Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
It’s a question asked since time immemorial, but for Inghams, the answer is genetics — and it begins thousands of kilometres away, in a breeding program most people never see.
Every bird that comes through our farms starts with a decision made years before it arrives on our doorstep. That decision is genetics. It is the result of continuous selective breeding, careful planning, and a strategic relationship with one of the world’s leading poultry genetics companies: Aviagen.
As Australia and New Zealand’s largest integrated poultry producer, we understand that quality and resilience begin long before a bird steps foot on our farms. They begin with genetics. It’s why our work with Aviagen goes well beyond a simple supplier relationship — it’s about securing the foundation of our entire breeding pipeline.
Aviagen is one of the world’s leading poultry breeding companies, supplying day-old grandparent and parent stock to customers in over 130 countries. The company operates some of the most sophisticated breeding programs in the world, with pedigree data on some lines dating back to 1979. Their portfolio includes industry-leading brands such as Ross and Arbor Acres, alongside their Nicholas turkey line which we also draw on for our turkey operations.
What sets Aviagen apart is their focus on the traits that matter most — not just to us, but to our customers and consumers: feed conversion efficiency, growth, and animal health and welfare outcomes. These aren’t separate goals; they’re interconnected.
Our relationship with Aviagen spans more than a decade. In that time, we completed a full transition to Ross breeding stock — a strategic decision that positioned Inghams for long-term success.
The improvements in poultry genetics over recent decades are remarkable. When you look at improvements in feed efficiency, hatch rates, and bird health over the past 20 to 30 years, they trace directly back to genetic improvement. For Inghams and our customers, better genetics deliver:
- More sustainable production. Better feed conversion means less feed and fewer resources required per kilo of protein produced. In a world where resource efficiency matters — both economically and environmentally — this compounds across every flock, every year.
- Better welfare outcomes. Genetics aren’t just about production traits. Aviagen’s breeding programs select for birds that are strong, resilient, and well-suited to thrive. Welfare and performance go hand in hand.
- Consistent, reliable supply. A strong genetics partnership means a resilient breeding pipeline that can withstand real-world challenges and change. It’s about having security in an uncertain world.
- Quality our customers can count on. The foundation of everything that follows on our farms — the care, the processes, the oversight — begins with genetics. It’s the bedrock of the consistent, high-quality products that our customers and consumers rely on.
As global events continue to shape how the poultry sector thinks about genetic security, our relationship with Aviagen remains a core part of how we plan for the long term. This isn’t about the next flock; it’s about the resilience of our supply chain for years to come.
It’s also part of how we deliver on our Purpose: providing deliciously good food in the best way. That “best way” includes thinking strategically about genetics, investing in partnerships that matter, and building resilience into every part of our operation.
When you serve Inghams chicken at your table, you’re tasting the result of decisions that have been years in the making. That’s what providing deliciously good food in the best way looks like — it’s not just about the final product, it’s about every decision, every partnership, every investment in quality that comes before. It’s the value of trusting expertise, committing to excellence, and thinking long term.