Commercial Poultry Industry Exam Review

Exam Review Reminder

  • Exam Date: Wednesday at 8 AM, closing Thursday at 8 AM.
  • Exam Format: Multiple choice, true/false, short answer, fill in the blank, matching.

History of Commercial Poultry Industry

  • Meat Consumption Changes:
    • Pre-WWII: Dual purpose birds for meat and eggs.
    • Post-WWII: Clear separation of meat and egg production; significant increase in commercialization.
  • Vertical Integration:
    • Definition: Ownership of all stages of production by one entity.
    • Benefit: Eliminates middlemen, improving efficiency in poultry production.

Improvements Post-WWII

  • Housing:
    • Indoor housing increases environmental control.
  • Feeding:
    • Automation in feeding processes; least-cost feed formulation ensures nutrient requirements are met affordably.
  • Breeding/Genetics:
    • Focused genetic selection for meat vs. egg production.

Poultry Production Statistics

  • Top States for Broiler Production:
    • 1st: Georgia
    • 5th: Texas
  • Top Companies in Poultry Industry:
    • Tyson Foods (1st), Pilgrim's Pride (2nd), Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Mount Air Farms, Purdue Foods.

Poultry Meat Products

  • Forms of meat sold include whole, cut-up parts, and further processed products (e.g., chicken nuggets).
  • Value added through convenience in processing.

Chicken of Tomorrow Contest

  • Aimed to find the best meat chicken in the 1940s.
  • Resulted in the Cornish Cross breed, foundational for modern broiler industry.
  • Winner: Charles Vantris (Cobb Vantris).

Poultry Processing and Marketing

  • **Processing Terms:
    • New York dressed:** Poultry prepared for market with head, feet, and internal viscera included.
    • Trends show decreased consumption of whole birds in favor of parts.
  • Feed Costs:
    • 70% of poultry production costs attributed to feed.

Complex Site Selection Criteria

  • Factors influencing site selection:
    • Unemployment rate, terrain, proximity to feed mills, community attitude, and initial cost.
    • Importance of infrastructure: railroads, treatment facilities.

Labor Requirements

  • Need for both skilled (managers, technicians) and unskilled (hourly production staff).

Contract Growers

  • Financial responsibilities primarily on growers (e.g., costs for new barns approximately $300,000, typically paid off in 12-15 years).
  • Contract growers earn bonuses based on performance metrics (e.g., low mortality rates, better feed conversion ratios).

Environmental Considerations

  • Importance of regulations for waste disposal and environmental management in poultry production sites.

Poultry Management and Health

  • Role of complex manager overseeing both live production and processing.
  • Effective biosecurity practices crucial for disease prevention.
  • Importance of temperature management in poultry housing for preventing respiratory issues and maintaining health.

Feeding and Nutrition

  • Feed Types: Pellet, crumble, mash.
  • Crucial ingredients: corn and soybean.
  • Importance of phase feeding to match nutrient requirements as birds grow.

Poultry Breeding and Myopathies

  • Breeding Definitions: Random mating, inbreeding, line breeding, and modern practices like four-way crossbreeding.
  • Common Myopathies: Deep pectoral myopathy, wooden breast, white striping, spaghetti meat; associated with growth rates and environmental factors.

Disease Management

  • Fungal Diseases: Aflatoxicosis, aspergillosis (Bruder’s pneumonia), thrush/sauerkraut.
  • Protozoal Diseases: Most lack maternal protection; prevention through drug rotation.
  • Coccidiosis Management: Rotating drugs is key to prevention.

Exam Preparation Tips

  • Focus on understanding key concepts related to production management, nutritional requirements, and historical perspectives in poultry.
  • Be prepared for true/false statements regarding regulatory standards, production processes, and health issues in poultry management.