1. Georgia’s poultry industry
August 2017

2. Global impact Worldwide poultry consumption of 32 lb/person
US consumes 91.3 lb/person
Average GA poultry farm produces enough chicken to feed 22,000 people 1 meal/day
Georgia exported 539,600 metric tons of broiler meat products in 2013
15% of total US broiler exports
$685 million
Port of Savannah moves approximately 1/3 of total waterborne poultry exports

3. Georgia’s Poultry Industry
Number 1 broiler producing state since 1997
Followed by Alabama and Arkansas
If GA were independent country, would be 7th largest poultry producer
Poultry represents 47% of Georgia’s agricultural industry
Row crops 44%
Livestock and dairy 7%

4. Georgia’s Daily Production
2014 daily production stats
29 million pounds broiler meat
9 million table eggs
5.5 million hatching eggs
59 Georgia counties have non-farm poultry facilities
Processing plant
Hatchery
Feed mill
Table egg processors

5. Poultry’s Impact on GA Economy
$38 billion contribution to GA economy
Farms, processing, further processing, and allied industry activities
For comparison, GA’s state budget is funded by $23.7 billion in state funds
138,000 Georgia jobs depend on industry
Directly or indirectly
$2.08 Billion in federal taxes
$1.30 Billion in state and local taxes
102 of 159 counties produce $1M or more in poultry farm level revenue per year

6. Why Georgia? Infrastructure Highway system Railroad Port of Savannah
1,249 Interstate miles
4,328 National Highway System miles
Railroad
2 Mainlines – 3,631 miles
23 Shortlines – 1,012 miles
Port of Savannah
5th largest port in US
55% growth in past 5 years

7. Poultry Terminology Pullets Breeders Broilers Commercial Layers
Immature breeder hen
Generally less than 25 weeks of age and not producing eggs
Breeders
Laying hens which produce eggs that are hatched for broiler production
Genetically selected for broiler performance traits
Broilers
Meat-type chickens raised for human consumption
Commercial Layers
Laying hens producing eggs for human consumption

8. Poultry Housing - General
Exteriors very similar
Equipment specific for pullets, breeders, broilers
Slight variances between integrators
Depends on bird size, placement density, etc.

9. Poultry Housing - Pullets
Smaller farms
Generally 2 or 3 houses
Designed to maximize bird uniformity
More feed space
Hardest houses to cashflow
Low volume
2 flocks per year
Trend toward retrofit broiler houses

10. Poultry Housing Pullets

11. Poultry Housing - Pullets

12. Poultry Housing - Pullets

13. Poultry Housing - Breeders
Most expensive housing
Upwards of $350,000 per house
Generally 2-4 houses per farm
Designed for chick production
Nests for egg production
Slats for feed, water, hen safety
Egg storage capabilities

14. Poultry Housing - Breeders

15. Poultry Housing - Breeders

16. Poultry Housing - Breeders

17. Poultry Housing - Breeders

18. Poultry Housing - Broilers
Largest farms
4+ houses
Designed to maximize growth and bird health
Wind speed
House tightness
Cooling systems
Cool pads
Fogging systems
Most variability between integrators
House size
House design

19. Poultry Housing - Broilers

20. Poultry Housing - Broilers

21. Poultry Housing - Broilers

22. Poultry Housing - Broilers

23. Poultry Housing Trends
Housing driven by financial changes
Larger farms to maximize cashflow
Balance between integrator specs and bank requirements
Aging housing replaced with new or retrofit housing
Customer driven
Shift toward larger houses
Integrator variability
“Mega House” stigma

24. Poultry Housing - Challenges
Community concerns
Odor
Ventilation improvements
Revised cleanout schedules
Traffic
Improved performance to minimize feed deliveries
More rural areas have weaker infrastructure
Loss of property value
Real or perceived?
Local ordinances
Must work with industry and community
Gordon County recent “success” from both community and industry perspective

25. Georgia’s Poultry Industry
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