BroilerBroilerss

An Overview of An Overview of Broiler Broiler

Production in Production in GeorgiaGeorgia

Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office

Dr. Frank Flanders and Taylor GinnApril 2006

ObjectivesObjectives

Students will be able to:Students will be able to: Describe the life cycle of broilers.Describe the life cycle of broilers. Describe the history of the broiler industry.Describe the history of the broiler industry. Explain the importance of broiler production in Explain the importance of broiler production in

Georgia.Georgia. Name the top three broiler producing counties.Name the top three broiler producing counties. Rank Georgia with other states in broiler Rank Georgia with other states in broiler

production.production.

What is a broiler?What is a broiler?

Broiler chickens Broiler chickens are grown for their are grown for their meat. These meat. These chickens are the chickens are the ones we purchase ones we purchase at the grocery at the grocery stores and eat for stores and eat for dinner.dinner.

History of BroilersHistory of Broilers Early 1900s, chickens were raised for Early 1900s, chickens were raised for

eggseggs Women began to sell eggs and chickensWomen began to sell eggs and chickens

1924, Georgia chickens were sold out 1924, Georgia chickens were sold out of state by railof state by rail

1929, stock market crash1929, stock market crash 1930s, Jesse Jewell of Gainesville1930s, Jesse Jewell of Gainesville

Sold North Georgia farmers baby Sold North Georgia farmers baby chicks and feed on creditchicks and feed on credit

Bought back adult chickens and Bought back adult chickens and farmers made a profitfarmers made a profit

Eventually opened a processing plant Eventually opened a processing plant and hatcheryand hatchery

Post World War II, consumer interest Post World War II, consumer interest in fully processed birds and frozen in fully processed birds and frozen birdsbirds

1970s and 1980s, Americans began 1970s and 1980s, Americans began eating more and more poultryeating more and more poultry

Life CycleLife Cycle Fertile eggs take 21 days to Fertile eggs take 21 days to

hatchhatch Chicks hatch, are Chicks hatch, are

vaccinated, and incubatedvaccinated, and incubated Taken to chicken houses Taken to chicken houses

where the flocks live where the flocks live togethertogether Flock is a large group of birdsFlock is a large group of birds Over 20,000 chicks may live Over 20,000 chicks may live

together in the housestogether in the houses Chickens are kept until they Chickens are kept until they

are 6 weeks oldare 6 weeks old Chickens are picked up and Chickens are picked up and

taken to the processor to be taken to the processor to be prepared for sale in storesprepared for sale in stores

Chicken HousesChicken Houses

Floor is covered with dry Floor is covered with dry pine shavingspine shavings

Feed and water are Feed and water are available for the chicks to available for the chicks to enjoyenjoy

Houses are heated because Houses are heated because the chicks do not have the chicks do not have enough feathers to stay enough feathers to stay warm, when they get older warm, when they get older the temperature is loweredthe temperature is lowered

Houses have fans to Houses have fans to circulate the air and to circulate the air and to bring in fresh airbring in fresh air

Chicken Houses in GAChicken Houses in GA

In 2004, there were 11,804 broiler houses in Georgia

Top production counties:Franklin $275,259,359 780 housesHall $241,734,969 685 houses

Habersham $211,737,969 600 houses

Poultry Products in GAPoultry Products in GA

Poultry earns more than Poultry earns more than any other Georgia any other Georgia Agriculture commodityAgriculture commodity

$13.5 billion annually to $13.5 billion annually to Georgia’s economyGeorgia’s economy

Georgia is 1st in the Georgia is 1st in the nation in broiler nation in broiler productionproduction

¾ of Georgia counties ¾ of Georgia counties commercially produce commercially produce chickenchicken

Poultry ProcessorsPoultry ProcessorsMajor Processors Based in Major Processors Based in

Georgia:Georgia:

Gold KistGold Kist

Fieldale FarmsFieldale Farms

Claxton PoultryClaxton Poultry

Mar-JacMar-Jac

Cagle’sCagle’s

Companies provide raw materials, distribution,

and processing for their growers

Quick FactsQuick Facts

On an average day, Georgia produces 24.6 million pounds of chicken.

Currently, chicken is the most frequently eaten meat in the United States.

More than 47,000 Georgians are directly employed by the poultry industry.

More than 77,000 Georgians are indirectly employed in the poultry industry.

AssessmentAssessment1.1. True or False: Broilers are chickens grown for their meat.True or False: Broilers are chickens grown for their meat.2.2. Who began commercial broiler production in Georgia?Who began commercial broiler production in Georgia?3.3. How many days does it take for a fertile egg to hatch?How many days does it take for a fertile egg to hatch?

a. 11 b. 16 c. 21 d. 26a. 11 b. 16 c. 21 d. 264.4. What is a flock?What is a flock?5.5. How many weeks are broilers kept by growers?How many weeks are broilers kept by growers?

a. 3 b. 6 c. 12 d. 24a. 3 b. 6 c. 12 d. 246.6. List the top three broiler producing counties in Georgia.List the top three broiler producing counties in Georgia.7.7. True or False: Georgia ranks fifth in the nation in broiler production.True or False: Georgia ranks fifth in the nation in broiler production.8.8. Name two major poultry processors based in Georgia.Name two major poultry processors based in Georgia.9.9. What do the poultry companies provide for their growers?What do the poultry companies provide for their growers?10.10. How many Georgians are directly employed by the poultry industry?How many Georgians are directly employed by the poultry industry?

a. 3,000 b. 12,000 c. 36,000 d. 47,000a. 3,000 b. 12,000 c. 36,000 d. 47,000

AnswersAnswers

1.1. TrueTrue2.2. Jesse JewellJesse Jewell3.3. C. 21C. 214.4. A large group of chickens.A large group of chickens.5.5. B. 6B. 66.6. Franklin, Hall, and HabershamFranklin, Hall, and Habersham7.7. False. Georgia ranks first.False. Georgia ranks first.8.8. Mar-Jac, Goldkist, Cagle’s, Claxton, and Fieldale FarmsMar-Jac, Goldkist, Cagle’s, Claxton, and Fieldale Farms9.9. Raw materials, distribution, and processingRaw materials, distribution, and processing10.10. D. 47,000D. 47,000

ReferencesReferences

http://www.georgiastats.uga.edu/http://www.georgiastats.uga.edu/

http://www.gfb.org/agfacts/facts.htmhttp://www.gfb.org/agfacts/facts.htm

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1811http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1811

http://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/plifecycle.htmlhttp://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/plifecycle.html

http://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/pindustry.htmlhttp://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/pindustry.html

http://department.caes.uga.edu/poultry/faculty/compton/http://department.caes.uga.edu/poultry/faculty/compton/ps2020/housingequip/housingequip.htmps2020/housingequip/housingequip.htm