Sollio Agriculture team: Meet Mathieu Roberge

Mathieu Roberge joined Sollio Agriculture as a breeding farm foreperson and technical advisor two years ago, bringing with him 20 years of experience in poultry. Drawing on that background, he’s already achieving what he set out to do: improve flock performance.

Question: What exactly does a breeding farm foreperson and technical advisor do?
Answer: I manage the poultry breeding farms owned by Sollio Agriculture and its subsidiary, Couvoir Côté. They’re where we produce the eggs we send to our hatcheries. I supervise the staff, manage the flocks, visit the sites to make sure everything’s up to code, train the supervisors, look for ways we can improve, recommend certain investments, and so on.

Question: Is there an achievement you’re particularly proud of?
Answer: Everything to do with farm management has improved a lot in the past two years. We have meetings and keep a close eye on things. Bird mortality is down, the number of chicks per hen is up, and egg quality is improving.

Question: What motivates you the most in your career at Sollio Agriculture?
Answer: For one thing, there’s the challenge of striving for better and better results with the flocks. There’s also the fact that, at Sollio Agriculture, if something happens, my point of view is valued and I’m given the freedom to respond in the way I see fit.

Question: Which company value inspires you the most?
Answer: Collaboration and teamwork, for sure! I’d even say friendliness. That’s how we keep getting better. For example, if I want to improve something to do with feed, I call Alex (poultry nutritionist) and we make it happen. Everybody works together.

Question: Continuing with some rapid-fire questions. What’s something about you that might surprise people?
Answer: I’m a former musician! I’m retired now, but I used to play bass in bands. I played at festivals, in bars… One of the bands I played with was a Nickelback tribute band.

Question: If you could do another job for a day, what would it be?
Answer: I’d trade places with a soccer player.

Question: How would your best friend describe you?
Answer: As a guy who loves to have fun. I’m pretty much down for whatever—sports, travel, spending time in nature. I’m a real simple guy. Give me a bonfire and a barbecue, and I’ll be happy!

Question: If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Answer: I listen to music all day long, so it’s hard to choose! I’d have to say… What Makes You Country by Luke Bryan.

Question: What’s your dream travel destination?
Answer: Nashville and Texas. I love country!

Question: What’s your favourite food?
Answer: Fondue.

Question: Who’s your most inspiring colleague?
Answer: Daniel Gagnon, my maintenance officer at Saint-Jude. He always comes through, even when he’s on vacation. He’s not afraid of hard work, and he really looks out for everyone.

Question: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Answer: Stop trying to do everything all at once. Take it one step at a time. Take the time to do things right.

Question: And what advice would you give new employees starting out at Sollio Agriculture?
Answer: When you’re working with livestock, you’re on the clock 24/7. It never stops. So you have to be passionate about what you do and run the farm as if it were your own.