Module1-

INTRODUCTION TO POULTRY PRODUCTION

I. OVERVIEW

Welcome to Module 1. This module is design to introduce to the students in

Bachelor of Science in Technology Livelihood Education (BTLEd), major in Agriculture
and Fishery Arts (AFA) about the basic concepts and principles in animal production in
poultry such as, selection, culling, breeds and breeding, feeds and feeding, housing and
equipment requirement, pest and diseases control, marketing, dressing and cutting.
However, a general introduction is provided first as a frame of reference for the
discussions in the succeeding modules.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying this module, you will be able to:
▪ define the terminologies in poultry production.
▪ understand the brief history in the domestication of poultry species;
▪ describe the zoological classification of common poultry species
▪ identify the common species of poultry and its scientific names;
▪ distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of poultry raising; and
▪ discuss the main challenges of poultry farming in the Philippines.

III. LEARNING PLAN

A. Introduction

Animal production is the technology applied to the keeping of animals for profit.
Aside from the products derived from the body of the animals, it supports the needs
of the human populace for a nutritious and safe food supply while helping also the
farmers to be more productive in sustaining their financial burdens in life
Food is a basic necessity regardless of the economic status of the human
being. Most of our farmers nowadays had to venture into business in order to support
their families and to help the economic situation of our country. Although raising of
poultry can be considered as profitable, we cannot avoid the risk on how to manage
the business if we do not have the sufficient knowledge, skills, experience and
trainings. These are needed in order to achieve and to be successful in this kind of
venture. For decades, poultry production remains at the top when it comes to
production and the demand is increasing as population also increases. The high
production of quality and nutritious foods such as meat, eggs and by-products helps
more in sustaining the needs of the Filipino people throughout the country. Poultry are
raised to provide us high valued nutrients needed in our body while helping also
farmers in sustaining their financial burdens in life. Filipinos engage in animal raising
due to the increasing cost of live and frozen poultry, pork, beef as well as milk and
eggs. Another reason is the increase of the much needed supply of meat which is the
primary source of rich protein. This will help meet the nutritional needs of people
deficient in nutritional food. For this reason, people are encouraged to engage in home

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 and backyard raising and business-minded people also encouraged to establish
animal farms to provide the needs of the people.

Globally, consumption of poultry products is on the rise. It is predicted that

between 2013 and 2023 the industry will grow at a rate of 3.2% per year, with uptake
set to increase faster than pork and beef products. Changing consumer behaviors and
attitudes have helped fuel the increase in poultry consumption, alongside a growing
population worldwide. A 2016 report — Poultry Trends — highlighted that developing
countries will account for 73 per cent of additional meat output over the next decade,
with poultry the main driver of additional gains due to its low production costs relative
to other meat. Chicken is a type of domesticated fowl, and one of the most common
and widespread domestic animals, with a total population of 23.7 billion as of 2018.
Humans keep chickens primarily as a source of food consuming both their meat and
eggs, and less commonly, as pets. There are more chickens in the world than any
other bird or domestic fowl.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-

Food and Agricultural Organization, the demand for all meat, including chicken, is
expected to grow by 1.3% annually between 2018 and 2027. This compares to 1.9%
annually from 2008 to 2017. Income and population growth will continue to be the
growth drivers. The aggregate chicken demand is projected to increase from about 1.4
million MT in 2017 to 1.6 million MT in 2020 to about 1.8 million MT by 2023. Growth
drivers will come from a combination of income and population growth. The low per
capita meat consumption of 13kg for chicken presents opportunities for further
expansion with increasing purchasing power coupled with the country’s targets to bring
poverty incidence down to 14% in 2022 (from 21.6% or 21.8 million Filipinos living
below national poverty line in 2015). In comparison to other countries such as Thailand
and Japan, the high cost of production is a persistent issue in the Philippine broiler
sector. Increased competitiveness is constrained by the high cost of feed, resulting
from trade policies preventing corn to compete on a level playing field with feed wheat.

The low per capita meat consumption of 13kg for chicken presents opportunities
for further expansion with increasing purchasing power coupled with the country’s
targets to bring poverty incidence down to 14% in 2022 (from 21.6% or 21.8 million
Filipinos living below national poverty line in 2015).

