1. Animal, Plant & Soil Science
Lesson C7-10
The Poultry Industry

2. Interest Approach
Display eggs on a safe surface to show the different colors, grades, and weight classes. Start a discussion by asking students to think of reasons that the eggs may be different.

3. Objectives
List and briefly describe each of the major birds classified as poultry.
Define terms used to describe poultry, and identify the external parts of poultry.
Compare and contrast the classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens.

4. Objectives
Compare and contrast the popular breeds of turkeys, ducks, and geese.
Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of poultry production.
Identify leading states and nations in poultry production and determine major export and import markets for the United States.

5. Objectives
Examine the impact of the poultry industry on the U.S. and Illinois economies.

6. What are the major birds classified as poultry?
Poultry is the group name for all domesticated birds used for meat, eggs, or feathers.
Poultry is also referred to as birds and fowl.
These birds have wings, backbones, and feathers; some can even swim.
A. The main group of poultry is chickens.
Chickens are the largest segment of the poultry industry.
These birds are raised for meat and eggs.
There are many types and breeds of chickens.
Many chickens are raised in commercial settings.

7. What are the major birds classified as poultry?
B. Turkeys are next largest division of the poultry industry.
Turkeys are raised for meat products.
The white meat from turkeys is widely consumed in the United States.
C. The third sector of the poultry industry is ducks.
Meat, eggs, down, and feathers are the main products.
Down is the soft, feathery covering that grows under the feathers.
Ducks and duck products are not used or consumed as much as chickens and turkeys in the United States.

8. What are the major birds classified as poultry?
D. Geese are raised for several reasons.
Meat, eggs, feathers, and down are the main products.
Geese provide specialized meat/food products for holiday occasions.
They are also used for weeding fields.
E. Some other birds are classified as poultry but are not produced in numbers as large as the birds mentioned above.
These include peafowl, swans, ratites, and guinea fowl.
Several species are raised for specialized products.

9. To discuss poultry, familiarity with common terms is important.
What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?
To discuss poultry, familiarity with common terms is important.
A. Chickens are classified as layers or broilers.
Layers are chickens used to produce large quantities of eggs.
Eggs are used for food and to produce chicks.

10. What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?
Spent hens are hens that are no longer laying.
These hens will go to the meat market and will be used for processed foods.
Soups and baked chicken commonly use meat from spent hens.
Broilers are six- to seven-week-old chickens weighing about 4 pounds that are used for meat because they are tender.

11. B. Chickens are grouped by sex and age.
What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?
B. Chickens are grouped by sex and age.
A baby chicken of either sex is a chick.
A young male chicken is a cockerel.
A castrated (neutered) male chicken is a capon.
A mature male chicken is a rooster.
A young female chicken is a pullet.
A mature female chicken is a hen, as is a mature female duck, turkey, or pheasant.
A miniature chicken is a bantam.
A group of chickens is a flock.

12. C. Turkeys are also grouped by sex and age.
What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?
C. Turkeys are also grouped by sex and age.
An adult male turkey is a tom or a gobbler.
A mature female is a hen.
A young turkey of either sex is a poult.
Commonly, a young turkey is called either a tom poult or a hen poult.
A group of turkeys is a flock.

13. D. Ducks have down that grows under the feathers.
What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?
D. Ducks have down that grows under the feathers.
A drake is a mature male duck.
A hen is a mature female duck.
A duckling is a young duck of either sex.
E. A young goose is a gosling.
A male goose at maturity is a gander.
A female goose at maturity is a goose or a hen.
When not flying, a group of geese is a gaggle.

14. What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?
F. Externally, most birds are very similar.
Features on the head and neck help identify them.
Breeds of birds have different colored shanks, and pigments are different if the hen has been laying eggs.
Ducks and geese live around water and can swim.
Thus, the external structures of their feet are different from those of chickens and turkeys, which cannot swim.
Heads of poultry can differentiate birds.
Male birds typically will have larger head features, such as the knob in geese, the comb in chickens, and the beard in turkeys.

15. What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?

16. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
There are more than 300 breeds and varieties of chickens.
A breed is a group of animals of the same origin with similar characteristics that differentiate them from other breeds within the same species.
A variety is a subdivision of a breed.
With poultry, a variety may have a distinguishing color, a particular comb size or type, or the presence of a beard.

17. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
A strain is a population within a variety that possesses common traits.
Commercial poultry producers use strains for specific purposes in production.
A group of birds developed in the same geographic area is categorized as a particular class.
In the United States, chickens are commonly grouped into four main classes.
The classes are Mediterranean, American, English, and Asiatic.

18. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
A. Common Mediterranean breeds:
1. The Leghorn is a very common breed used for egg laying.
Leghorns prefer to wander around and are good foragers.
This breed is also known for its ability to take flight.
Leghorns produce white eggs.
They express yellow skin, yellow shanks, white earlobes, and reddish-bay eyes.
The Leghorn is the most popular breed, with 12 common varieties and the highest production numbers in the United States.
The White Leghorn is a popular variety.

19. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
2. The Minorca is the largest of the Mediterranean breeds.
It has a long tail and large, wide feathers.
The Minorca also has a large comb.
The Black Minorca is a popular variety.
Minorcas produce white eggs.
They express white skin, dark slate shanks, white earlobes, and brown eyes.
Because of their narrow bodies, they are typically not raised for their meat.

20. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
3. The Andalusian has a distinctive blue color produced by the breeding of a black Andalusian and a white Andalusian.
Birds of this breed are small in frame, active, and rarely seen in large numbers.
They produce white eggs.
They express white skin; dark, slaty blue shanks; white earlobes; and reddish-bay eyes.
Blue Andalusian birds are typically raised for their beauty and ornamental purposes.

21. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
B. Common American breeds:
1. The Plymouth Rock is used for meat and egg production.
It expresses a broad back and a deep, full breast.
Other external characteristics include yellow skin, yellow shanks, red earlobes, and reddish-bay eyes.
Females are primarily used as commercial broilers.
Popular varieties include the Barred Plymouth Rock and the White Plymouth Rock.
The breed lays brown eggs.

22. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
2. The New Hampshire is known as a medium-sized meat chicken.
It is an average egg layer.
New Hampshires are aggressive chickens and make good mothers.
Their color is a medium to light red.
They lay brown eggs.
Hampshires have yellow skin, yellow shanks, red earlobes, and reddish-bay eyes.

23. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
3. The Rhode Island Red has two varieties: single and rose comb.
It is known for being a hardy bird with the ability to produce eggs despite a poor diet and poor housing.
The Rhode Island Red is a dual-purpose breed; that is, it is raised for meat and eggs.
The breed is dark red and lays brown eggs.
Rhode Island Reds have yellow skin, yellow shanks, red earlobes, and reddish-bay eyes.

24. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
C. Common English breeds:
1. The Cornish chicken is known as the ultimate meat bird.
The arrangement and development of muscles give the carcass excellent shape.
There are four common varieties of Cornish chickens: Dark, White, White Laced Red, and Buff.
The Cornish chicken has a broad body and widely spaced legs.
It does not perform well in the cold and needs protection.
Cornish chickens like to move around and need space to exercise and develop muscles.
They lay brown eggs.

25. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
2. The Australorp chicken is a good layer and considered one of the best dual-purpose birds.
It is black with dark eyes.
The breed lays tinted eggs.
Australorp chickens are used in the production of crossbreds.

26. What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?
D. Common Asiatic breeds:
1. The Brahma is commonly used for meat production and crossbreeding purposes.
Brahmas lay brown eggs.
There are three varieties of Brahmas: Light, Dark, and Buff. The Brahma has a large structure and yet is gentle.
It possesses an intricate color pattern.
2. The Cochin is another Asiatic breed.
There are four varieties: Black, Buff, Partridge, and White.
Cochins have yellow skin and lay brown eggs.
They are known for their excellent mothering ability and are typically used as ornamental birds.
In appearance, the Cochin is described as a big, fluffy ball of feathers.

27. What are different breeds of turkeys, ducks, and geese?
Knowing breeds of poultry is important when one is deciding what types of birds to raise on a farm.
A. There are several varieties of turkeys.
These varieties are the Bronze, Narragansett, Black, Slate, Bourbon Red, Royal Palm, and White.
Most turkeys raised for meat are of the White variety.
The poultry industry has pushed for large, white turkeys for meat production.
The Broad-Breasted Large White is the most commonly grown bird in the United States.
It was developed from crosses.
The males have black beards, and all birds have white feet, beaks, and shanks.

