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Background
of Poultry Production in U.S.
About PDF documents
(Source: J. Sell, Iowa State University) |
Chickens are the most numerous birds in the world. The chicken is believed
to have been domesticated nearly 5000 years ago from wild birds in Southeast
Asia. On the other hand, the domestication of the turkey occurred much more
recently, by American Indians in prehistoric times. The turkey was introduced
into Europe in the sixteenth century by returning Spanish explorers. Settlers
emigrating to the U.S. who later bred this European stock with wild turkeys
in the Eastern U.S. to produce the ancestors of today's commercially grown
turkeys.
The poultry industry has largely grown from backyard operations which
provided supplemental income for the family to a vertically
integrated industry. (PDF, 717KB) 
Poultry consumption in the U.S. has increased from the 1900s, when chicken
was eaten only on Sundays to making poultry an every day item today.
| |
 |
| Increase in Young Chicken Exports |
(Source: J. Sell, Iowa State University) |
| U.S. Poultry Inventory |
| Specie |
#/year |
kg |
| Broiler |
8 billion |
18.5 billion |
| Turkey |
273 million |
3.2 billion |
| Layers |
269 million |
72 billion eggs |
| Ducks |
20 million |
~ 64 million |
| per USDA 1999 |
Broiler production greatly increased
throughout the 1980s and 1990s due to Americans becoming more health conscious
and through an unprecedented increase in exports. Part of this increase
has also been attributed to the poultry industry supplying products
that are further processed and easier for the consumer to prepare. These
increases have led to an all time high in poultry production in the U.S.
(Table). Currently, most poultry
production in the United States is in the Southeastern states.
At one time, there were many distinct breeds of chicken, each having
particular traits or characteristics. Through selective breeding, only
a few strains of birds dominate the market today. There are many primary
breeding companies of poultry, but only a handful are responsible for
most of the broiler
chicken,
laying
hen,
and turkey
production in the world.
Concentration and specialization of the poultry industry have led to
the development of allied industries. These industries supply housing,
feeding and other equipment, hatchery equipment, processing supplies and
equipment, drugs and other health products, feed additives, and several
other items.
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