In comparison to other countries such as Thailand and Japan, the high cost of
production is a persistent issue in the Philippine broiler sector. Increased
competitiveness is constrained by the high cost of feed, resulting from trade policies
preventing corn to compete on a level playing field with feed wheat.

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 A. Common Terms used in Poultry Species:

Flock: is a group comprised of one species of poultry.

Trio: is typically a group of poultry with one male and two females.
Breed: animals which have been developed by people over a period of time
through selective mating so that they have desirable characteristics such
as size and disposition.
Wean: to separate a young animal from the milk of its mother and introduce the
animal to its adult diet.
Finish: the final production phase of livestock destined for meat in which the
animal is fed (or intensively grazed) optimized its growth and meat
quality before slaughter.
Live Weight: the weight of the live animal.
Brooding: natural or artificial means of supplying heat to newly hatched
chick from day old to two weeks.
the process of rearing the young chick from day old stage to 4 to
6 weeks of age during which, heat is to be provided to keep them
warm.
Incubation: the process of subjecting egg to an incubator until the egg hatches.
Brooder: a device for providing artificial heat to the chicks.
Clutch: the number of eggs laid by a bird on consecutive days. A clutch of 3-4
eggs is preferred.
Molting: the process of shading old feathers and growth of new feather in their
place molting normally occurs once a year.
Culling: removal of unwanted bird from the flock. Ex: old non-laying birds, sick
birds and masculine hen are removed.
Pause: it is the period between two clutches in which eggs are not laid by hen.
Hen-day-production: this is arrived by dividing total eggs laid in the season by the
average number of birds in the house.
Hen-housed-average: this is arrived at dividing the total number of eggs laid in the
season by the number of birds originally placed in the house. No
deductions are made for any losses from the flocks.

B. Brief history in the domestication of Poultry

"Poultry" is a term used for any kind of domesticated bird, captive-raised for its
utility. It can be defined as domestic fowls, including chickens, turkeys, geese and
ducks, raised for the production of meat or eggs and feathers. The word is also used
for the flesh of these birds used as food. Many people love to raise poultry as
companionship and show chickens and other poultry species at fairs and other
poultry shows. Others just love to raise them for backyard pets and for fresh eggs
every day. It also includes other birds that are killed for their meat, such as the young
of pigeons (known as squabs) but does not include similar wild birds hunted for sport
or food and known as game. The word "poultry" comes from the French/Norman
word poule, itself derived from the Latin word pullus, which means small animal.

Poultry were brought to the New World by early explorers and colonists. There
were poultry in the Jamestown settlement in 1607. Poultry shows, which began to be
held around 1850, were important in the development of recognized breeds. In the

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 second half of the nineteenth century, older breeds were perfected and new breeds
were developed. The American Poultry Association was formed in 1873.

Other poultry species like chickens were domesticated in India and were being
raised by the Chinese and Egyptians about 1400 b.c. Drawings of chickens have
been found in Egyptian tombs dating from around 1400 b.c. Although poultry and
eggs were used for food early in history, poultry raising has only recently become a
major commercial enterprise. In the past, most poultry was raised on an individual
family basis. The wild jungle fowl of India (Gallus gallus) may have been the early
ancestor of most tame chickens. Some other wild species may also have been
involved in the development of chickens.

Turkeys are believed to be descended from two wild species. One is found in
Mexico and the other in the United States. The turkey was probably tamed by the
people originally living in America. Most of the American varieties were probably
developed from the species found in the United States.

The wild mallard duck (Anas boschas) is thought to be the ancestor of all
domestic breeds of ducks. Ducks were tamed at an early date. The Romans referred
to ducks more than 2,000 years ago. China has probably raised ducks on a
commercial basis longer than other parts of the world.

The goose was probably tamed shortly aft er the chicken. It was regarded as a
sacred bird in Egypt 4,000 years ago. Geese were well distributed over all of Europe
2,000 years ago.

The exact ancestry of the present-day chickens is not known. It is believed that
the present breeds and varieties of chickens descended from a common origin: The
Red Jungle Fowl (Scientific Name: Gallus gallus), a native of Southeast Asia. Some
investigators contend that there are three other species of Jungle fowls that
contributed to the kinds of chicken we have today. These are:
- Gallus sonnerati (Gray Jungle Fowl)
- Gallus Lafayetti (Ceylones JungleFow)
- Gallus vartus (Javan Jungle Fowl)

C. Zoological classification or Taxonomic Nomenclature of common Poultry

Species (Avian Species)

Taxonomy, is also known as “binomial nomenclature,” is a fancy way of

describing the scientific method of classifying birds into groups or families and sorting
out their relationship to each other. Birds are classified taxonomically first belonging
to the class of vertebrates that are birds. A bird is easily defined because it has
feathers, and it's the only animal with feathers.

