Lighting innovation at the heart of poultry performance: HATO at Aviagen Poultry Management School 2026

In June 2026, HATO Agricultural Lighting joined the Aviagen Poultry Management School in Huntsville, Alabama. The programme brought together production managers from across the US, Latin America, TMEA and Asia, creating a practical environment shaped by real farm experience.

The event offered us direct access to the people responsible for daily performance. Conversations quickly focused on real challenges, from maintaining consistency across flocks to improving visibility and working conditions inside poultry houses.

A practical setting for learning 

The strength of the programme lies in its hands-on approach. Participants analysed real cases, exchanged insights, and discussed solutions that could be applied immediately on farm. 

For HATO, this was a unique opportunity to share expertise on lighting as an essential factor in poultry house climate. It was approached as a management tool that shapes behaviour, supports visibility, and influences overall performance rather than a standalone technical setting.

Expanding the way lighting is understood

HATO’s session built on familiar concepts and gradually moved into areas that are often less visible in day-to-day operations. 

Most participants already worked with intensity and photoperiod. The session introduced additional factors such as flicker, spectrum, colour temperature, and colour rendering, and explained how they affect both, poultry and the working environment.

This helped reframe lighting as a solution that can be measured, adjusted, and improved in a structured way.

Seeing lighting from chicken perspective

The virtual reality lighting experience played a key role in making these concepts tangible. Instead of discussing lighting conditions, participants experienced them directly. 

Changes in lighting quickly translated into practical challenges. Reduced visibility made it harder to track birds, feeders and drinkers. Discomfort caused by flicker. Sudden changes in light intensity affected overall stability in the environment.
This shift made it easier to connect technical details with everyday farm operations.
Better light management supports:

•    more stable flock behaviour
•    improved welfare conditions
•    greater consistency in performance

Even small changes in light quality and consistency can help create a more predictable production environment.

Insights from Auburn University

These observations reflect a broader industry pattern where lighting is widely used but not always optimised in a consistent way.

As part of the programme, HATO also participated in a workshop at the National Poultry Technology Center (NPTC) at Auburn University, where live demonstrations of poultry house management take place.

This facility plays a key role as a global showcase of poultry equipment and technologies.

"Thank you to HATO for being part of APMS this year. We truly appreciated your session on lighting management and the opportunity to incorporate the VR experience. It was great to see how engaged the students were." - Ashby Austin - Marketing & Commercial Sales Specialist  

Strengthening connections in the field

The event also created space for meaningful conversations with producers, integrators, and technical teams from different regions. 
These exchanges contributed to:

•    new opportunities for technical training
•    knowledge sharing across markets
•    potential collaboration on improving lighting conditions in practice

Looking ahead

The experience in Huntsville showed that interest in precision lighting is increasing. Many producers are exploring ways to improve their current setups and are looking for clear, practical guidance.

This aligns with HATO's mission: Helping producers unlock the full genetic potential of their flocks through managing optimal lighting conditions. Emphasizing the importance of combining technology with education.

Supporting the industry means helping producers understand what to measure, what to adjust, and how those changes influence performance over time.