Modern hatchery innovations take center stage at animal wellbeing symposium
Sept. 2, 2026
By John Lovett
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- In-person and online attendance offered Oct. 8 by Center for Food Animal Wellbeing
- Five speakers offer perspectives on range of topics in poultry hatcheries
- Decisions made at hatchery influence flock health through grow-out period
(522 words)
Download PHOTOS of baby chickens, Shawna Weimer and David Caldwell
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Leading poultry industry experts will gather this fall at the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing's 12th annual symposium, “Hatching the Future: Innovation in the Modern Hatchery,” to explore innovations shaping modern poultry hatcheries.
The symposium will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, as a hybrid event, allowing participants to attend either online or in person at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences located at 1371 W. Altheimer Dr. in Fayetteville.
Registration is $10 for in-person attendance. There is no fee for students or virtual attendance. The deadline to register is Oct. 1.
This year's event will focus on the critical role hatcheries play in poultry production, highlighting how decisions made before chicks leave the hatchery can influence animal wellbeing, flock health and production performance throughout the grow-out period.
“The hatchery is one of the most important links in the poultry production chain,” said Shawna Weimer, director of the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing. “This symposium brings together experts from across the industry to share practical knowledge, emerging technologies and innovative approaches that can improve outcomes for poultry producers and the birds in their care.”
Weimer is also an assistant professor of poultry science for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s research and extension arms, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
Symposium target audience
The symposium is designed for poultry industry professionals, veterinarians, researchers, educators, professional animal auditors, students and others interested in poultry production and animal wellbeing.
Organizers say the event will provide attendees with practical information they can apply to hatchery management and production systems.
With presentations from industry leaders, the symposium will feature expertise in breeder management, incubation, in-ovo vaccination, chick quality evaluation, and hatchery cleaning and disinfection. The symposium will conclude with a panel discussion on hatchery problem-solving, allowing attendees to ask questions and engage in discussion with all of the speakers.
Attendees will earn six continuing education credits from the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization.
Symposium agenda
The symposium will begin with a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by opening remarks from Weimer and David Caldwell, head of the department of poultry science.
Presentations will continue throughout the day before concluding with a panel discussion and closing remarks. Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m.
The speakers and presentations include:
- Chance Bryant, director of key accounts sales and technical service for Cobb-Vantress, LLC — “Broiler Breeders: Managing Their Impact Downstream”
- Kirk Dawkins, technical sales manager for Jamesway Incubator Company — “Understanding Incubation Dynamics in the Modern Hatchery”
- Joshua Deines, Ph.D., technical service device lead for Zoetis — “Pro-tips from the Field for Successful In Ovo Vaccination”
- Sue Ann Hubbard, DVM, poultry veterinary consultant with Professional Poultry LLC — “Chick Quality Assessment and Causal Factors”
- Chaz Ramsey, technical sales representative and hatchery technical service specialist with Best Veterinary Solutions — “Foundations of a Cleaning and Disinfection Program: A Review of Best C&D Practices and Equipment
- “Hatchery Problem Solving Panel,” all presenters
For more information on the presenters, visit the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing event website.
To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing
The Center for Food Animal Wellbeing is a unit of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The center’s mission is to disseminate science-based information and drive innovation towards practices and technologies that cultivate animal welfare for ethical and sustainable foods.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Shawna Weimer at sweimer@uark.edu as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact:
John Lovett
U of A Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
(479) 763-5929
jlovett@uada.edu