Moy Park farmer Brian Dickey has been applauded for his record-breaking flock performance results, achieving a European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) of 485.66.
Dickey, who farms outside Ballymena, Co. Antrim, beat the previous Moy Park record. Other top performing Moy Park growers include Millar Adair from Antrim and John McAuley from Ballymoney who achieved 483.49 and 483.07 on the scale respectively.
EPEF is a calculation based on average daily weight gain, mortality, and feed conversion, and it is used world-wide by farmers and producers to measure farm performance.
Throughout 2023 Moy Park had 138 flocks from 83 individual farms score over 440 EPEF, meaning they qualify for the “Ross 440 Club”, an initiative by poultry breeding company Aviagen that recognises the top 1% of growers within the UK.
Kieron Daniels, Broiler Technical Services Manager at Aviagen said: “Our Ross 440 Club celebrates the best in the industry, and to get one crop with an EPEF of 440+ is an amazing achievement but to be awarded our prestigious Gold Award, which includes 3 consecutive crops in a row or a single EPEF 485+, is truly outstanding. The award is held by just 9 farms in the UK to date, so to have many of these from Moy Park and Northern Ireland in particular, is a testament of the great work, relationships, and commitment the farmers and Moy Park have with each other.
“I am always honoured to be able to give out such awards, speak with and learn from such great teams. Congratulations to all, it is an amazing achievement.”