The Poultry Industry

What percentage of protein do chickens make up in Central/West African diets?

80-100%

What type of disease is the Avian Flu?

A zoonotic disease; spreads from animals to people

Why are vaccines not effective against the Avian Flu?

Virus mutates too quickly

What increases the transmission risk of avian flu?

Densely packed farms

What is the expected increase in poultry production from 2005-2050?

121%

What is the only place that does not have significantly high poultry production/consumption rate?

Africa

Why did the poultry industry experience an increase in production in the 1940’s?

Commercial expansions, including…

1. New breeds of chickens

2. Ability to sex chicks

3. New technology

4. Better nutrition

5. Egg candling

Which country has the biggest broiler industry?

U.S.

What is the largest commodity in the industry?

Broilers [69% of cash receipts]

Why is eating chicken beneficial health-wise?

1. Provides vital nutrients (Mg, K, Choline, Vitamin B, etc.)

2. Strengthens bones/helps build muscle

3. Eggs are nutrient rich

What states produced the most broilers and why?

Southern states because…

1. Better weather

2. Lower production costs

Important profit factors:

1. Market age

2. Market weight

3. Mortality rate

4. Feed conversion

Feed conversion

How much food used to feed the birds becomes meat available for the market

For maximum profit, do you want a shorter or longer market age?

Shorter market age

What caused an increase in broiler consumption?

1. More affordable

2. More accessible (year-round consumption)

3. Healthier (Less sat. fats and cholesterol)

4. New processing, packaging, and distributing methods

What industries make up the poultry industry as a whole?

Breeders, hatchery, growout, processing plant, feed mill, etc.

Why are broilers kept indoors/in cages?

1. Protection

2. Reducing disease

3. Efficiency

4. Land optimization

What do producers use to reduce the rate of cannibalism?

Dim lighting

How does dim lighting reduce cannibalism?

Reduces movement and causes birds to gain weight

At what point do hens reach peak egg production?

4-6 weeks after laying their first eggs

Approximately how many eggs do hens produce in their first year?

200 eggs

What is induced molting?

When producers limit feed and reduce light to cause hens to lose their feathers and stop laying

What is the purpose of induced molting?

To restart the egg-laying cycle and increase egg production

At what percentage of egg production do producers induce molting and why?

50% production

1. Control and optimize egg production and ensure all hens are at the same point in the cycle and producing at the same relative rate

2. Optimizes profit

Approximately how many hours of light are necessary to increase egg-laying and why?

14-15 hours

1. Hens produce eggs when the days are longer

How many turkey sales take place around Thanksgiving?

1/3 of all sales

What type of poultry requires artificial insemination for breeding and why?

Turkeys

1. Modern breeds of turkey have too much breast meat and are too big to breed properly

What are the major forms of poultry sold in China and Southeast Asia?

Ducks and geese

Value Added

The extra labor and/or processing needed to increase the price of the meat

Vertically Integrated

When a person and/or company owns all parts of the industry cycle

Cockarels/Pullets

Young chicks (M/F)

Capon

Castrated male

Bantam

Miniature breed

How many of the top broiler companies are in the U.S.?

4 - Tyson, Sanderson, Purdue, Koch

How is a modern white turkey different from a wild turkey?

1. Missing the feather and skin pigmentation gene

2. Lots of muscle and breast meat

What was the only meat animal domesticated in North America?

Turkeys

Why did selling chickens in parts (rather than whole) increase?

1. Fast food consumption

2. Automated processing

How old are hens when they first start laying eggs?

18 weeks

What is the percentage reached during peak egg production?

95%

How long does artificial molting take?

4-6 weeks

What percentage of producers are using the cage-free system?

30-40%

Do producers use artificial or natural lighting for laying hens?

Artificial lighting

What is the point of sexual maturity for chickens?

18 weeks