Daily Food for Thought  Think back on this past week and count how many times you ate a poultry product (chicken, turkey, etc.)  Now count any egg product (include things that contain eggs like cakes).  Once you get that number multiply it by 52.  That is how much you used in a year!

Poultry in Our Life Learning Targets: I can identify the different products that come from poultry used in daily life. I can evaluate the impact poultry has on the lifestyles and economy of the United States.

What do we use poultry for? Thanksgiving Turkey Feathers-Down pillows Eggs-Medicine Feathers-Fish lures Eggs- Angel Food Cake Chicken Nuggets

What types of poultry are there? Ratites-Ostriches, Emus Chickens Ducks GeeseTurkeys Game Birds

Pigeons Are Also Poultry There is a hobby called Pigeon Racing and hobbyists take it very seriously! The pigeons are released and use their “homing” instinct, to return home to their “lofts”. Pigeons are also known as “Thoroughbreds of the Sky”

Ratites Are Sometimes Considered Poultry Ostriches are raised for meat, feathers, eggs (food, collectibles) and leather. Emus are known for “emu oil”, meat, feathers, eggs (food, collectibles) and leather.

Chickens Chickens make up the largest sector of the poultry industry. Consumption of chicken in the U.S. is rising every year. Why? Chicken is LOW in fat, HIGH in protein and LOW in cholesterol when compared to meats such as pork and beef. There are several breeds of chicken used to produce different products and types of eggs.

Trends  The poultry industry in the U.S. started on family farms in the Midwest where grain production was concentrated.  The Southeast gained a competitive edge in the poultry industry because of the mild climate and vast pool of labor in that region.

Trends  Growth of the poultry industry is predicted to increase at a rate of 2 to 3 percent a year.  Broilers are now the number one meat by volume sold in the United States.

Trends  Although per capita egg consumption has decreased since 1944, total egg consumption has remained steady.

Trends  The turkey industry has changed from a bird production industry to a meat industry and is much more extensively turning the whole carcass into specialized meat products.  Boneless roasts, Sausage, Ham, Ground meat, Bologna, Hot dogs, Smoked meats.

BroilerBroiler- used mainly for meat. A broiler is a chicken is 6 to 7 weeks of age and weighs 4 pounds when it is sent to market. Poultry Terms to Know LayerLayer-a mature female chicken that produces eggs. Most can lay 300 eggs/year. PulletPullet- a young female chicken

CaponCapon- a male chicken that has been neutered/castrated, usually 5 to 7 months of age and weigh about 6 pounds. By castrating these males when they are 3 weeks old, their meat is more tender and more flavorful when the bird matures. Poultry Terms to Know Rooster/CockRooster/Cock- a mature male chicken CockerelCockerel- a male chicken that is less than 1 year old Spent henSpent hen- a hen that is no longer laying

Poultry Terms to Know Vertical Integration-raising, processing, and distributing poultry is now one continuous chain. A large company is composed of smaller companies that carry out all the processes from manufacturing to distributing. For example, Con Agra is one large company, but they hire growers, hatcheries, distributors, and processors. 1. Hatchery 2. Growout 3. Processing 4. Distribution Photos courtesy of USDA

Economic Advantages  The poultry industry provides for a quick turnover of capital.  Poultry markets are standardized and well established.  Poultry production may be a full time or part time occupation.

Career Opportunities  Production- Broilers, Eggs, Turkeys, Hatching eggs, Started-ready to lay pullets.  Equipment Suppliers  Hatcheries  Feed Manufacturers  Processing Plants

Career Opportunities  Packaging Plants  Veterinary Care  Transporters

Reflection  List three reasons that the poultry industry is a good career field. Include economic and lifestyle reasons.