POULTRY PRODUCTION

Poultry production refers to the keeping of domesticated birds for either domestic or commercial use. The primary products are the eggs and the meat. In some countries feathers are also of considerable importance. These birds include common chicken, turkeys, ducks and geese. Guinea fowls, quails and pigeons are also gaining importance as emerging poultry species.

POULTRY BREEDS/TYPES

There are hundreds of highly productive poultry breeds available around the world. Some of them are very famous for egg production, some are popular for meat production and some breeds are famous and popular for both meat and egg production. Poultry breeds are of three types, on the basis of their productivity. We have described the name and characteristics of some productive poultry breeds below.

Egg Productive Poultry Breeds (Layers)
The chickens raised for egg production are known as layer chickens. Almost all types of commercial layer poultry breeds start laying eggs within their five to six month of age. They continuously lay about 275 to 300 eggs per year. Some strain lay about 330 eggs per year. Some highly egg productive breeds are leghorn, minorca, ancona, fayoumi, isa brown, babcock, star cross, lohmann etc.

Comparatively weights less than other poultry breeds.
Gain sexual maturity earlier.
Less egg incubating trend.
Start laying eggs within their five to six month of age.
Converting efficiency of food to egg is very high.
Contain less fat in their body.
Egg producing power is very high.
Lay big sized eggs.

Meat Productive Poultry Breeds(Broilers)
This type of poultry breeds are used for only meat production purpose. Their meat become very soft and tasty. They weights about 2 to 2.5 kg within their 7 to 8 weeks of age, consuming about 4 kg food. They become suitable for marketing within 8 weeks. The worlds most popular broiler poultry breeds are starbro, plymouth rock, cornish, sussex, brahma, hy-line, rose broiler, asil, cochin etc.

Comparatively weights much than other poultry breeds.
Don’t incubate their eggs.
Food to meat converting efficiency is very high.
Grow very fast.
Contain much fat in their body.
Egg producing power is very low.
They become very big sized.

Egg and Meat Productive Poultry Breeds
Popular poultry breeds for both meat and egg production are new hampshire, australorp, rhode island red, plymouth etc. Characteristics of this types of poultry breeds are described below.