WATT PoultryUSA - April 2012

Recovery for chicken
industry

All in all, these positive changes have led one analyst – Deutsche Bank’s Christina McGlone – to predict that operating margins for the chicken industry have recovered and are currently running approximately $0.05 per pound. This is indeed good news and a sure sign that efforts to reduce supply are paying off.

In addition to these individual efforts by integrators to restore pro;t-ability, many of our respondents were encouraged by an improvement in the general economy.

The Consumer Con;dence Index – which is a leading indicator that formed the basis for our Poultry Con;dence Index – supported these feelings.

According to Lynn Franco of The
Conference Board, “Consumer con-
;dence … posted a sizable improve-
ment in February … Consumers are
considerably less pessimistic about
current business and labor market
conditions … despite further increases
in gas prices, they are more optimistic
about the short-term outlook for the
economy, job prospects and their
;nancial situation.”
Our own data supports these ;nd-
ings as 56 percent of our respondents
felt they would be ;nancially better
off in 2012 than in the previous twelve
months.

Integrator efforts to reduce supply have started to pay dividends as many companies are now in the black. This has blossomed into positive feelings for many regarding their own economic and job prospects. The reduction in breeding stock should hopefully extend these positive changes into late 2012, if not beyond. ■

THIS IS TOM
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR
The Alltech 28th Annual
International Symposium will
challenge you to rethink
your outlook, your industry
and the status quo as we
look to our children’s future.
May 20 - 23, 2012
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Come find out what the future holds in poultry nutrition.
Poultry-focused sessions include:
SMARTER FEED SOLUTIONS TO START YOUR BIRDS BETTER - The facts.

VISIONARIES OR LEMMINGS - Envisioning a more profitable future for poultry producers. A radical thought - make money!

PROGRAMMED TO SUCCEED - How programmed nutrition will increase economic efficiency and produce a better consumer product.

WHAT DO BIRDS REALLY NEED? - The Brazilian perspective on real nutrient requirements - so different from ours.

REACHING NEW LIMITS - Genetic advances in poultry and the challenge for nutritionists.

POULTRY PERFORMANCE STARTS WITH INTESTINAL HEALTH - Weed,
feed & seed.

WORLD BEATING PERFORMANCE - Why does New Zealand beat the standards and what can we learn from their experience

Featuring: Rosalina Angel, University of Maryland, USA - Natalie Armour, University of Georgia, USA - Gertrudes Corcao, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - Osler Desouzart, OD Consulting, Planning and Strategy, Brazil - Derek Emmerson, Aviagen Group, USA - Mark Farmer, Ridley Feed Ingredients, USA - Peter Ferket, North Carolina State University, USA - Andreas Kocher, Alltech, USA - Horacio Santiago Rostagno, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Brazil - Nelson Ruiz, Nelson Ruiz Nutrition LLC, USA - Bill Williams, Tegel Foods, New Zealand