ANSC 2053 -- Poultry and Eggs

What does poultry consist of in the United States?

A wide variety of domestic birds from several species

What are the commercial breeds of poultry in the United States?

Chicken, turkey, and some duck and geese

What is the second-largest animal sector in the United States?

Poultry

What are the three major segments of poultry?

Broilers, eggs, and turkeys

In what state is poultry the largest animal agriculture industry?

Louisiana

What country produces the most poultry?

China

What country is the largest producer of turkeys in the world?

United States

What percentage of eggs are consumed as fresh-shell eggs?

70%

What percentage of eggs are consumed in manufacturing products (cakes, pies, pasta, etc.)?

30%

Ducks are raised primarily for…

Primarily as meat

What style of business is the poultry industry?

Vertically integrated

What benefit does vertical integration provide?

Reduces production cost

What is vertical integration?

A large company overseeing smaller companies that carry out manufacturing and distribution

What is a mature female hen?

Hen

What is a mature male chicken?

Rooster

What is a young female chicken?

Pullet

What is a young male chicken?

Cockerel

What is a castrated male chicken?

Capon

What is a newborn chicken?

Chick

What is a male turkey?

Tom

What is a young turkey?

Poult

Def. of Layer

Hen in the physiological state of producing eggs regularly

Def. of Broiler

Chicken of either sex produced and used for meat purposes

What is the average marketing age for broiler chickens today?

6 to 7 weeks

Where is the broiler industry centered?

Southern and southeatern states

Why is the poultry industry located in southern and southeastern states?

Favorable climate, low-cost labor, and nearby population centers

How does a favorable climate help the poultry industry?

Reduces housing costs

How do nearby population centers help the poultry industry?

Provides a demand for the product

Egg production in large units requires…

Large capital investments

True or false: eggs within egg production are NEVER touched by human hands.

True

Why is the poultry egg industry distributed in a pattern much like that of the human population?

Eggs require less processing than broilers, and locally fresh eggs can be promoted and sold at a premium

What is the average number of laying hens and pullets in the US?

390 million birds

What is the total number of egg production in the US?

110 billion eggs

What are the top five broiler states?

Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas (GAANMT)

What are the top five egg-producing states?

Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas (IOIPT)

What are the four different classes of chickens?

American, Asiatic, English, and Mediterranean

Def. of Class

A group of birds developed in the same broad geogrpahical area

Def of Breed

Subdivision of a class with birds of a similar size and shape

Def. of Variety

Subdivision of a breed composed of birdsw tih the same feather color and type of comb

Turkey is primarily grown for…

Meat and White feathers

What are the two commercially important duck breeds?

White Pekin and Khaki Campbell

How do eggs benefit vegetable and pasta dishes?

Improve protein content

How do eggs benefit pastries and sauces?

Improve texture and appearance

What are the two most common egg laying breeds?

Single comb white leghorn and Hy-Line brown

What are the major structural components of eggs?

Yolk, Albumen, Shell membranes, Air cell, and Shell

What percentage of yolk is an egg's weight?

30%

Why is the yolk of the egg very dense in nutrients?

Because the yolk is very concentrated in lipids

What is the "germinal disc"?

A very small, white spot on the surface of the yolk

Does the germinal disc have any effect on consumption?

The germinal disc does not affect taste, functional properties, or nutritional value

What does the color of an egg's yolk depend on?

The diet of the layer; Beta-carotene

What is a common substance fed to chickens in order to enhance yolk color?

Marigold petals

True or False: Artificial color additives ARE permitted in egg yolks

False

What is the Albumen?

Egg whites

What primairly makes up the Albumen?

Water and proteins

What percentage of an egg's weight is the albumen?

~58%

What is the overall texture of the Albumen?

Differing viscosity, ranging from thick to thin (made up by the proteins present)

How does the shell membrane benefit the egg?

inner and outer membrances protect the egg from bacterial invasion

What is the shell membrance made up of?

Fibrous proteins (collagen-like), Glycosaminoglycans, Glycoproteins, Hyaluronic acid, and Sialic acid

What is an air cell in an egg?

A pocket of air between the two shell membranes, located at the large end of the egg

How does an air cell form?

Fresh laid egg cools --> components contract --> inner and outer membrance separate --> air cell forms

What is the purpose of the air cell?

Provides the chick with its "first air" for its first breath -- the chick needs an air cell to break out

What is an egg's shell made out of?

Calcium carbonate

What percentage of shell makes up an egg's weight?

12%

The shell of an egg is protected by the…

Cuticle or bloom

How do eggs biologically maximize offspring survival?

Laying eggs reduces the time needed to carry them internally

How do nutrients needed for the growth and development of the embryo reach chicks?

The nutrients are pre-packaged in the egg before it is laid, providing the chick with the needed nutrients

What is the target production of eggs by the time a laying hen reaches 100 weeks of age?

500 eggs

What are the two main components of an acvian reproductive system?

Ovary and Oviduct

What does the Ovary do?

Produces ova, the follicular growth and maturation until ovulation

What does the Oviduct do?

Completes formation of the egg

How does an avian's reproductive system function asymmetrically?

Only the left ovary and oviduct develop; The right ovary regresses during development

How many oocytes develop into mature ovulatory follicles?

250-500

Do chicks form new ova after hatching?

No; no new ova formed after hatching

What does hierarchy within follicle development mean?

Ensures one pre-ovulatory follicle per day

What are the four developmental stages of the follicles?

Primordial follicles --> Primary follicles --> Pre-hierarchal follicles --> Pre-ovulatory follicle

How does FSH benefit the ovarian function?

Regulates follicular growth

How does LH benefit ovarian function?

Regulates maturation and yolk accumulation of the pre-ovulatory follicles

How long is the ovulation cycle in modern layers?

24 hours

In older hens, what leads to ovarian tumors?

High ovulation rates

What causes egg movement?

Peristalsis

What is the Infundibulum?

Funnel-like extension of the oviduct where the ovum is released from the ovary

Where does fertilization occur (if sperm is present)?

In the Infundibulum

What is the Magnum?

The largest section of the oviduct (~13 inches long)

What is the albumen formation?

Egg white forms, providing antimicrobial properties

What is the Chalazae Formation?

Protein fibers that keep the yolk centered

Where do the Albumen Formation AND Chalazae Formation occur?

In the Magnum

What is the isthmus?

Slightly narrow part of the oviduct (~4 inches long)

Where does the formation of shell membrances and air space occur?

In the Isthmus

What occurs in the Uterus/Shell Gland?

Egg formation (Caused by the secretion of glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides, which calcify to form the shell)

How does an egg gain its shape?

In the uterus, the volume of egg white increases with hydration and provides a shape to the egg

What two components form the calcium carbonate (calcite) crystals used to makeup egg shells?

Calcium and Bicarbonate

In the shell gland, pigments are secreted by what?

Specialized cells

What is the final step in the Vagina?

Cuticle (waxy membrane or bloom) is deposited on the eggshell

What is being inspected in eggs?

Wholesomeness, presence of adulterants, and labeling

How are most eggs graded?

Their interior quality (by candling)

What does candling showcase?

The freshness or age of an egg

In aged eggs, the air cell becomes…

Wider

Freshness can also be determined by cracking an egg open and…

Measuring the height of the thick albumen

Is egg size related to grading?

No; egg size is not related to its grade

What is the protein properties of an egg?

Complete and life-sustaining