The 2026 USPOULTRY Hatchery-Breeder Clinic brought together poultry industry professionals to explore the latest advances in breeder management, hatchery performance and flock health. The program featured presentations on leadership and operational excellence, breeder nutrition, hatchery performance indicators and the evolving U.S. experience with avian metapneumovirus (aMPV). Speakers shared practical strategies to strengthen flock health, optimize breeder and hatchery management, and improve production performance.

Bill Griffith, chief operating officer at Peco Foods, discussed the critical connection between leadership and operational excellence, emphasizing that long-term organizational success depends on balancing strong leadership with disciplined processes. He highlighted that effective leaders inspire and influence through clear communication, accountability, emotional intelligence and vision, while operational excellence focuses on improving efficiency, reducing waste and delivering consistent results. Griffith also stressed the importance of empowering employees, using data to guide decisions, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and embracing continuous improvement to overcome challenges and drive sustainable growth.

Noting the importance of combining sound nutrition with effective feeding management to optimize broiler breeder performance, Dr. Benton Hudson, poultry nutritionist at CSA Animal Nutrition, emphasized that breeder success depends on much more than feed formulation, highlighting the critical roles of feed delivery, distribution, access, equipment, bird behavior and overall flock management. Hudson remarked that closely observing birds, adapting feeding practices as genetics evolve and fostering strong collaboration among nutrition, feed mill and production teams are essential to maintaining breeder health, fertility and productivity.

Tommy Lively, director of hatcheries technical support at Pilgrim's, highlighted the key performance indicators that drive hatchery success, emphasizing that closely monitoring eggshell temperature, moisture loss and chick temperatures is essential for maximizing hatchability and chick quality. He explained that maintaining optimal incubation conditions throughout the process helps reduce embryonic mortality, cull chicks and post-hatch health issues, while preventive maintenance, ventilation, sanitation and equipment performance remain the foundation of consistent hatchery operations.

As part of his update on the U.S. experience with aMPV, Dr. Brian Jordan, director of technical services at Zoetis, noted that Type A continues to spread more rapidly than Type B and may eventually become the predominant strain. He explained that the disease affects poultry species differently, with turkeys experiencing the greatest impact, and discussed the industry's evolving vaccination strategies as producers gain more field experience. He stated that continued research and experience will help refine vaccine protocols and improve disease management as the industry continues to better understand aMPV.