detecting and characterizing respiratory viruses in poultry farming.
Karkashian’s research team received a research grant from USPOULTRY’s Latin American research program, which is supported by attendee and sponsor contributions to the Latin American Poultry Summit.
Overall, the Latin American Poultry Summit provided a platform for industry experts to share their knowledge and insights on key issues affecting poultry farming in Latin America. The sessions covered a wide range of topics crucial to the industry’s success, from grain management to health and biosecurity measures. The event was a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn, network, and stay informed about the latest developments in the poultry sector.
