Poultry

2. Poultry

3. Poultry Basics • ‘Poultry’ usually refers to chickens and turkeys, but also includes ducks, geese, pheasant, quail, ostrich…. • Poultry 2nd highest meat consumed • Raised for • Meat • Feathers • Eggs

4. Chicken Terms • Rooster: males for breeding • Broilers: meat production – males or females • Capon: castrated male • Pullets: females, but not producing eggs yet • Hens: females that produce eggs • Chicks: babies

5. Chicken Industry • Replacement pullets • Raising chicks for egg production • Egg Production • Laying hens produce eggs • May be in confined cages or free-range • After production cycle, hens sold for meat • Broiler Production • Raising chickens (male or female) for meat • High quality rations fed for rapid & efficient gains • Capons produce more tender meat, but more expensive to castrate • Usually white; colored broilers have pigmented skin which is undesirable to consumers

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ7rrHYmFiQ

7. Turkey Terms • Tom: intact male • Hens: females • Poults: babies

8. Turkey Industry • 1. Brooding: raising poults • Housed with proper lighting & heat • Poults are debeaked, desnooded, and have toes clipped to prevent fighting & injury • 2. Meat Production • Confinement or free-range

9. Turkey Facts • Turkey native to North America • 1/3 all turkey sales during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkey Breeds • Broad Breasted Large White – most common for meat production • Broad Breasted Bronze • Beltsville Small White • Bourbon Red

10. Miscellaneous Poultry • Ducks – raised for meat and hunting • Meat ducks primarily raised on Long Island, New York • Pheasants – meat & hunting • Many pheasant farms can be seen around this area • Quail - meat & hunting • Ostrich – meat & leather • Popularity & demand rising • Geese – meat & feathers • ‘down’ feathers used in bedding & pillows