28. What are different breeds of turkeys, ducks, and geese?
B. Some duck breeds are used for meat and others for eggs.
1. Duck breeds used for meat include the Call, Swedish, Rouen, White Pekin, Aylesbury, Muscovy, and Cayuga.
The White Pekin is the most commonly used bird for meat production in the United States.
White Pekins, which originated in China, weigh 8 pounds at maturity.
They produce excellent carcasses and have yellow skin with white feathers.
They are nervous birds that produce white-tinted eggs.
2. Egg-laying breeds include the Khaki Campbell and the Indian Runner.
The Khaki Campbell is used in some countries for commercial egg production.

29. What are different breeds of turkeys, ducks, and geese?
C. Geese raised in the United States are used for meat, eggs, feathers, down, and the weeding of crops.
The five most common breeds of geese are the Toulouse, Embden, White Chinese, Pilgrim, and African.
The Toulouse, Embden, White Chinese, and Pilgrim are good for meat production purposes.
Toulouse geese are gray in color and are the largest in size.
Embden and White Chinese geese are considered the best of the medium-sized carcasses, have rapid growth rates, and have heavy coats of white or nearly white feathers.
Pilgrim males are creamy white, whereas the females are olive-gray.

30. What are the advantages and disadvantages of poultry production?
Poultry production has several advantages and disadvantages
A. The advantages of raising poultry are:
1. Capital investment is usually low compared with that of other livestock operations.
In controlled environment operations, because of the birds’ size, little land or space in buildings is required.
2. Caged birds decrease labor for the producer.
3. Current genetics in all breeds have improved over the years, allowing for better meat and egg production.
4. The opportunity exists to contract with a large company.

31. What are the advantages and disadvantages of poultry production?
5. Producers provide wholesome poultry products to the consumer.
6. Jobs are provided throughout the poultry industry.
7. Small flocks are still present, just not as many as 50 years ago.
These operations serve as hobby farms.
They have opportunities in niche markets for free-range birds.
8. Poultry provides interest to FFA and 4-H projects.

32. What are the advantages and disadvantages of poultry production?
B. The disadvantages of raising poultry are:
1. Because of vertical integration, large operations have taken control of production in many segments of the poultry industry.
2. Large operations require housing and equipment.
Capital investment increases.
3. Disease outbreaks can destroy an entire flock.
4. Nutritional diseases and deficiencies are common in poultry.
Good nutrition management is critical in poultry production.
5. A small operation’s labor is higher than in other livestock ventures because of the cost of gathering eggs.

33. What are the leading states and nations in poultry production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
Statistics show the leading states and nations in poultry production and the major export and import markets for the United States.
A. The leading states, based on poultry/egg cash receipts for 2006, are the following: (1) Georgia, (2) Arkansas, (3) North Carolina, (4) Alabama, (5) Mississippi, (6) Texas, (7) California, (8) Missouri, (9) Virginia, (10) South Carolina.
Illinois ranks 33rd.

34. What are the leading states and nations in poultry production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
The top 10 egg-producing states (2005) are the following: (1) Iowa, (2) Ohio, (3) Indiana, (4) Pennsylvania, (5) California, (6) Texas, (7) Nebraska, (8) Florida, (9) Minnesota, (10) Georgia.

35. What are the leading states and nations in poultry production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
B. The top 10 states in production of young meat chickens for harvest (2006) are the following: (1) Georgia, (2) Arkansas, (3) Alabama, (4) North Carolina, (5) Mississippi, (6) Texas, (7) Delaware, (8) Missouri, (9) South Carolina, (10) Virginia.
The top 10 turkey-producing states (2007) are the following: (1) Minnesota, (2) North Carolina, (3) Arkansas, (4) Virginia, (5) Missouri, (6) California, (7) Indiana, (8) Pennsylvania, (9) Iowa, (10) South Carolina.
California is the leader in organic poultry production, while New York is second.

