1. Identifying Breeds of Poultry

2. Poultry Terms Find your “Animal Terms Chart”
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3. Poultry No breed registries for poultry unlike other farm animals.
Most commercial producers develop their own “breeds” through crossbreeding different strains/breeds.

4. Breeds, Varieties, Types & Classes
Breed- group of related fowl that breed true for a specific trait
Type- purpose for which it is breed (meat or egg type)
Classes- geographic origin (Mediterranean, American, English and Asiatic)

5. Egg Producers Layers- chickens that produce eggs
White egg producers- small in size
White Leghorns- white plumage
Brown egg producers- larger birds that are not as economical as Leghorns
Rhode Island Reds- dark red plumage
New Hampshires- red plumage
Others: Dominique, Brahmas, etc.

6. White Leghorns

7. Rhode Island Red

8. Dominique
Breeds:

9. Egg Production Operations
Egg Production- producing eggs for human consumption
Laying hens are typically confined to cages or a floor-pen system.
Eggs are cleaned, graded and packed at the farm.
Laying hens produce eggs for approximately 72 weeks and then they are then sold for meat once their production cycle is complete.
Over ½ of laying hens are raised through vertical integration contracts.

10. Layer Cages

12. Meat Producers Chickens used for meat production are called Broilers
Birds used for meat production are usually commercial crosses
Examples: Plymouth Rock
Common Cross for Broilers- Plymouth Rock (female) x Cornish (male)

13. Plymouth Rock
White
Barred

14. Meat Production Operations
Broiler Production- poultry produced for meat consumption.
Poultry are fed high quality feed to maximize growth.
Hormones cannot be added according to USDA standards.

15. Meat Production
A producer will raise several flocks of birds each year.
House size: 40’ X 500’
Broilers are processed into cuts of meat and also value added products such as sandwich meat, pre-cooked products, etc
Approximately 99% of broilers are raised through vertical integration contracts.

16. Confinement Broiler House

17. Confinement Broiler House

18. Replacement Pullet Production
Replacement Pullet Production- raising chickens to replace either egg production or broiler production operations.

19. Poultry Parts
vent

20. Turkeys Broad Breasted White White plumage
Shanks, feet, and beak is white to pink
White pinfeathers (feather not fully developed)
Increases the value of the carcass
Can survive better in hotter climates
Good body confirmation but smaller than other breeds

21. Broad Breasted White

22. Turkeys Broad Breasted Bronze
Black plumage(females=white tips on breast feathers)
Dark colored pinfeathers
Largest of the turkey varieties
Poor fertility and reproductive problems
Males are not good breeders

23. Broad Breasted Bronze

24. Turkeys Beltsville Small Whites Developed by the USDA
Similar to the Broad Breasted Whites
Averages about 10 lbs. less in mature body weight than the others

25. Beltsville Small Whites