Poultry farming system
Poultry are monogastric animals, and poultry production comprised meat and eggs production.
Animals can be raised in free range system or in livestock building, either on the ground or in cages. Animal welfare within this type of livestock building is being under discussion in many countries, especially in Europe. Like in pig production, farmers produced their own feed or buy it from companies.
Most poultry production originates from crossing between specials sire and female lines, and only grand-parents are selected in pure line.
Chicks production can be splitted in either:
• Laying hen production. Production of eggs usually starts at 18 weeks of age and ends at one year of age, resulting of 320 to 350 eggs produced per animal. Part of eggs are sold and packed on packing station. Others are sold as egg products', which means as transform products.
• Broiler production. Chickens enter livestock unit at one d of age and are sold to slaughter at around 35 d, corresponding to an average body weight of 1.9 kg. Growth performance is depending on breed and production.
Guinea fowls and turkeys are other major sources of meat production from poultry. Geese and ducks farms also produce meat, and more specific products such as fat liver, but in Europe, only in countries which had this traditional production (France, Hungary, Bulgaria).
