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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…
New breeds of chickens
Ability to sex chicks
New technology
Better nutrition
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?
Provides vital nutrients (Mg, K, Choline, Vitamin B, etc.)
Strengthens bones/helps build muscle
Eggs are nutrient rich
What states produced the most broilers and why?
Southern states because…
Better weather
Lower production costs
Important profit factors:
Market age
Market weight
Mortality rate
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?
More affordable
More accessible (year-round consumption)
Healthier (Less sat. fats and cholesterol)
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?
Protection
Reducing disease
Efficiency
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
Control and optimize egg production and ensure all hens are at the same point in the cycle and producing at the same relative rate
Optimizes profit
Approximately how many hours of light are necessary to increase egg-laying and why?
14-15 hours
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
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?
Missing the feather and skin pigmentation gene
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?
Fast food consumption
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
