1. Livestock Production Ms. Boyt
The Poultry Industry
Livestock Production
Ms. Boyt

2. Today we will… Define common terms used in the poultry industry.
Distinguish between breeds of commercial chickens and turkeys
Categorize poultry according to their uses.
Explain the stages of commercial chicken production.

3. Poultry
Domesticated fowl, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, or geese, raised for meat and/or eggs

4. Common Terminology Chick Poult Pullet Hen Cockerel Capon Rooster Tom
Layer
Broiler

5. A young chicken of either sex

6. Young poultry of either sex

7. Hen
Mature female chicken

8. Pullet
Young female chicken

9. Cockerel
Young Male Chicken

10. Castrated male chicken
Capon
Castrated male chicken

11. Rooster
Mature male chicken

12. Tom
Mature male turkey

13. Hen that is kept for egg production
Layer
Hen that is kept for egg production

14. Young chicken of either sex marketed for meat
Broiler
Young chicken of either sex marketed for meat

15. Broilers Raised for their meat in large poultry houses
Marketed at 6 to 8 weeks of age
Weigh 6 to 8 pounds when marketed
9 billion broilers produced each year
37 billions pounds of chicken marketed

16. Characteristics of Broiler Breeds
Grow faster and larger
More disease resistant
Larger breast meet yield
More efficient feed conversion

17. Broiler Breeds White Cornish White Plymouth Rock Cornish Cross
Very broad and meaty chest
White Plymouth Rock
Docile and dual purpose
Cornish Cross
Can grow to 4 to 5 pounds in 6 weeks

18. Broiler Breeds
Cornish Cross
White Cornish
White Plymouth Rock

19. Turkey Production 45 Million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving
Million turkeys raised
Processed at weeks

20. Broad Breasted White Most common commercial turkey breed
Shorter breastbone and legs than natural turkeys
Produce more breast meat
Grow faster
White feathers (pin feathers)
Less visible on product

21. The Poultry Industry
There are many segments of the poultry industry. These segments are all interlinked and often owned by the same company. This type of ownership is called vertical integration.

22. Vertical Integration
Allows for maximum control over products produced.
Much like a ladder as each step relies on the step below to supply what it needs.
Allows for products to be produced efficiently and of high quality.

23. Vertical Integration of the Chicken Industry

24. Breeder Flock
Develop and reproduce strains of chicken that meet the requirements of chicken producer/processing companies
Aim to achieve desirable characteristics such as abundant white meat and efficient feed conversion.
Breeder chicks with the appropriate mix of desirable characteristics are then sold to integrated chicken firms.

25. Feed Mill
Convert raw materials into finished feed according to specific formulas.
Produce about 4-5 formulas to feed all of the different nutrition stages of chickens

26. Breeder House Raise breeder chicks to adult birds
Offspring of breeder parents will be raised to become broilers for the market

27. Hatchery Fertilized eggs are placed in incubators
Carefully monitored to ensure proper temperature and humidity
Towards end of incubation, eggs are placed in hatching trays

28. Broiler Farm
Newly hatched chicks are transported to farms where farmers raise them to market weight
Chicks reach market weight in 6-7 weeks and are then transported to the processor

29. Processing Plant
Harvests birds by humane standards and are inspected by the USDA
Carcasses are chilled to limit growth of bacteria
Carcasses are then either distributed whole, cut up into parts, or further processed (cooked, marinated, etc.)

30. Distribution
Chicken products are transported from processing plants to grocery stores, restaurants, and other consumers

31. Tell me what you know… What is a broiler?
What are common breeds used for broiler production?
What is the most common breed used for turkey production?
Why have commercial poultry been selected to have white feathers?
What is vertical integrations and its benefits?
What are the stages of commercial poultry production?

32. Today we… Defined common terms used in the poultry industry.
Distinguished between breeds of commercial chickens and turkeys.
Categorized poultry according to their uses.
Explained the stages of commercial chicken production.