Poultry Industry

TermsRooster

Hen

Pullet

Chick

Capon

Poult

Tom

TermsRooster = intact male Chicken

Hen = mature Female (either)

Pullet = young female Chicken

Chick = baby Chicken

Capon = castrated male chicken

Poult = baby turkey

Tom = intact male Turkey

Poultry Production • Most poultry in the United States is produced

through vertical integration contracts with large commercial operations.

• Types of Poultry Operations

1.Egg Production

2.Broiler Production

3.Replacement Pullet Production

• Start at 13 min: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xMND9UBaSA

Broilers vs. Layers

What is the difference?

What do we have in NC?

Sandersonfarms.com

Egg Production(producing eggs for human consumption)

• Laying hens are typically confined to cages or a floor-pen system.

• Eggs are cleaned, graded and packed at the farm.

• The laying hens produce eggs for approximately 72 weeks and then they are then sold for meat once their production cycle is complete.

• Over ½ of laying hens are raised through vertical integration contracts.

Poultry Production • Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch: Egg Farm Hen House

- 8

• Eggs 101: Inside a Hen House - 27

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUN4mIfC4o0&list=PL50D2BF52B7CFD1DE

Broiler Production(poultry produced for meat consumption)

• Poultry are fed high quality feed to maximize growth.

• Hormones cannot be added according to USDA standards.

• A producer will raise several flocks of birds each year.

• Broilers are processed into cuts of meat and also value added products such as sandwich meat, pre-cooked products, etc.

• Approximately 99% of broilers are raised through vertical integration contracts.

Poultry Production

• Replacement Pullet Production- raising chickens to replace either egg production or broiler production operations.

We are at the top

We rank top five in both broilers and turkeys!

$1.5 Billion per year in Broilers

$.5 billion per year in Turkeys

We do not rank in layers

Industry SegmentsBreeder Flock

Hatchery

Grow Out

Processing Plant

Distribution

Rendering

Feed Mill

Further Processing

Only Place not completely Owned =

Contract Grower

Grow OutMost farms are contract growers

Farms buy day old Chicks and grow them to maturity, then sell them back to the company

Land and facilities = overhead cost

Paid based on weight gained

Success is with feed efficiency. Company wants to be sure that the grower is not wasting the feed provided.

Life Cycle - Chickens

Incubation period = 21 days

24 weeks to start laying eggs

Broilers processed at about 42 days (range of 35 - 72 days) or 3.5 - 8 pounds

Life Cycle - Turkeys

28 Day incubation period

start laying at 30 weeks

Processed at about 18 weeks (16 - 25) and 22 lbs for hens and 27 lbs for toms

Chicken Breeds

White leghorns

White

Lay white eggs

Most popular egg layer

http://elizabethritan.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/be-kind-to-your-fine-feathered-friends/

Chicken Breeds

Plymouth Rock

Broilers

White, or white and black

http://www.blurtit.com/q150884.html

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273471/plymouth-rock-thread/3550

Chicken breeds

Rhode Island Red

Red in color

Lay brown eggs

Where have we seen these before?

http://www.bestofcluck.com/blog/chicken-breed-rhode-island-red-and-white/

Chicken BreedsCommon Cross/Cornish Cross

Female liner - Plymouth Rock

Male liner - Cornish

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/iridescent/interesting/

Turkey Breeds

Broadbreasted Bronze Turkey

Black in Color

Turkey Breeds

Broadbreasted Large white turkeys

White in color

http://www.valleyofthemoonpoults.com/products

Turkey Breeds

Beltsville Small White turkeys

white in color and smaller in size

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/4/4-5/comparing_heritage_turkey_varieties.html