A Fresh Focus on Commercial Poultry at the 2026 Royal Show
Eggs in the breakfast pan, chicken on the dinner table — poultry is part of everyday life for many South Africans. But how much do we know about the farming behind these familiar foods?
At the 2026 Royal Show, visitors will have an opportunity to take a closer look, with a Commercial Poultry feature exploring the birds, skills and systems behind egg and chicken production.
Poultry will look a little different at this year’s Show. With the October dates falling during the breeding season for show birds, the traditional show-poultry exhibition will take a break, with show birds expected to return in 2027.
This year’s focus offers a fresh opportunity to discover another side of poultry farming: an industry that helps feed South Africa and creates opportunities for agricultural enterprise.
A closer look at layers and broilers
The Layer to Broiler Experience will introduce visitors to two distinct branches of poultry production: layers, which produce eggs, and broilers, which are raised for meat.
Live birds and displays showing different stages of broiler growth will help bring the process to life. Visitors can learn more about feeding, housing and management, and the practical considerations involved in raising poultry commercially.
The exhibit provides a chance for the public to connect everyday food with the agriculture that produces it. For emerging farmers and those considering poultry as a business, it offers an introduction to what running an enterprise involves.
Turning interest into opportunity
Knowing where to start can be one of the biggest challenges when exploring a new farming venture.
The KwaZulu-Natal Poultry Institute will be represented at the Show, offering information about training and courses for people interested in entering the industry or developing their existing knowledge.
Visitors will be able to find out more about the skills needed to manage a poultry enterprise, from small-scale production through to more established commercial operations.
The technology behind production
Alongside the live poultry feature, Big Dutchman will exhibit at the 2026 Royal Show, giving visitors an opportunity to explore equipment and housing systems used in modern poultry farming.
Together, the birds, training information and technology will provide a practical look at poultry production — and the planning, knowledge and care behind every egg and chicken that reaches our tables.
Discover the Layer to Broiler Experience at the 2026 Royal Show, from 7–11 October at the Royal Showgrounds at Tweedie, Howick.
