First Edition of the ESA Efficiency Series
Background on Jeremy
Jeremy Prinzen is an Ontario chicken farmer with deep roots in poultry production and innovation. His family has been tied to progress in ventilation for decades — his Uncle Dick purchased one of the very first six NTUs ever installed in Ontario. That legacy of early adoption and forward-thinking continues today, as Jeremy works to bring the same values of efficiency, sustainability, and education to his own farm and to the broader poultry community. http://www.prinzenpoultry.ca
The Fast 5 Q&A
Jim Eadie, Poultry Producer: Ventilation is often called the “hidden driver” of poultry production. From your perspective, why is it so critical to both efficiency and animal welfare on the farm?
Jeremy Prinzen: Having a great ventilation setup is key to bird health and utilizing energy inputs at the right time.
Jim Eadie, Poultry Producer: Your family has been connected to ventilation innovation since the beginning, when your Uncle Dick purchased one of the first six NTUs in Ontario. How has that early start shaped the way you view barn management and the importance of investing in the right systems?
Jeremy Prinzen: I don’t think my view on barn management has changed. I look for systems that give me control over what is happening in the barn. Products that companies will stand behind and provide great support that begin at installation and continue throughout the years.
Jim Eadie, Poultry Producer: Inefficient barns don’t just cost energy — they often cost producers in feed and performance. How do you see the connection between better ventilation, feed savings, and long-term profitability?
Jeremy Prinzen: Under ventilating barns increases humidity, CO2, and ammonia. All these contribute to inefficiencies during grow-out. You may save some money on energy inputs, but your return is lower. Over ventilating also increases your input cost. Having an ESA paired with a good controller, like Maximus, gives you full control over the barn environment and will maximize your profits.
Jim Eadie, Poultry Producer: ESA puts a strong focus on education and sustainable solutions rather than quick fixes. How do you see that approach helping producers in Ontario make smarter long-term decisions?
Jeremy Prinzen: As a broiler producer, there is a lot of value in ESA’s focus on education and long-term solutions. In our barns there’s always pressure to fix problems quickly — whether it’s bird health, feed efficiency, or energy costs. But if you are always chasing quick fixes, you end up dealing with the same issues again and again. ESA gives you the tools to understand what is really driving the problem and how to prevent it. That means healthier birds, more efficient use of resources, and a farm that is better set up for the future.
Jim Eadie, Poultry Producer: Looking ahead, what advice would you give to other poultry producers who want to modernize their barns — not just for today, but to be future-ready in efficiency and sustainability?
Jeremy Prinzen: Producers need to see where companies or products started, and where they are now. With ESA, they have been focused on continuous improvements to their product. As more research is done on ventilation and efficiencies, farmers need a product that can adapt with both the hardware and software. Producers must invest with the future in mind.
This interview is part of the ESA Efficiency Series: Fast 5. To learn more about ESA’s approach to poultry barn ventilation and energy efficiency, visit https://esaseries.com/
info@esaseries.com 855-573-2877
