2. INTRODUCTION
Poultry is a common term and it indicates all the domesticated birds which are reared for
production of eggs and meat and other by products for the economic benefits of human
beings.
Poultry science is the study of practices and principles involved in production and marketing
of poultry and its products. It includes breeding, nutrition, management, housing, disease
control and marketing.
3. COMMERCIAL CHICKEN (Types)
BROLIERS: Broilers are those first growing poultry birds of young age which are
kept and used only for meat purpose and produce tender meat with soft pliable
and flexible breast bone cartilage. They attain live body weight of 1.5 kg or more
by consuming 2.75 – 3.00 kg of feed in 37 – 42 days.
LAYERS: which lay table quality egg (for food of human consumption). Laying
starts from 17 weeks and may lay 150 to 300 eggs per year.
4. Advantages of Poultry keeping.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Poultry eggs and meat are considered to be one of the heathy source of food.
Nearly all parts of the bird can be used for food, and the meat can be cooked in
many different ways. Poultry meat and
eggs are the high quality animal protein source, and also contain best amino acid
essential to human. Also chicken egg is a major source of minerals and vitamins
(including Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D) and they are also high in omega-3.
5. OTHER SIGNIFICANCE:
It provides the source of income and opportunities of employment at poultry
farms, hatcheries, poultry processing units, meat and eggs marketing channels, etc.
Poultry manure is extremely rich source of nitrogen and organic matter. It contains
high amount of Nitrogen, hence is very good fertilizer.
Industrial uses- egg yolks are used in the manufacture of paints and cosmetics, also
feathers can be used to make ornaments.
In animal and medical research, birds are used as experimental unit, also internal
parts of some poultry (like ostrich) can be used to make medical equipment.
6. Feed conversion rate (FCR): the amount of food conversion to either eggs or
muscles is very higher compared to other ruminants, hence very amount of feed is
needed in poultry is low compared to others.
7. Also poultry can be kept in homes as pets, for the recreation purpose. The most
widely used as pets is rabbits. Also for other purposes like sports.