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Poultry Production and Its Significance for Farms

Poultry Basics

Poultry is the commercial or domestic production, raising and sale of breeds of domesticated birds used for meat and egg production, or for sale of their body parts (i.e., meat, eggs, feathers or down). Commonly, the term poultry is used for chickens.

Poultry farming is broadly categorized into three main production systems:

• Layer Production: The management of the hens through the life cycle from hatch to laying age to produce the maximum number of high quality eggs.

Broiler Production:* Production of slaughter chickens with a high density of production, so that the meat quickly produces in a short time of production.

Role of Poultry Production in Agriculture

Role to Play in Feeding the World P a uptry is the backone of world agricultural production, contributing to its economic, nutritional and environmental impacts:

1. High-Value Food and Protein Security

The cheapest, most available, and most nutritious source of complete, high-quality animal protein in the world today is poultry meat and eggs. In addition to being rich in digestible essential amino acids, it's full of other nutrients including vitamin B12, choline, and minerals needed to support developing bodies and minds. It is also much less constrained by religious and cultural restrictions than other meat.

1. High Feed Conversion Rate & Quick Success

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) – How efficient is the farm in converting feed into the bits of protein you eat (carcasses)? Poultry birds are converted into carcases at a seriously much greater rate than cattle or sheep – broilers don't have a six to eight week growth period (or 18-20 weeks before they start laying eggs).

1. Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods

But, the greatest employment created by the poultry industry are in the value chains of the direct and indirect Agribusiness sectors which includes poultry farmers, poultry feed manufacturers, veterinarians, processing, packaging, marketing and other human employment aspects of the industry. Small scale poultry farming-family sectors in the rural areas, women, small-holders can occur on small land areas with varied levels of capital investment.

1. Integrated Farming and Nutrient Recycling

Crop-livestock integration is an important component of any sustainable cropping system. Poultry manure is one of the most valuable organic fertilisers and has a high amount of nutrients. It can be applied in the field to increase plant yields while improving soil fertility and health, whilst reducing expensive inputs of inorganic fertiliser.

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