Taxonomic Nomenclature of Poultry Species

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata (with back bone)
Sub-Phylum: Vertebrata (with spinal column)
Class: Aves (Feathered, warm blooded, 4 chambered heart)

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 Subclass:
Neornithes (without teeth)
*A taxonomic clade within the subclass Aves – all modern
birds, characterized by many adaptations for flight, such as
a four-chambered heart and feathers, and differentiated
from other, older birds by having a beak with no teeth.
Archaeornithes (are, or were, primitive birds from the Jurassic or
early Cretaceous periods (Archeopteryx, Archaeornis)
Order :
Galliforms ( Birds with short wings and legs, scratching running)
Ansariforms ( Aquatic birds)
Struthioniformes (Large birds which are flightless)

D. Species of Poultry (Common Name and its Scientific Name)

Poultry refers to a wide variety of birds of several species and it refers to them
whether they are alive or dressed (slaughtered and prepared for market.). There are
several species of poultry that are raised for production purposes. Chicken and ducks
are the common avian species utilized for food production. Chicken is a type of
domesticated fowl and one of the most exploited species primarily used as a source
of food consuming both their meat and eggs, and less commonly, as pets. Scientific
researches have been done on this species in the past centuries and it still the focus
of the present and future experimentations. Chicken ranks first, while ducks, rank
second in economic importance as source of meat and eggs. The following are the
common species of poultry:
1. Chicken (Gallus domesticus).
- is a common domestic fowl. Chickens are gregarious, omnivorous, ground-
dwelling birds that in their natural surroundings search among the leaf litter for
seeds, invertebrates, and other small animals.
Terms:
• Broiler: is a meat chicken processes at the age of 7-12 weeks
when it reaches 2½ to 3½ pound live weight.
• Fryer: is a meat chicken usually marketed at 12-20 weeks.
• Broody: a hen which has stopped laying eggs temporarily.
• Day-old chick: hatched out chick up to 24 hours.
• Grower: a young chick of 9th week of age of either sex.
• Brood: a group of chicks of same age raised in one batch.
• Layer: an egg laying female chicken up to one year after starting
the laying of eggs.
• Capon: are male chicken that have been castrated and they are
harvested at 4-8 months old. They weigh 5-9 pounds and
produce more white meat and have higher fat content than
other chickens.
• Chicks: is a newly hatched or a very young chicken.
• Cock: is a male chicken at least one year of age or older.
• Cockerel: is a male chicken less than one-year-old.
• Hen: is a female chicken at least one year of age.
• Pullet: is a female chicken less than one year of age.
a young female that has yet to start laying eggs.

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 • Rooster: is a male chicken over one year of age.
2. Ducks
- are any wild or domesticated swimming birds of the Family Anatidae, typically
having a broad, flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet. Domestic ducks are
omnivores, eating a variety of animal and plant materials such as aquatic insects,
molluscs, worms, small amphibians, waterweeds, and grasses. They feed in
shallow water by dabbling, with their heads underwater and their tails upended.
Most domestic ducks are too heavy to fly, and they are social birds, preferring to
live and move around together in groups. They keep their plumage waterproof by
preening, a process that spreads the secretions of the preen gland over their
feathers.

Types:

Pekin (meat type) Anas plathyrynchos

Mallard (egg type) Anas plathyrynchos

Terms:
• Drake: is an adult male duck.
• Duck: can refer to a female of the duck family.
• Duckling: are baby ducks.
• Old drake: is a male duck over 1 year of age.
• Old duck: is a female duck over 1 year of age.
• Young drake: is a male duck under 1 year of age.
• Geese: are wild or domesticated water birds of the Family
Anatidae and of the genera Answer and Branta that
typically have a shorter neck than a swan and a shorter,
more pointed bill than a duck.
• Gander: is a male goose over 1 year of age.
• Gosling: is a young goose up until feathers have replaced all of their
down.
• Young gander: is a male goose under 1 year of age.
• Young goose: is a female goose under 1 year of age.

3. Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a large North American bird that is widely

domesticated for food and comes in many varieties.
• Hen: is a female turkey over 1 year of age.
• Old hen: is a female turkey over 1 year of age.
• Old tom: is a male turkey over 1 year of age.
• Poult: is a young domestic (not wild) turkey.
• Tom: is a male turkey
• Young hen: is a female turkey under 1 year of age.
• Young tome: is a male turkey under 1 year of age.

4. Quail (Coturnix cotornix)

5. Pigeon (Columbia livia)
6. Geese (Cygnopsis cygnoides)
7. Swan (Olor columbianus)

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 8. Ostrich (Struthio australis)
9. Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
10. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
11. Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris)

E. Advantages and disadvantages of Poultry Raising

Advantages:
Raising poultry has a number of advantages, among which are
• high feed efficiency
• fast return on investment
• spreading income throughout the year
• high return compared to feed costs
• low land requirements
• adaptability to both small part-time enterprises and large commercial
enterprises
• the operation can be highly mechanized, with high output per hour of labor

Disadvantages:
There are some problems involved in raising poultry, among which are
• serious problems with diseases and parasites
• need for a high level of management ability, especially for large commercial
flocks
• need for large amounts of capital for large operations
• limitations of zoning on the location of flocks
• death losses may be high due to predators and stampeding
• quality of product must be controlled carefully
• careful marketing is required
• high volume is needed for an economical enterprise
• problems of waste disposal and odor

IV. SUMMARY
Poultry Production is a wide industry that plays a very important role to human
populace. Aside from the production of meat, eggs, and by-products, it also has many uses
that became an opportunity to entrepreneurs and backyard raisers for business and
livelihood, thus, the continuous increase of population will also cause the expansion of their
production. Others kept chicken for food purposes, some for pets and exhibition. The
popularity of poultry raising could be attributed to the fact that they are fast multipliers and
quick growers. In our country, chicken and ducks are the most popular avian species for
poultry production. While poultry production remains at the top, the increasing demand for
quality and nutritious foods by the consumers challenge the poultry industry to produce more
safe and healthy poultry products in order to meet the protein requirement of every
household. Poultry production in our country is not a mere production that would sustain the
nutritional requirement needed to supply the lives of the people but it will also help in
alleviating poverty for those unemployed people. According to the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development-Food and Agricultural Organization, the demand for all meat,
including chicken, is expected to grow by 1.3% annually between 2018 and 2027.

The origin of poultry is not known and it is believed that the present breeds and
varieties of chicken descended from a common origin, the Red Jungle Fowl, Gallus gallus as

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the Scientific Name, a native of Southeast Asia. Due to the introduction of improved foreign
breeds in the early years marked the development of the poultry industry in our country and
was exemplified by the growth and development of commercial strains. To date, there are
nearly 400 breeds and varieties of poultry registered in to American Poultry Association,
(APA, 2020).

Due to the increase demand of poultry products, some people are interested in poultry
raising. If you intend to run a business, then you must consider factors on how to operate and
manage successfully. Poor planning might be the result of failure in the production and
operation. One should be knowledgeable, skillful and up-to-date with the problems and recent
situations in poultry production. Climatic condition, diseases, high cost of production and
marketing system are some of the few problems to mention in the operation of poultry raising
in our country.

V. SUGGESTED READINGS:
Book:
Frank Flanders, et al. Modern Livestock and Poultry Production. 8th Edition. Copyright
2015.
Required Readings and Other Materials:
Lecture Notes in Animal Science 1 – Institute of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, UPLB – Copyright 2003
Online Articles:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poultry#Definition
https://psa.gov.ph/livestock-poultry-iprs/chicken/inventory
https://www.bworldonline.com/poultry-industry-maintains-2019-growth-target/
https://ngcareers.com
https://en.m.wikipedia.org
https://link.springer.com
https://www.nutrenaworld.com
https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/global-poultry-trends-chicken-meat-consumption-
exceeds-global-average-in-the-americas
https://www.provisioneronline.com/articles/105806-the-popularity-of-poultry-part-1
http://amerpoultryassn.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poultry
https://agrisujan.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/zoological-classification-of-common-
poultry-species/
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Neornithes

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