36. What are the leading states and nations in poultry production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
C. The leading chicken-producing nations (2005) are the following: (1) United States, (2) China, (3) European Union, (4) United Kingdom, (5) France, (6) Spain, (7) Poland, (8) Brazil, (9) Mexico, (10) India.
The leading nations in hen egg production (2005) are the following: (1) China, (2) United States, (3) India, (4) Japan, (5) Russia, (6) Mexico, (7) Brazil, (8) France, (9) Indonesia, (10) Turkey.

37. What are the leading states and nations in poultry production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
D. The leading nations in turkey meat production (2003) are the following: (1) United States, (2) France, (3) Germany, (4) Italy, (5) United Kingdom.
The leading nations in duck meat production (2003) are the following: (1) China, (2) France, (3) India, (4) Vietnam, (5) Thailand.
The leading nations in goose meat production (2003) are the following: (1) China, (2) Hungary, (3) Egypt, (4) Poland, (5) Serbia.

38. What are the leading states and nations in poultry production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
E. The leading U.S. broiler export markets (2006) are the following: (1) Russia, (2) China, (3) Mexico, (4) Canada, (5) Turkey, (6) Angola, (7) Lithuania, (8) Cuba, (9) Ukraine, (10) Taiwan.
The leading U.S. turkey export markets (2006) are the following: (1) Mexico, (2) China, (3) Russia, (4) Canada, (5) Hong Kong, (6) Taiwan, (7) Panama, (8) Greece, (9) Korea, (10) Haiti.
Japan is the largest market for egg product exports.
Canada and Mexico are also markets for egg product exports. U.S. poultry imports are only a very small percentage compared with exports.
The major supplier is Canada.

39. How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?
The poultry industry has gone through major changes in the past several years.
Vertical integration has allowed the poultry industry to increase large-sized farms and produce more poultry products by reducing labor and improving overall efficiency.
The poultry industry has also gained acceptance from health-conscious Americans, who eat more chicken because of its leanness and nutritional values.

40. How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?
A. Approximately 99 percent of all broilers are produced under contract.
Company-owned farms have allowed American poultry producers to reduce costs and improve efficiency through scientific advancements, improved technology, and greater management/health control of birds.
All stages are controlled to utilize resources and facilities with maximum efficiency in the production of more uniform birds.
Controlled environmental buildings have allowed improved feed conversions and better livability.

41. How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?
B. Avian influenza has had a huge impact on the poultry industry and will continue to do so.
Poultry industry groups continue to educate the public and media to ensure the safety and quality of U.S. poultry meat and egg products.
Poultry imports to the United States are minimal, with Canada being our main supplier.
As global markets continue to rebound from 2004 avian influenza and disease outbreaks, the United States continues to be a huge exporter of quality, healthy poultry products.

42. How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?
C. Poultry niche markets are becoming popular in urban areas.
The demand for free-range, antibiotic-free, and/or organic birds/eggs is growing.
Organic consumers want more poultry products.
Specialized farms are growing in numbers to meet the demand.
Efficiency factors are critical in specialized production, which challenges the industry and the producer.

43. How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?
D. Currently, Americans consume about pounds of chicken per person per year, making poultry a very popular selection for the dinner table.
The United States produces about 75 billion eggs per year.
That is about 10 percent of the world egg supply.
The poultry industry is important to the U.S. economy.

44. How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?
As the poultry industry continues to provide high quality meat and egg products to Americans, demands for poultry products will stay strong and exports will continue to rise.
Poultry industry groups, like the National Chicken Council and the American Egg Board, will have to meet the challenges of continuing education to consumers and producers.

45. How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?
E. Illinois’ leading commodities are traditionally corn, soybeans, hogs, and cattle.
Chicken/eggs are ninth on the 2006 cash receipts listings for Illinois.
Poultry production and poultry products are essential parts of Illinois agriculture.
Just as poultry producers continue to meet challenges on the national front, Illinois producers will also have to deal with the stresses and threats of animal diseases.

46. Review What are the major birds classified as poultry?
What are the proper terms used in describing poultry, and what are the external parts of poultry?
What are the different classes, breeds, and varieties of chickens?

47. Review What are different breeds of turkeys, ducks, and geese?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of poultry production?

48. Review
What are the leading states and nations in poultry production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?
How does the poultry industry affect the U.S. and Illinois economies?